Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Agitate'

English Word: agitate

Key Russian Translations:

• волновать [vɐlˈnovətʲ] - [Formal, Often Emotional Context]
• возбуждать [vəzbʊˈʐdatʲ] - [Formal/Informal, Often Figurative or Intellectual Context]
• тревожить [trʲɪˈvoʐɨtʲ] - [Formal/Informal, Often Related to Worry or Anxiety]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in emotional or political contexts)

Difficulty: B1-B2 (Intermediate; varies by translation and context)

Pronunciation (Russian):

волновать: [vɐlˈnovətʲ]

Note on волновать: Stress on the second syllable; the "о" is pronounced as a reduced "a" sound due to Russian vowel reduction.

возбуждать: [vəzbʊˈʐdatʲ]

Note on возбуждать: Stress on the third syllable; the "ж" sound is a voiced fricative, similar to the "s" in "measure."

тревожить: [trʲɪˈvoʐɨtʲ]

Note on тревожить: Stress on the second syllable; the "р" is rolled slightly.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To Cause Anxiety or Worry

Translation(s) & Context:

• волновать - Used when referring to emotional disturbance or concern.
• тревожить - Often used for causing worry or unease, especially in personal contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Его слова сильно меня волнуют.

  His words agitate me greatly.

• Не тревожь меня по пустякам.

  Don't agitate me over trifles.

• Эта новость волнует всех в офисе.

  This news agitates everyone in the office.

2. To Stir Up or Excite (Figurative or Political)

Translation(s) & Context:

• возбуждать - Used in contexts of stirring emotions, ideas, or public opinion.

Usage Examples:

• Его речь возбудила толпу.

  His speech agitated the crowd.

• Эта идея возбуждает умы молодых ученых.

  This idea agitates the minds of young scientists.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

волновать (Verb, Imperfective): Regular verb of the 1st conjugation. Follows standard conjugation patterns for imperfective verbs.

Person	Present Tense	Past Tense (Masculine/Feminine/Neuter)
1st Singular (I)	волную	волновал / волновала / волновало
3rd Plural (They)	волнуют	волновали

возбуждать (Verb, Imperfective): Regular verb of the 1st conjugation with a stem change in some forms.

тревожить (Verb, Imperfective): Regular verb of the 2nd conjugation.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for волновать/тревожить (emotional context):

• беспокоить
• нервировать

Note: "беспокоить" is more general, while "нервировать" implies irritation.

Antonyms for волновать/тревожить:

• успокаивать
• утешать

Related Phrases:

• волновать душу - "to agitate the soul" (to deeply affect emotionally)
• возбуждать интерес - "to agitate interest" (to arouse interest)
• тревожить совесть - "to agitate the conscience" (to cause feelings of guilt or unease)

Usage Notes:

• "волновать" is the most versatile and commonly used translation for emotional agitation, often implying concern or excitement.
• "возбуждать" is more specific to intellectual or public agitation, such as stirring up ideas or crowds, and can sometimes have a negative connotation.
• "тревожить" focuses on causing worry or disturbance and is often used in personal or intimate contexts.
• Choose the translation based on the context—emotional (волновать/тревожить) vs. intellectual/public (возбуждать).

Common Errors:

Error 1: Using "возбуждать" in personal emotional contexts. Incorrect: "Эта новость меня возбуждает" (This news agitates me). Correct: "Эта новость меня волнует." Explanation: "возбуждать" is inappropriate for personal worry and can imply unintended connotations (e.g., arousal).

Error 2: Misusing aspects (perfective vs. imperfective). Incorrect: Using perfective "взволновать" for ongoing states. Correct: Use imperfective "волновать" for ongoing agitation (e.g., "Это меня волнует").

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, emotional expressions like "волновать" are often used in literature and everyday speech to convey deep feelings or concerns. Public agitation, as expressed by "возбуждать," is frequently associated with political or social movements, reflecting Russia's historical context of public discourse and activism.

Related Concepts:

• беспокойство (anxiety, worry)
• возмущение (indignation, agitation in a negative sense)
• волнение (excitement, agitation)