This is the 4755th most frequent Russian word.
залог
The Russian word "залог" can mean "pledge," "deposit," "collateral," or "guarantee," depending on context.
Here, 'залог' is used to mean 'key' or 'guarantee', referring to the essential condition or factor for achieving success.
Залог успеха в этом деле — упорство и труд.
The key to success in this matter is perseverance and effort.
In this context, 'залог' refers to a monetary deposit or collateral, commonly used when booking or renting something.
Мы оставили залог в отеле перед заселением.
We left a deposit at the hotel before checking in.
In linguistic terminology, 'залог' denotes 'voice', a grammatical category that indicates the relationship between the subject and the action of the verb.