Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Activate'

English Word: Activate

Key Russian Translations:

• активировать [ɐktʲɪˈvʲirəvətʲ] - [Formal, General Use]
• включить [fklʲuˈtʃʲitʲ] - [Informal, Often for Devices]
• запустить [zəpʊˈsʲtʲitʲ] - [Informal, Often for Processes or Programs]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in technical and everyday contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "активировать"; A2 (Beginner-Intermediate) for "включить" and "запустить"

Pronunciation (Russian):

активировать: [ɐktʲɪˈvʲirəvətʲ]

Note on активировать: Stress falls on the third syllable. The "р" sound is rolled, which may be challenging for non-native speakers.

включить: [fklʲuˈtʃʲitʲ]

Note on включить: The "в" is pronounced as a soft "f" sound before "к". Stress is on the second syllable.

запустить: [zəpʊˈsʲtʲitʲ]

Note on запустить: Stress is on the second syllable. The "у" is pronounced as a short "oo".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To make something start working (e.g., a device or system)

Translation(s) & Context:

• включить - Commonly used for turning on devices or mechanisms (e.g., lights, engines).
• активировать - More formal, often used for systems or accounts (e.g., activating a subscription).

Usage Examples:

• Пожалуйста, включи свет в комнате.

  Please activate (turn on) the light in the room.

• Я активировал свою учетную запись на сайте.

  I activated my account on the website.

• Нужно включить двигатель перед поездкой.

  You need to activate (start) the engine before the trip.

2. To start a process or program

Translation(s) & Context:

• запустить - Often used for initiating processes, software, or projects.
• активировать - Used in formal or technical contexts for starting something (e.g., a protocol).

Usage Examples:

• Я запустил приложение на телефоне.

  I activated (launched) the app on my phone.

• Мы активировали новый проект на прошлой неделе.

  We activated (started) the new project last week.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

активировать (Verb, Perfective): Regular verb of the 1st conjugation. Often used in formal contexts.

включить (Verb, Perfective): Regular verb, often used in everyday speech. Has an imperfective form "включать".

запустить (Verb, Perfective): Regular verb, often used for processes. Has an imperfective form "запускать".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for активировать:

• включить (more informal, device-oriented)
• запустить (process-oriented)

Antonyms for активировать:

• деактивировать (deactivate)
• выключить (turn off)

Related Phrases:

• включить свет - Turn on the light.
• запустить двигатель - Start the engine.
• активировать код - Activate a code (e.g., for software or subscriptions).

Usage Notes:

• "активировать" is more formal and often used in technical or official contexts (e.g., activating accounts or systems). It is less common in casual speech.
• "включить" is the most versatile and frequently used term for turning on devices or mechanisms in everyday situations.
• "запустить" is typically used for initiating processes, programs, or projects, and may not always fit contexts involving physical devices.
• Pay attention to the perfective/imperfective aspect of these verbs. Perfective forms (like "включить") imply a completed action, while imperfective forms (like "включать") describe ongoing or repeated actions.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "активировать" in casual speech for turning on devices. Incorrect: "Я активировал телевизор." Correct: "Я включил телевизор." (I turned on the TV.) Explanation: "активировать" sounds overly formal and unnatural in this context.
• Error: Confusing "запустить" with "включить" when referring to physical devices. Incorrect: "Я запустил лампу." Correct: "Я включил лампу." (I turned on the lamp.) Explanation: "запустить" is more appropriate for processes or software, not simple devices.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, the choice of verb often reflects the speaker's level of formality or the context of the action. Using "активировать" in a casual setting might make the speaker sound overly technical or bureaucratic, which could be perceived as odd or humorous by native speakers.

Related Concepts:

• деактивировать (deactivate)
• выключить (turn off)
• запускать (to start, ongoing process)