Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'well'

English Word: well

Key Russian Translations:

• хорошо [xɐˈroʂə] - [Informal, Adverbial use]
• колодец [kɐˈlodʲɪts] - [Noun, Literal meaning for a water well]
• алло [ɐˈɫo] - [Interjection, Used when answering the phone or as a greeting]

Frequency: High for "хорошо" (commonly used in everyday conversation); Medium for "колодец" (specific to contexts like nature or rural settings); Low for "алло" (specialized interjection).

Difficulty: For "хорошо" - B1 (Intermediate, as it involves basic adverb usage); For "колодец" - A2 (Beginner, straightforward noun); For "алло" - A1 (Beginner, simple interjection).

Pronunciation (Russian):

хорошо: [xɐˈroʂə] - The 'x' is a guttural sound like in Scottish 'loch'. Stress on the second syllable.

колодец: [kɐˈlodʲɪts] - Palatalized 'dʲ' sound; stress on the second syllable.

алло: [ɐˈɫo] - Simple two-syllable word; stress on the second syllable.

Note on хорошо: Be cautious with the rolled 'r' and the soft 'sh' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: As an adverb meaning "in a good manner" or "properly"

Translation(s) & Context:

• хорошо - Used in informal daily conversations to describe actions done well, e.g., in positive responses or descriptions.

Usage Examples:

• Он хорошо говорит по-русски.

  He speaks Russian well.

• Дети хорошо учатся в школе.

  The children are doing well in school.

• Эта еда приготовлена очень хорошо.

  This food is prepared very well.

• Я хорошо отдохнул на выходных.

  I rested well over the weekend.

Meaning 2: As a noun meaning "a water well"

Translation(s) & Context:

• колодец - Used in literal or metaphorical contexts, such as in literature or rural descriptions.

Usage Examples:

• В деревне есть старый колодец.

  In the village, there is an old well.

• Они накачивают воду из колодца.

  They pump water from the well.

• Колодец в саду давно высох.

  The well in the garden has long been dry.

• Дети смотрят в колодец, как в зеркало.

  The children look into the well like into a mirror.

Meaning 3: As an interjection for greeting or attention

Translation(s) & Context:

• алло - Primarily used in phone conversations or to get attention, similar to "hello" in English.

Usage Examples:

• Алло, кто это?

  Hello, who is this?

• Алло, я вас слушаю.

  Hello, I'm listening to you.

• Алло, подождите минуту.

  Hello, hold on a minute.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "хорошо" (adverb): This word is invariable and does not change based on gender, number, or case. It remains "хорошо" in all contexts.

For "колодец" (noun, masculine, 2nd declension):

For "алло" (interjection): This is an uninflected word and does not change in any form.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • отлично (otlichno) - Similar to "хорошо" but implies excellence; used for more emphatic positive descriptions.
  • источник (istochnik) - For "колодец", meaning a water source with a more poetic connotation.
  • эй (ey) - Informal synonym for "алло" in attention-getting contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • плохо (plokho) - Opposite of "хорошо", meaning "badly".
  • сухой колодец (sukhoy kolodets) - Not a direct antonym, but implies an ineffective "колодец" (dry well).
  • прощай (proshchay) - As an opposite interjection to "алло", meaning "goodbye".

Related Phrases:

• Хорошо сработано! - Meaning: "Well done!" (Used to praise someone's effort.)
• Колодец с чистой водой - Meaning: "A well with clean water" (Common in environmental or rural contexts.)
• Алло, это полиция? - Meaning: "Hello, is this the police?" (Used in emergency phone calls.)

Usage Notes:

"Хорошо" directly corresponds to the adverbial use of "well" in English but is more versatile in Russian for expressing satisfaction or quality. It is informal and best used in everyday speech; for formal contexts, opt for "удовлетворительно" (udovletvoritelno). When choosing between translations, select "колодец" for literal wells and "алло" specifically for phone interactions. Grammatically, "хорошо" remains unchanged, making it easier for beginners, but pay attention to word order in sentences for natural flow.

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse "хорошо" with "good" as an adjective, using it where "хороший" (khoroshiy) is needed. Error: "Я хорошо человек" (incorrect). Correct: "Я хороший человек" (I am a good person). Explanation: "Хорошо" is an adverb, so it modifies verbs, not nouns.
• Mistaking "алло" for a general greeting like "hello" in all situations. Error: Using "алло" in face-to-face meetings. Correct: Use "здравствуйте" (zdravstvuyte) for formal greetings. Explanation: "Алло" is phone-specific to avoid confusion.
• For "колодец", overgeneralizing to mean any water source. Error: Saying "колодец" for a river. Correct: Use "река" (reka). Explanation: "Колодец" specifically refers to a man-made well, not natural bodies of water.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "колодец" often appears in folklore and literature as a symbol of mystery or ancient wisdom, such as in fairy tales where characters draw water from a well to reveal truths. "Хорошо" reflects the Russian emphasis on communal well-being, frequently used in proverbs like "Лучше поздно, чем никогда, но хорошо – timely" (Better late than never, but well – timely).

Related Concepts:

• вода (voda) - Water
• отлично (otlichno) - Excellently
• приветствие (privetstvie) - Greeting