Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Accompany'

English Word: accompany

Key Russian Translations:

• сопровождать [səprəvɐˈʐdatʲ] - [Formal, General Use]
• провожать [prəvɐˈʐatʲ] - [Informal, Often Used for Seeing Someone Off]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

сопровождать: [səprəvɐˈʐdatʲ]

Note on сопровождать: Stress falls on the fourth syllable. The 'zh' sound [ʐ] is a retroflex fricative, distinct from English 'z'.

провожать: [prəvɐˈʐatʲ]

Note on провожать: Stress on the third syllable. Similar 'zh' sound as above.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To go with someone as a companion or escort

Translation(s) & Context:

• сопровождать - Used in formal or neutral contexts, e.g., escorting someone officially.
• провожать - Often implies seeing someone off or accompanying for a short distance, more casual.

Usage Examples:

• Я буду сопровождать вас на встрече.

  I will accompany you to the meeting.

• Он сопровождал делегацию во время визита.

  He accompanied the delegation during the visit.

• Я провожаю её до станции каждый вечер.

  I accompany her to the station every evening.

• Мы провожали друзей до аэропорта.

  We accompanied our friends to the airport.

• Можно я провожу тебя домой?

  May I accompany you home?

2. To complement or go together with something (e.g., music, food)

Translation(s) & Context:

• сопровождать - Used for abstract or metaphorical accompaniment, e.g., music or events.

Usage Examples:

• Песню сопровождал звук гитары.

  The song was accompanied by the sound of a guitar.

• Его слова сопровождались аплодисментами.

  His words were accompanied by applause.

• Это блюдо лучше сопровождать белым вином.

  This dish is best accompanied by white wine.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

сопровождать (Verb, Imperfective): Regular conjugation in the present, past, and future tenses. Often used with accusative case for the object being accompanied.

провожать (Verb, Imperfective): Similar regular conjugation. Often paired with prepositions like "до" (up to a place).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for сопровождать:

• конвоировать (more formal, often used in legal/military contexts)
• следовать (to follow or go along with)

Synonyms for провожать:

• сопровождать (in some overlapping contexts)

Antonyms:

• встречать (to meet or welcome, opposite of seeing off)

Related Phrases:

• сопровождать делегацию - To accompany a delegation (formal context).
• провожать до двери - To accompany someone to the door (polite gesture).
• сопровождать музыкой - To accompany with music (abstract use).

Usage Notes:

• Choosing between translations: Use "сопровождать" for formal or abstract accompaniment (e.g., escorting, events, music). Use "провожать" for casual or physical accompaniment, especially when seeing someone off.
• Aspectual Pair: Both verbs are imperfective. Their perfective counterparts are "сопроводить" and "проводить," respectively, used for completed actions.
• Prepositions: "провожать" often pairs with "до" (to a location), while "сопровождать" can stand alone or take instrumental case for means of accompaniment.

Common Errors:

• Mixing up formality: English speakers often use "провожать" in formal contexts, which sounds too casual. Incorrect: "Я провожаю президента." Correct: "Я сопровождаю президента." (I accompany the president.)
• Wrong preposition: Using "с" (with) instead of "до" with "провожать." Incorrect: "Я провожаю её с домом." Correct: "Я провожаю её до дома." (I accompany her to the house.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, accompanying someone (especially with "провожать") often carries a sense of courtesy or care, such as seeing guests off to ensure their safety or comfort. This gesture is more emphasized than in some Western cultures.

Related Concepts:

• встречать (to meet or welcome)
• проводить (to see off, perfective form)
• эскорт (escort, borrowed term for formal accompaniment)