Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Acquire'

English Word: Acquire

Key Russian Translations:

• приобретать [prʲɪəbrʲɪˈtatʲ] - [Formal, Often used for material or abstract gains]
• получать [pəlʊˈt͡ɕatʲ] - [Neutral, Common for receiving or obtaining]
• добывать [dəbɨˈvatʲ] - [Informal, Often used for effortful acquisition]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in various contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "приобретать" and "получать"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "добывать" due to nuanced usage

Pronunciation (Russian):

приобретать: [prʲɪəbrʲɪˈtatʲ]

Note on приобретать: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "р" sound is rolled, and "е" is pronounced as a soft "ye".

получать: [pəlʊˈt͡ɕatʲ]

Note on получать: Stress on the second syllable. The "ч" is a soft "ch" sound.

добывать: [dəbɨˈvatʲ]

Note on добывать: Stress on the second syllable. The "ы" sound is a unique Russian vowel, pronounced as a hard "i".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To gain possession of something (material or abstract)

Translation(s) & Context:

• приобретать - Often used for buying or obtaining skills, knowledge, or property in a formal context.
• получать - Used for receiving something, often without explicit effort (e.g., gifts, information).

Usage Examples:

• Она приобрела новую машину. (Ona priobrela novuyu mashinu.)

  She acquired a new car.

• Он приобрёл опыт работы за границей. (On priobryol opyt raboty za granitsey.)

  He acquired work experience abroad.

• Я получил письмо от друга. (Ya poluchil pis’mo ot druga.)

  I acquired (received) a letter from a friend.

2. To obtain through effort or struggle

Translation(s) & Context:

• добывать - Used for acquiring something with difficulty, often related to resources or information.

Usage Examples:

• Они добывали золото в горах. (Oni dobyvali zoloto v gorakh.)

  They acquired (mined) gold in the mountains.

• Он добыл важные сведения. (On dobyl vazhnyye svedeniya.)

  He acquired (obtained) important information.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

приобретать (verb, imperfective): Regular conjugation in present, past, and future tenses. Below is the present tense conjugation:

Person	Form
Я (I)	приобретаю [prʲɪəbrʲɪˈtaju]
Ты (You, sing.)	приобретаешь [prʲɪəbrʲɪˈtajeʃʲ]
Он/Она/Оно (He/She/It)	приобретает [prʲɪəbrʲɪˈtajet]
Мы (We)	приобретаем [prʲɪəbrʲɪˈtajem]
Вы (You, pl.)	приобретаете [prʲɪəbrʲɪˈtajetʲe]
Они (They)	приобретают [prʲɪəbrʲɪˈtajut]

получать (verb, imperfective): Follows similar regular conjugation patterns as above.

добывать (verb, imperfective): Also regular, with similar conjugation to "приобретать".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "приобретать":

• покупать (to buy)
• овладевать (to master, often for skills)

Note: "покупать" is more specific to purchasing, while "овладевать" applies to mastering skills or knowledge.

Antonyms for "приобретать":

• терять (to lose)
• лишаться (to be deprived of)

Related Phrases:

• приобрести навыки (priobresti navyki) - to acquire skills
• получить образование (poluchit’ obrazovaniye) - to acquire (receive) an education
• добыть информацию (dobyt’ informatsiyu) - to acquire (obtain) information

Usage Notes:

• "Приобретать" is the most versatile translation for "acquire" and is often used in formal or written contexts for both material and abstract acquisitions (e.g., property, skills).
• "Получать" is more neutral and often implies receiving something without significant effort, such as gifts or information.
• "Добывать" suggests effort or struggle and is commonly used for resources (e.g., mining) or hard-to-obtain information.
• Choose the appropriate verb based on the context and level of effort implied in the acquisition process.

Common Errors:

Error 1: Using "получать" when significant effort is implied.

Incorrect: Я получил редкий минерал. (Ya poluchil redkiy mineral.) - I received a rare mineral (implies it was given without effort).

Correct: Я добыл редкий минерал. (Ya dobyl redkiy mineral.) - I acquired (obtained with effort) a rare mineral.

Explanation: "Получать" suggests passive receiving, while "добывать" fits contexts of active effort.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of "acquiring" something, especially knowledge or skills (using "приобретать"), is often tied to personal growth and perseverance. The word "добывать" may evoke historical associations with resource extraction, a significant part of Russia's economy and history.

Related Concepts:

• овладение (ovladeniye) - mastery
• достижение (dostizheniye) - achievement
• получение (polucheniye) - receiving