Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Add'

English Word: Add

Key Russian Translations:

• добавить [dɐˈbavʲɪtʲ] - [Neutral, Commonly Used]
• прибавить [prʲɪˈbavʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, Often Mathematical or Quantitative]
• сложить [slɐˈʐɨtʲ] - [Specific to Mathematical Addition]

Frequency: High (especially "добавить")

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner to Intermediate; "добавить" is easier, while "прибавить" and "сложить" may require contextual understanding)

Pronunciation (Russian):

добавить: [dɐˈbavʲɪtʲ]

Note on добавить: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "д" is pronounced softly before "а".

прибавить: [prʲɪˈbavʲɪtʲ]

Note on прибавить: The "р" is rolled slightly, and stress is on the second syllable.

сложить: [slɐˈʐɨtʲ]

Note on сложить: The "ж" sound is like the "s" in "measure". Stress on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To include or put something extra (General Addition)

Translation(s) & Context:

• добавить - Used in general contexts like adding ingredients, information, or elements.

Usage Examples:

• Добавь сахара в чай, пожалуйста.

  Add some sugar to the tea, please.

• Можно добавить ещё один пункт в список?

  Can I add one more item to the list?

• Она добавила несколько слов в конце письма.

  She added a few words at the end of the letter.

2. To increase a quantity or amount (Mathematical/Quantitative)

Translation(s) & Context:

• прибавить - Often used in formal or numerical contexts, such as adding numbers or increasing speed.
• сложить - Specifically for mathematical addition of numbers.

Usage Examples:

• Прибавь десять к двадцати, и получится тридцать.

  Add ten to twenty, and you get thirty.

• Нужно прибавить скорость на этом участке.

  We need to add speed on this section.

• Сложи эти числа и скажи результат.

  Add these numbers and tell me the result.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

добавить (Perfective Verb): This verb belongs to the first conjugation group. It is perfective, meaning it indicates a completed action. Its imperfective counterpart is "добавлять".

Person	Present (Imperfective: добавлять)	Past (Perfective: добавить)	Future (Perfective: добавить)
Я (I)	добавляю	добавил/добавила	добавлю
Ты (You, informal)	добавляешь	добавил/добавила	добавишь
Он/Она/Оно (He/She/It)	добавляет	добавил/добавила/добавило	добавит

прибавить (Perfective Verb): Similar to "добавить", it is perfective with an imperfective counterpart "прибавлять". Follows similar conjugation patterns.

сложить (Perfective Verb): Perfective verb with imperfective "складывать". Used specifically in mathematical or stacking contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "добавить":

• присоединить (to join or attach)
• включить (to include)

Note: "присоединить" implies a physical or conceptual joining, while "включить" is often used for inclusion in a group or list.

Antonyms for "добавить":

• убрать (to remove)
• отнять (to subtract)

Related Phrases:

• добавить масла в огонь - "to add fuel to the fire" (idiomatic, to worsen a situation)
• прибавить в весе - "to gain weight" (quantitative increase)
• сложить два и два - "to put two and two together" (to figure something out)

Usage Notes:

• "добавить" is the most versatile and commonly used translation for "add". Use it in everyday contexts like cooking, writing, or casual conversation.
• "прибавить" often appears in formal or numerical contexts, such as adding numbers or increasing something measurable (e.g., speed, weight).
• "сложить" is restricted to mathematical addition or physically stacking objects. It is less common in casual speech for general "adding".
• Russian verbs often come in perfective/imperfective pairs. Use the imperfective forms (e.g., "добавлять") for ongoing or repeated actions.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "сложить" in non-mathematical contexts. Incorrect: "Сложи сахара в чай." (Add sugar to the tea.)
  Correct: "Добавь сахара в чай."
• Error: Ignoring aspect (perfective vs. imperfective). Incorrect: "Я добавить сахар каждый день." (I add sugar every day.)
  Correct: "Я добавляю сахар каждый день." (Use imperfective for habitual actions.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, the phrase "добавить масла в огонь" (to add fuel to the fire) is a common idiom to describe escalating a conflict or problem. It reflects a cultural tendency to use vivid imagery in everyday speech.

Related Concepts:

• увеличить (to increase)
• накопить (to accumulate)
• суммировать (to sum up)