Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Abate'

English Word: Abate

Key Russian Translations:

• уменьшаться [ʊmʲɪnʲˈʂatʲsə] - [Neutral, Used for intensity or quantity]
• ослабевать [ɐsləbʲɪˈvatʲ] - [Neutral, Often for strength or force]
• утихать [ʊtʲɪˈxatʲ] - [Neutral, Often for natural phenomena like storms]

Frequency: Medium (Common in formal and written contexts)

Difficulty: B1-B2 (Intermediate, varies slightly by translation)

Pronunciation (Russian):

уменьшаться: [ʊmʲɪnʲˈʂatʲsə]

Note on уменьшаться: Stress on the third syllable; the "ш" sound is a soft hissing sound unique to Russian.

ослабевать: [ɐsləbʲɪˈvatʲ]

Note on ослабевать: Stress on the fourth syllable; the initial "о" may sound closer to "a" in unstressed position.

утихать: [ʊtʲɪˈxatʲ]

Note on утихать: Stress on the third syllable; often used metaphorically or for weather-related contexts.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To decrease in intensity or amount (e.g., pain, noise, demand)

Translation(s) & Context:

• уменьшаться - Used for measurable decreases, such as numbers or intensity (e.g., demand or pain).

Usage Examples:

• Боль начала уменьшаться после лекарства.

  The pain started to abate after the medicine.

• Спрос на товар постепенно уменьшается.

  The demand for the product is gradually abating.

• Шум в комнате начал уменьшаться.

  The noise in the room began to abate.

2. To weaken or lessen in force (e.g., strength, effort)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ослабевать - Often used for physical or abstract weakening, such as strength or resolve.

Usage Examples:

• Его силы начали ослабевать к концу дня.

  His strength began to abate by the end of the day.

• Интерес к проекту постепенно ослабевал.

  Interest in the project gradually abated.

3. To subside or calm down (e.g., storm, anger)

Translation(s) & Context:

• утихать - Commonly used for natural phenomena or emotions subsiding.

Usage Examples:

• Буря начала утихать к утру.

  The storm began to abate by morning.

• Его гнев постепенно утихал.

  His anger gradually abated.

• Волнение на море утихло.

  The agitation of the sea abated.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

уменьшаться (Verb, Imperfective, Reflexive):

Note: Perfective form is уменьшиться.

ослабевать and утихать follow similar imperfective verb conjugation patterns. Perfective forms are ослабеть and утихнуть, respectively.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for уменьшаться/ослабевать/утихать:

• снижаться (to decrease, often in numbers)
• убывать (to diminish, often gradual)
• затихать (to quiet down, often for sounds or activity)

Note: "снижаться" is more statistical; "затихать" often applies to sounds or activity.

Antonyms:

• увеличиваться (to increase)
• усиливаться (to intensify)
• возрастать (to grow)

Related Phrases:

• уменьшаться в размерах - to decrease in size (literal or figurative).
• ослабевать с возрастом - to weaken with age (used for physical strength).
• буря утихает - the storm abates (common weather expression).

Usage Notes:

• The choice between "уменьшаться", "ослабевать", and "утихать" depends on the context. Use "уменьшаться" for quantifiable reductions (e.g., numbers, pain), "ослабевать" for weakening (e.g., strength, effort), and "утихать" for subsiding natural or emotional states (e.g., storms, anger).
• These verbs are often imperfective, reflecting ongoing or gradual processes. Perfective forms like "уменьшиться" or "утихнуть" indicate a completed action.
• In formal writing, "уменьшаться" and "ослабевать" are more common than "утихать", which often appears in literary or descriptive contexts.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "уменьшаться" for emotional states like anger.
  Incorrect: Гнев начал уменьшаться.
  Correct: Гнев начал утихать.
  Explanation: "уменьшаться" is better for measurable or physical decreases, while "утихать" suits emotions or natural phenomena.
• Error: Ignoring aspect (imperfective vs. perfective).
  Incorrect: Буря уменьшилась вчера (implies completion, but context may suggest ongoing).
  Correct: Буря утихала вчера.
  Explanation: Use imperfective forms for ongoing processes unless completion is emphasized.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, verbs like "утихать" are frequently used in literature and poetry to describe natural phenomena or emotional states, reflecting the language's rich descriptive tradition. The nuanced choice of verbs for "abate" highlights Russian's sensitivity to context and aspect, which may differ from English's more general usage of the term.

Related Concepts:

• снижение (decrease, reduction)
• ослабление (weakening)
• затишье (calm, lull)