Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'weed'

English Word: weed

Key Russian Translations:

• сорняк [sɐrˈnʲak] - [Informal, commonly used in everyday contexts like gardening or agriculture]
• бурьян [bʊrˈjan] - [Informal, slightly more poetic or regional, often for wild weeds]

Frequency: Medium (The word is commonly encountered in contexts related to nature, farming, or casual conversation, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary in daily urban life.)

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner; straightforward for English learners with basic Russian knowledge, as it follows standard noun patterns, though pronunciation of the 'р' sound may pose a minor challenge.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

сорняк: [sɐrˈnʲak]

бурьян: [bʊrˈjan]

Note on сорняк: The 'р' sound is a trilled 'r', which can be tricky for English speakers; practice it as in "red" but with a roll. Variations in regional accents may soften it.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A wild plant growing where it is not wanted, such as in gardens or fields.

Translation(s) & Context:

• сорняк - Used in informal or practical contexts, such as discussing gardening or agriculture.
• бурьян - Applied in more descriptive or literary contexts, often implying overgrowth or neglect.

Usage Examples:

• В саду растут сорняки, которые нужно вырвать. (In the garden, weeds are growing that need to be pulled out.)

  Translation: In the garden, weeds are growing that need to be pulled out. (This example shows the noun in a simple declarative sentence, highlighting everyday maintenance.)

• Этот бурьян захватил весь огород и мешает овощам. (This weed has taken over the entire vegetable patch and is hindering the vegetables.)

  Translation: This weed has taken over the entire vegetable patch and is hindering the vegetables. (Illustrates the word in a context of interference, with a possessive structure.)

• Осенью фермеры борются с сорняками, чтобы защитить урожай. (In autumn, farmers fight against weeds to protect the harvest.)

  Translation: In autumn, farmers fight against weeds to protect the harvest. (Demonstrates usage in a seasonal, agricultural setting with action verbs.)

• Бурьян в поле выглядит красиво, но он вредный для посевов. (The weed in the field looks beautiful, but it's harmful to the crops.)

  Translation: The weed in the field looks beautiful, but it's harmful to the crops. (Shows contrastive usage, emphasizing dual aspects like appearance and impact.)

• Дети собирают цветы, но иногда путают их с сорняками. (Children pick flowers, but sometimes they confuse them with weeds.)

  Translation: Children pick flowers, but sometimes they confuse them with weeds. (Highlights potential confusion in identification, using relative clauses.)

Meaning 2: Slang for marijuana or cannabis (informal, especially in modern contexts).

Translation(s) & Context:

• травка - Informal and slang, used in casual or youth conversations, often with a connotation of recreational use.

Usage Examples:

• В некоторых странах травка легализована для медицинских целей. (In some countries, weed is legalized for medical purposes.)

  Translation: In some countries, weed is legalized for medical purposes. (This example places the term in a legal and societal context.)

• Он не курит травку, потому что это вредно для здоровья. (He doesn't smoke weed because it's harmful to health.)

  Translation: He doesn't smoke weed because it's harmful to health. (Illustrates negative usage with health-related discussions.)

• Травка иногда используется в искусстве, как в фильмах или музыке. (Weed is sometimes used in art, like in movies or music.)

  Translation: Weed is sometimes used in art, like in movies or music. (Shows cultural integration in creative fields.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "сорняк" (a masculine noun), it follows the standard first declension pattern for Russian nouns. It is inflected based on case and number. Below is a table of its declensions:

For "бурьян", it is similar but may vary slightly in regional dialects; it is also a masculine noun with regular inflections like сорняк.

"травка" (for slang meaning) is a diminutive form and does not inflect irregularly; it remains mostly unchanged in informal use.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: сор (sor) - More general for weeds; плевел (plevel) - Archaic or literary term for harmful plants.
• Explaination: "сор" is often interchangeable with "сорняк" in agricultural contexts but is slightly more formal.
• Antonyms: культурное растение (kul'turnoe rastenie) - Cultivated plant; полезное растение (poleznoe rastenie) - Useful plant.

Related Phrases:

• Вырывать сорняки - To pull out weeds; often used in gardening contexts to mean removing unwanted growth.
• Бурьян в поле - Weeds in the field; refers to overgrown areas, implying neglect or natural wildness.
• Травка для релаксации - Weed for relaxation; slang phrase for recreational cannabis use, with a casual connotation.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "сорняк" directly corresponds to the English "weed" in its botanical sense and is best used in practical or descriptive contexts. Be cautious with slang like "травка," which is informal and may carry legal implications in certain regions. When choosing between translations, opt for "сорняк" in formal writing and "бурьян" for more vivid, narrative styles. Grammatically, always consider noun gender and case agreements, as Russian requires adjectives and verbs to match.

• Avoid direct word-for-word translations; for example, use "сорняк" with prepositions like "в саду" to mirror English prepositional phrases.
• In spoken Russian, "травка" might be taboo in formal settings, so context dictates its appropriateness.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse "сорняк" with "травка" due to the slang overlap, leading to misuse in formal contexts. For instance:

• Error: Using "травка" in a gardening discussion, e.g., "В саду растёт травка" (implying cannabis instead of plants).
• Correct: "В саду растёт сорняк" - This specifies the botanical meaning. Explanation: "Травка" has a specific slang connotation, so reserve it for informal, drug-related talks to avoid misunderstandings.
• Another error: Incorrect inflection, e.g., saying "сорняком" in nominative case instead of genitive. Correct: Use "сорняка" for genitive, as in "цветок сорняка" (the flower of the weed).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "сорняк" symbolizes resilience and the untamed aspects of nature, often appearing in literature like Tolstoy's works to represent chaos or rural life. Historically, combating weeds was a key part of Soviet-era collective farming, reflecting themes of control and productivity in agriculture.

Related Concepts:

• растение (rastenie) - Plant
• урожай (urozhai) - Harvest
• ферма (ferma) - Farm