Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Washington'

English Word: Washington

Key Russian Translations:

• Вашингтон [vaʃɪŋˈton] - [Proper noun, used for the city, state, or surname; Formal]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in discussions of geography, history, or politics, but not in everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner; as a proper noun, it involves simple transliteration and basic recognition, suitable for new learners)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Вашингтон: [vaʃɪŋˈton]

Note on Вашингтон: The stress is on the second syllable ('-шин-'), which is a common point of difficulty for English speakers due to the Russian 'ш' sound (like 'sh' in 'shoe'). Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: The capital city of the United States, or a surname (e.g., George Washington).

Translation(s) & Context:

• Вашингтон - Used in formal and informal contexts when referring to the city, state, or historical figures; common in news, education, and travel discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Я посетил Вашингтон в прошлом году. (Ya posetil Vashingon v proshlom godu.)

  I visited Washington last year. (This example shows the word in a simple past tense context for travel or personal experience.)

• Вашингтон является столицей США. (Vashingon yavlyayetsya stolicey SShA.)

  Washington is the capital of the USA. (Demonstrates use in a declarative sentence for educational or factual statements.)

• Президент живёт в Вашингтоне. (Prezident zhivyot v Vashingtone.)

  The president lives in Washington. (Illustrates the word in a present tense context related to government or politics.)

• Джордж Вашингтон был первым президентом. (Dzhorzh Vashingon byl pervym prezidentom.)

  George Washington was the first president. (Shows usage as a surname in historical discussions.)

• В Вашингтоне много музеев и памятников. (V Vashingtone mnogo muzeev i pamyatnikov.)

  There are many museums and monuments in Washington. (Highlights the word in a descriptive sentence about locations.)

Meaning: A state in the northwestern United States.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Вашингтон ( штат) - Used specifically for the state; often in geographical or regional contexts, such as tourism or news.

Usage Examples:

• Штат Вашингтон известен своими горами. (Shtat Vashingon izvesten svoimi gorami.)

  The state of Washington is known for its mountains. (This example emphasizes regional geography.)

• Я еду в Вашингтон на выходные. (Ya yedu v Vashingon na vykhodnye.)

  I'm going to Washington for the weekend. (Distinguishes between the state and city based on context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

As a proper noun in Russian, "Вашингтон" follows standard noun inflection patterns for masculine nouns ending in a consonant. It is not highly irregular but changes based on grammatical case. Below is a table outlining key inflections:

Note: If used as a surname, inflections remain similar but may vary slightly in formal contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Вашингтон Д.C. (for the city; implies the full name for specificity)
• Antonyms: N/A (As a proper noun, antonyms are not typically applicable, but contrasting terms like Москва (Moscow) could be conceptual opposites in geopolitical discussions)

Related Phrases:

• Белый дом в Вашингтоне (Belyy dom v Vashingtone) - The White House in Washington; refers to the U.S. presidential residence and executive branch.
• Капитолий в Вашингтоне (Kapitoliy v Vashingtone) - The Capitol in Washington; used in contexts discussing U.S. Congress or government buildings.
• Вашингтон пост (Vashingon post) - Washington Post; a reference to the famous newspaper, often in media or journalism discussions.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "Вашингтон" directly transliterates the English word and is used almost identically for places or surnames. It is versatile across formal and informal settings but is most common in educational, political, or travel contexts. When distinguishing between the city and the state, Russians often add qualifiers like "штат" for the state. English learners should note that Russian proper nouns inflect for cases, so pay attention to prepositions (e.g., "в Вашингтоне" for "in Washington"). If multiple translations exist, choose based on context: use "Вашингтон" for general references and add specifics for clarity.

Common Errors:

• Error: Mispronouncing as [vaʃɪŋˈtɒn] with an English 't' sound instead of the Russian [ton]. Correct: Use [vaʃɪŋˈton] with a soft 't'. Example of error: "Я еду в Вашингтон" pronounced incorrectly. Explanation: This confuses Russian phonetics; practice the 'ш' and stress to avoid it.

• Error: Forgetting case inflections, e.g., using nominative "Вашингтон" in all contexts. Correct: Adjust to genitive "Вашингтона" in phrases like "жителя Вашингтона" (resident of Washington). Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, which English speakers often overlook.

Cultural Notes:

"Вашингтон" in Russian culture often evokes American history and politics, symbolizing democracy and the U.S. government. It is frequently referenced in Russian media discussions about international relations, with connotations of power and historical events like the American Revolution, where George Washington is seen as a founding father figure.

Related Concepts:

• Нью-Йорк (New York)
• Лос-Анджелес (Los Angeles)
• Америка (America)