Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'accumulate'

English Word: accumulate

Key Russian Translations:

• накапливать [nəkəˈplʲivətʲ] - [Formal, Often used for abstract or material accumulation]
• собирать [səbʲiˈratʲ] - [Neutral, Often used for physical collection]
• копить [kəˈpʲitʲ] - [Informal, Often used for saving money or resources]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in various contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "накапливать" and "собирать"; A2 (Beginner-Intermediate) for "копить"

Pronunciation (Russian):

накапливать: [nəkəˈplʲivətʲ]

Note on накапливать: Stress falls on the third syllable; the "и" is pronounced as a soft vowel.

собирать: [səbʲiˈratʲ]

Note on собирать: Stress on the third syllable; "б" is softened before "и".

копить: [kəˈpʲitʲ]

Note on копить: Stress on the second syllable; a straightforward pronunciation for learners.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To gather or build up over time (abstract or material)

Translation(s) & Context:

• накапливать - Used for accumulating knowledge, experience, or resources over time.

Usage Examples:

• Он накапливает знания с каждым днём.

  He accumulates knowledge every day.

• Компания накапливает капитал для инвестиций.

  The company accumulates capital for investments.

• Мы должны накапливать опыт, чтобы стать лучше.

  We must accumulate experience to become better.

2. To collect or gather items physically

Translation(s) & Context:

• собирать - Used for collecting physical objects or assembling things.

Usage Examples:

• Она собирает старинные монеты.

  She collects antique coins.

• Дети собирают листья в парке.

  The children are collecting leaves in the park.

3. To save or store up (often money or resources)

Translation(s) & Context:

• копить - Used specifically for saving money or stockpiling resources.

Usage Examples:

• Я коплю деньги на отпуск.

  I am saving money for a vacation.

• Они копят продукты на зиму.

  They are stockpiling food for the winter.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

накапливать (Verb, Imperfective): Regular verb with standard conjugation for imperfective aspect.

Person	Present Tense	Past Tense (Masculine/Feminine/Neuter/Plural)
Я (I)	накапливаю	накапливал / накапливала / накапливало / накапливали
Ты (You, informal)	накапливаешь	накапливал / накапливала / накапливало / накапливали
Он/Она/Оно (He/She/It)	накапливает	накапливал / накапливала / накапливало / накапливали

собирать (Verb, Imperfective): Regular verb, follows similar patterns to "накапливать".

копить (Verb, Imperfective): Regular verb, follows standard conjugation rules.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for накапливать:

• аккумулировать (more formal, technical)
• набирать (often for gaining or collecting)

Antonyms for накапливать:

• тратить (to spend)
• растрачивать (to waste)

Related Phrases:

• накапливать силы - To build up strength or energy.
• собирать урожай - To harvest (literally, to gather crops).
• копить на мечту - To save up for a dream (goal).

Usage Notes:

• "накапливать" is often used in abstract or formal contexts, such as accumulating knowledge or capital, while "собирать" is more common for physical collection.
• "копить" is mostly used for saving money or resources and carries a more informal tone.
• Pay attention to the aspect of the verb; these are all imperfective verbs. For completed actions, perfective forms like "накопить" or "собрать" may be used.

Common Errors:

• Mixing up "накапливать" and "копить": English learners often use "копить" for abstract concepts like knowledge, which is incorrect. Correct: "накапливать знания" (accumulate knowledge); Incorrect: "копить знания".
• Aspect confusion: Using imperfective verbs like "накапливать" when a completed action is implied. Correct: "Я накопил деньги" (I have saved up money); Incorrect: "Я накапливаю деньги" (implies ongoing action without completion).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of "копить" (saving) is often tied to a sense of frugality or preparation for the future, reflecting historical periods of scarcity. This nuance might not be as strong in English usage of "accumulate".

Related Concepts:

• накопление (accumulation, noun)
• сбор (collection, noun)
• экономия (saving, economy)