Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'asleep'

English Word: asleep

Key Russian Translations:

• спящий [ˈspʲaʂːɪj] - [Adjective, Used for describing someone who is sleeping]
• уснувший [ʊˈsnuʂːɪj] - [Adjective, Often used for someone who has fallen asleep]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner to Intermediate)

Pronunciation (Russian):

спящий: [ˈspʲaʂːɪj]

Note on спящий: The stress is on the first syllable. The 'щ' sound is a soft, hissing sound unique to Russian.

уснувший: [ʊˈsnuʂːɪj]

Note on уснувший: The stress is on the second syllable. Pay attention to the soft 'ш' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. State of being asleep (general description)

Translation(s) & Context:

• спящий - Used to describe someone currently in the state of sleep, often in a neutral or formal tone.

Usage Examples:

• Ребёнок спящий в своей кроватке.

  The child is asleep in their crib.

• Спящий человек не слышал звонка.

  The asleep person didn’t hear the call.

• Спящий город выглядел мирно.

  The asleep city looked peaceful.

2. Having fallen asleep (action completed)

Translation(s) & Context:

• уснувший - Refers to someone who has recently fallen asleep, emphasizing the transition to sleep.

Usage Examples:

• Он уснувший на диване после ужина.

  He fell asleep on the couch after dinner.

• Уснувший пассажир пропустил свою остановку.

  The passenger who fell asleep missed their stop.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

спящий (Adjective): This adjective follows the standard Russian declension for adjectives. It agrees with the noun it modifies in gender, number, and case.

уснувший (Adjective): This is a past active participle of the verb "уснуть" (to fall asleep). It also declines like a regular adjective.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for спящий/уснувший:

• дремлющий (dozing)
• заснувший (having fallen asleep)

Note: "дремлющий" implies a lighter sleep or dozing, while "заснувший" is closer to "уснувший" in meaning.

Antonyms for спящий/уснувший:

• бодрствующий (awake)
• проснувшийся (having woken up)

Related Phrases:

• спящий режим (sleep mode) - Refers to a device in sleep mode.
• спящий вулкан (dormant volcano) - Used metaphorically for something inactive but potentially active.
• уснуть навсегда (to fall asleep forever) - A euphemism for passing away.

Usage Notes:

• "спящий" is more commonly used as a general descriptor for someone or something in a state of sleep. It can also be used metaphorically (e.g., "спящий город" - a sleeping city).
• "уснувший" emphasizes the action of having fallen asleep and is often used in contexts where the transition to sleep is relevant.
• Both terms are adjectives and must agree with the noun they describe in gender, number, and case.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "спящий" when referring to the action of falling asleep. Incorrect: "Он спящий после работы." Correct: "Он уснувший после работы." (He fell asleep after work.)
• Error: Failing to decline the adjective according to the noun it modifies. Incorrect: "Спящий девочка." Correct: "Спящая девочка." (The asleep girl - feminine form required.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, sleep is often associated with peace and rest, and expressions like "спящий город" (sleeping city) evoke a serene, quiet atmosphere. Additionally, sleep-related vocabulary might appear in folklore or fairy tales, where magical sleep ("уснуть навеки") often symbolizes transformation or enchantment.

Related Concepts:

• сон (sleep)
• спать (to sleep)
• уснуть (to fall asleep)
• проснуться (to wake up)