Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Aground'

English Word: aground

Key Russian Translations:

• на мели [nɐ ˈmʲelʲɪ] - [Informal, Used for ships or boats stuck on shallow ground]
• севший на мель [ˈsʲevʂɨj nɐ ˈmʲelʲ] - [Formal, Often used in technical or narrative contexts]

Frequency: Low (Rarely used in everyday conversation, mostly in specific nautical contexts)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate - Requires understanding of context and specific vocabulary)

Pronunciation (Russian):

на мели: [nɐ ˈmʲelʲɪ]

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

севший на мель: [ˈsʲevʂɨj nɐ ˈmʲelʲ]

Note on севший на мель: Stress is on the first syllable of "севший" and the second syllable of "мель".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Literal Meaning (Ship or Boat Stuck on Shallow Ground)

Translation(s) & Context:

• на мели - Commonly used to describe a ship or boat that is stuck on a sandbank or shallow water, often in informal contexts.
• севший на мель - More formal or descriptive, often used in written reports or narratives about ships grounding.

Usage Examples:

• Корабль стоит на мели уже три дня.

  The ship has been aground for three days.

• Судно село на мель недалеко от берега.

  The vessel ran aground not far from the shore.

• Мы не можем двигаться, потому что лодка на мели.

  We can't move because the boat is aground.

• Корабль, севший на мель, нуждается в спасательной операции.

  The ship that ran aground needs a rescue operation.

• Из-за шторма многие суда сели на мель.

  Due to the storm, many vessels ran aground.

2. Figurative Meaning (Being Stuck or Stranded, e.g., Financially)

Translation(s) & Context:

• на мели - Often used figuratively to mean being broke or in a difficult situation with no progress.

Usage Examples:

• После потери работы я оказался на мели.

  After losing my job, I found myself aground (broke).

• Компания на мели из-за неудачных инвестиций.

  The company is aground due to bad investments.

• Без поддержки мы останемся на мели.

  Without support, we will be left aground (stranded).

Russian Forms/Inflections:

на мели: This is a fixed phrase consisting of the preposition "на" (on) and the noun "мель" (sandbank/shallow). "Мель" is a feminine noun and changes according to grammatical cases:

севший на мель: This phrase includes the past participle "севший" (from the verb "сесть", to sit/run aground), which agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies (e.g., корабль - masculine, судно - neuter).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for на мели (literal and figurative):

• застрявший (stuck)
• в беде (in trouble, figurative)

Note: "застрявший" is broader and can apply to non-nautical contexts, while "в беде" is purely figurative.

Antonyms for на мели (literal):

• на плаву (afloat)

Related Phrases:

• сесть на мель - to run aground (literal, for ships or boats)
• оказаться на мели - to find oneself aground (figurative, e.g., financially stranded)
• снимать с мели - to refloat (to get a ship off a sandbank)

Usage Notes:

• "на мели" is the most versatile translation for "aground", used both literally for ships and figuratively for being stuck or broke. It is more common in everyday speech.
• "севший на мель" is typically used in more formal or descriptive contexts, often as a past participle modifying a noun like "корабль" (ship) or "судно" (vessel).
• Be mindful of the figurative use of "на мели" when translating; it often implies financial hardship or stagnation, which might not be immediately obvious to English speakers.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "на мели" without the preposition "на". Incorrect: "Корабль мели". Correct: "Корабль на мели". Explanation: The preposition "на" is essential in this fixed phrase to indicate location.
• Error: Misusing "севший на мель" in present tense contexts. Incorrect: "Корабль сесть на мель сейчас". Correct: "Корабль сел на мель" (past tense). Explanation: "Сесть" is a perfective verb often used in past tense for completed actions like running aground.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, the phrase "на мели" carries a strong cultural connotation when used figuratively. It often evokes a sense of helplessness or frustration, commonly associated with financial struggles, especially in post-Soviet contexts where economic instability has been a recurring theme.

Related Concepts:

• кораблекрушение (shipwreck)
• шторм (storm)
• берег (shore)