Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Allot'

English Word: allot

Key Russian Translations:

• распределять [rɐsprʲɪdʲɪˈlʲatʲ] - [Formal, Verb, Imperfective]
• выделять [vɨdʲɪˈlʲatʲ] - [Formal/Informal, Verb, Imperfective]
• назначать [nɐzˈnatʃɪtʲ] - [Formal, Verb, Imperfective]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for all translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

распределять: [rɐsprʲɪdʲɪˈlʲatʲ]

Note on распределять: Stress falls on the fourth syllable. The 'р' sound is rolled, typical of Russian pronunciation.

выделять: [vɨdʲɪˈlʲatʲ]

Note on выделять: Stress on the third syllable. The soft 'л' sound may be challenging for non-native speakers.

назначать: [nɐzˈnatʃɪtʲ]

Note on назначать: Stress on the second syllable. Pay attention to the 'ч' sound, which is softer than English 'ch'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To assign or distribute (resources, tasks, etc.)

Translation(s) & Context:

• распределять - Commonly used for distributing resources or tasks in a planned manner, often in formal or organizational contexts.
• выделять - Used for allocating something specific, like time, money, or space, often with a sense of setting aside.

Usage Examples:

• Мы должны распределить бюджет на следующий год.

  We need to allot the budget for next year.

• Она выделила час на встречу.

  She allotted an hour for the meeting.

• Комитет распределил обязанности между членами.

  The committee allotted responsibilities among the members.

2. To appoint or designate (a role, time, etc.)

Translation(s) & Context:

• назначать - Used for assigning roles, duties, or specific times, often in formal or official contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Его назначили ответственным за проект.

  He was allotted responsibility for the project.

• На встречу назначили время в 10 утра.

  A time of 10 a.m. was allotted for the meeting.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All translations are verbs in the imperfective aspect, indicating ongoing or repeated action. Below are key conjugations for the present tense of распределять as an example:

Note: Similar conjugation patterns apply to выделять and назначать, with slight stem changes. Perfective forms (e.g., распределить, выделить, назначить) exist for completed actions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for распределять/выделять (distribute/allot):

• делить
• раздавать

Note: 'делить' often implies division into parts, while 'раздавать' suggests handing out.

Antonyms:

• собирать (to collect)
• объединять (to unite)

Related Phrases:

• распределять ресурсы - Distribute resources, often used in business or organizational contexts.
• выделять время - Allot time, commonly used for scheduling or planning.
• назначать встречу - Allot/appoint a meeting time, used in formal arrangements.

Usage Notes:

• распределять is often used for systematic or planned distribution, especially of intangible things like tasks or budgets. It is more formal than 'выделять'.
• выделять can imply setting something aside or emphasizing allocation, such as time or funds, and works in both formal and informal contexts.
• назначать is more specific to assigning roles, duties, or fixed times, often in official or structured settings.
• Aspect is crucial in Russian: use imperfective forms (listed above) for ongoing allocation, and perfective forms (распределить, выделить, назначить) for one-time or completed actions.

Common Errors:

• Mixing up aspects: English speakers often misuse imperfective and perfective forms. For example, saying "Я распределю бюджет" (perfective, implying a one-time action) when intending an ongoing process. Correct: "Я распределяю бюджет" (imperfective, ongoing).
• Wrong verb choice: Using 'назначать' for distributing resources (e.g., "назначать бюджет") is incorrect. Correct: Use 'распределять' or 'выделять' for resources.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of allocation (especially of resources or time) often carries a sense of careful planning and formality, reflecting a historical emphasis on centralized decision-making. Using verbs like 'распределять' in professional settings signals respect for structure and hierarchy.

Related Concepts:

• деление (division)
• планирование (planning)
• управление (management)