Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Acquaint'

English Word: acquaint

Key Russian Translations:

• знакомить [znɐˈkomʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, Verb, Imperfective]
• познакомить [pəznɐˈkomʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, Verb, Perfective]
• ознакомить [ɐznɐˈkomʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, Verb, Perfective, Often used for introducing to information]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for all translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

знакомить: [znɐˈkomʲɪtʲ]

Note on знакомить: Stress falls on the second syllable. The soft 'м' sound can be tricky for non-native speakers.

познакомить: [pəznɐˈkomʲɪtʲ]

Note on познакомить: The prefix 'по-' adds a perfective aspect, indicating a completed action.

ознакомить: [ɐznɐˈkomʲɪtʲ]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To make someone familiar with a person (introduce)

Translation(s) & Context:

• знакомить/познакомить - Used when introducing one person to another in a social or professional setting.

Usage Examples:

• Я хочу познакомить вас с моим другом.

  I want to introduce you to my friend.

• Он познакомил меня с директором компании.

  He introduced me to the company director.

• Мы часто знакомим новых сотрудников с командой.

  We often introduce new employees to the team.

2. To make someone familiar with information or a subject

Translation(s) & Context:

• ознакомить - Used when introducing someone to information, rules, or a topic.

Usage Examples:

• Менеджер ознакомил нас с новыми правилами.

  The manager acquainted us with the new rules.

• Пожалуйста, ознакомьтесь с этим документом.

  Please familiarize yourself with this document.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

знакомить (Imperfective Verb): Regular verb with standard conjugation for imperfective verbs of the 2nd conjugation group.

познакомить (Perfective Verb): Used to indicate a completed action. Conjugates similarly but only in past and future tenses.

ознакомить (Perfective Verb): Similar to познакомить, used for completed actions related to information.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for знакомить/познакомить:

• представить (to introduce, more formal)
• сводить (to bring together, informal)

Synonyms for ознакомить:

• информировать (to inform)

Antonyms: None directly applicable, as the concept of "acquaint" does not have a clear opposite in Russian.

Related Phrases:

• познакомиться с кем-то - To get acquainted with someone.
• ознакомиться с правилами - To familiarize oneself with the rules.
• знакомство с культурой - Acquaintance with the culture.

Usage Notes:

• The choice between знакомить/познакомить and ознакомить depends on the context: the former is for personal introductions, while the latter is for introducing information or concepts.
• Russian verbs have aspect (perfective/imperfective). Use знакомить for ongoing or repeated actions and познакомить for one-time, completed actions.
• These verbs are typically used in formal or neutral settings; for casual contexts, native speakers might use simpler expressions like "познакомиться" (to get to know).

Common Errors:

• Mixing up aspects: English speakers often use знакомить when познакомить is needed for a completed action. Example of error: "Я знакомлю его с другом вчера" (incorrect). Correct: "Я познакомил его с другом вчера" (I introduced him to my friend yesterday).
• Using ознакомить for people: Learners might mistakenly use ознакомить when introducing people. Example of error: "Я ознакомил их друг с другом" (incorrect). Correct: "Я познакомил их друг с другом" (I introduced them to each other).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, introductions (using знакомить/познакомить) are often formal, especially in professional settings. It is customary to use full names and titles during introductions, reflecting respect and hierarchy.

Related Concepts:

• знакомство (acquaintance, noun)
• знакомый (acquaintance, person)
• дружба (friendship)