Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'waterworks'

English Word: waterworks

Key Russian Translations:

• водопровод [vɐdɐprɐˈvod] - [Formal, Singular]
• водоканал [vɐdɐkɐˈnal] - [Formal, Often used for municipal systems]
• слезы [ˈslʲezɨ] - [Informal, Slang for crying/tears, Plural]

Frequency: Medium (Common in technical, everyday, and idiomatic contexts, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary)

Difficulty: B1 for 'водопровод' and 'водоканал' (Intermediate, as it involves technical terms); B2 for 'слезы' in idiomatic use (Upper-Intermediate, due to contextual nuances)

Pronunciation (Russian):

водопровод: [vɐdɐprɐˈvod]

водоканал: [vɐdɐkɐˈnal]

слезы: [ˈslʲezɨ]

Note on водопровод: The stress is on the third syllable; be careful with the soft 'л' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. A common variant in fast speech might soften the vowels.

Audio: Audio pronunciation link placeholder (e.g., .mp3 file)

Meanings and Usage:

1. A system of pipes and equipment for supplying and distributing water (e.g., municipal waterworks).

Translation(s) & Context:

• водопровод - Used in formal or technical contexts, such as engineering or urban planning, to refer to water supply infrastructure.
• водоканал - Applied in administrative or public service contexts, often for city-wide water management systems.

Usage Examples:

• В городе недавно отремонтировали водопровод, чтобы улучшить качество воды.

  In the city, they recently repaired the waterworks to improve water quality.

• Муниципальный водоканал отвечает за распределение воды по домам.

  The municipal waterworks is responsible for distributing water to homes.

• Из-за утечки в водопроводе, улица была затоплена.

  Due to a leak in the waterworks, the street was flooded.

• Современные водопроводы включают фильтрацию и хлорирование для безопасности.

  Modern waterworks include filtration and chlorination for safety.

2. Idiomatic sense: Tears or crying (e.g., "turning on the waterworks" meaning to cry dramatically).

Translation(s) & Context:

• слезы - Used in informal, emotional, or slang contexts, often to describe exaggerated crying in storytelling or casual conversation.

Usage Examples:

• Она включила слезы, чтобы убедить его в своей правоте.

  She turned on the waterworks to convince him she was right.

• В фильме героиня пускала слезы, чтобы разжалобить зрителей.

  In the movie, the heroine let loose the waterworks to tug at the viewers' heartstrings.

• Дети часто пускают слезы, когда хотят получить конфету.

  Kids often turn on the waterworks when they want candy.

• Он не удержался и пустил слезы на свадьбе сестры.

  He couldn't hold back the waterworks at his sister's wedding.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'Водопровод' is a masculine noun (3rd declension) and follows standard Russian noun inflections. It changes based on case and number. 'Водоканал' is also masculine and inflects similarly. 'Слезы' is a plural-only feminine noun with its own inflections.

Note: These words do not have irregular inflections, making them relatively straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • водоснабжение (more general term for water supply; less specific than водопровод)
  • водоотвод (focuses on drainage, similar in technical contexts)
  • плач (for слезы, meaning crying)
• Antonyms:
  • сухость (dryness, opposite of water-related systems)
  • улыбка (smile, opposite of crying in idiomatic use)

Related Phrases:

• Городской водопровод - City waterworks; refers to municipal water systems.
• Пустить слезы - To turn on the waterworks; idiomatic for starting to cry.
• Система водоснабжения - Water supply system; a broader phrase including waterworks.

Usage Notes:

When translating 'waterworks', choose 'водопровод' for technical or literal contexts like engineering, as it directly corresponds to water infrastructure. 'Водоканал' is more specific to organizational or administrative settings. For the idiomatic sense (crying), 'слезы' is informal and should be used in emotional or narrative contexts—avoid it in formal writing. Note the grammatical gender and case requirements in Russian sentences, which differ from English. If multiple translations apply, select based on context: e.g., prefer 'водоканал' for public services.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'водопровод' interchangeably with 'водоканал' without context. Correct: 'Водоканал' is for the managing entity, while 'водопровод' refers to the physical system. Example of error: "Я работаю в водопровод" (incorrect, implies working inside pipes); Correct: "Я работаю в водоканале" (for an organization).

• Error: Forgetting plural forms in idiomatic use, e.g., saying 'слеза' instead of 'слезы'. Correct: 'Слезы' is always plural. Example of error: "Она пустила слеза" (wrong); Correct: "Она пустила слезы".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, references to 'waterworks' like 'водопровод' often highlight infrastructure challenges, such as in Soviet-era literature where poor water systems symbolized broader societal issues. The idiomatic 'слезы' reflects a cultural emphasis on emotional expressiveness, common in Russian films and stories, where dramatic crying is portrayed as a cathartic release.

Related Concepts:

• канализация (sewage system)
• водоснабжение (water supply)
• эмоциональность (emotionality, related to crying)