Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Afloat'

English Word: afloat

Key Russian Translations:

• на плаву [nə plɐˈvu] - [Informal, Idiomatic]
• плавающий [plɐˈvajʉɕːɪj] - [Formal, Literal]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "на плаву"; A2 (Elementary) for "плавающий"

Pronunciation (Russian):

на плаву: [nə plɐˈvu]

Note on на плаву: Stress falls on the second syllable of "плаву". The preposition "на" is unstressed.

плавающий: [plɐˈvajʉɕːɪj]

Note on плавающий: Stress is on the first syllable. The ending changes based on gender and case.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Floating on Water (Literal)

Translation(s) & Context:

• плавающий - Used in literal contexts to describe something floating on the surface of water.

Usage Examples:

• На озере виден плавающий плот.

  A floating raft is visible on the lake.

• Плавающий мусор загрязняет реку.

  Floating debris pollutes the river.

• Корабль остался плавающим после шторма.

  The ship remained afloat after the storm.

2. Staying Afloat (Figurative - Surviving or Managing)

Translation(s) & Context:

• на плаву - Used idiomatically to mean staying solvent, surviving, or managing to continue.

Usage Examples:

• Компания пока на плаву, несмотря на кризис.

  The company is still afloat despite the crisis.

• Он пытается держаться на плаву после потери работы.

  He is trying to stay afloat after losing his job.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

на плаву: This is a fixed idiomatic phrase. It does not inflect and is always used in this form (preposition "на" + noun "плаву" in the prepositional case).

плавающий: This is a present active participle of the verb "плавать" (to float/swim). It functions as an adjective and inflects for gender, number, and case.

Declension of "плавающий" (Masculine Singular)

Case	Form
Nominative	плавающий
Genitive	плавающего
Dative	плавающему
Accusative	плавающий / плавающего
Instrumental	плавающим
Prepositional	плавающем

Note: Forms change for feminine (плавающая), neuter (плавающее), and plural (плавающие).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "на плаву" (figurative):

• в деле
• на ходу

Note: "в деле" emphasizes being active or involved, while "на ходу" can imply being operational or functioning.

Synonyms for "плавающий" (literal):

• дрейфующий
• несущийся по воде

Antonyms for "плавающий":

• тонущий
• погруженный

Related Phrases:

• держаться на плаву - To stay afloat (figurative: to manage or survive difficult circumstances).
• плавающий график - Floating schedule (a flexible work or time schedule).
• плавающий курс - Floating rate (used in financial contexts, e.g., exchange rates).

Usage Notes:

• "на плаву" is primarily idiomatic and should be used in figurative contexts related to survival or continuation (e.g., financially or operationally). It does not refer to literal floating.
• "плавающий" is more literal and describes something physically floating, but it can also be used in technical or abstract contexts (e.g., "плавающий график" for a flexible schedule).
• Choose between the two translations based on whether the context is literal or figurative. Mixing them up can lead to misunderstandings.

Common Errors:

Error 1: Using "на плаву" in a literal context.

Incorrect: Лодка на плаву. (Intended: The boat is afloat.)

Correct: Лодка плавающая. / Лодка на воде.

Explanation: "на плаву" is idiomatic and does not refer to physical floating. Use "плавающий" or other literal expressions.

Error 2: Incorrect declension of "плавающий".

Incorrect: Я вижу плавающий лодку. (Intended: I see a floating boat.)

Correct: Я вижу плавающую лодку.

Explanation: "плавающий" must agree in gender with the noun it modifies. "лодка" (boat) is feminine, so use "плавающую" in the accusative case.

Cultural Notes:

The phrase "держаться на плаву" (to stay afloat) is frequently used in Russian to describe resilience or perseverance, especially in economic or personal struggles. It reflects a cultural emphasis on endurance in challenging times, a theme often found in Russian literature and everyday speech.

Related Concepts:

• дрейфовать (to drift)
• тонуть (to sink)
• выживать (to survive)