Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'assign'

English Word: assign

Key Russian Translations:

• назначить [nɐˈznatʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, Often used for roles or tasks]
• присвоить [prʲɪsˈvoɪtʲ] - [Formal/Technical, Often used for values or categories]
• поручить [pɐrʊˈtʲɪtʲ] - [Formal/Neutral, Often used for delegating tasks]

Frequency: Medium (Common in formal and professional contexts)

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

Pronunciation (Russian):

назначить: [nɐˈznatʲɪtʲ]

Note on назначить: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "ч" is pronounced as a soft "ch".

присвоить: [prʲɪsˈvoɪtʲ]

Note on присвоить: Stress on the second syllable. The "св" cluster can be tricky for non-native speakers.

поручить: [pɐrʊˈtʲɪtʲ]

Note on поручить: Stress on the third syllable. The "р" is rolled slightly.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To give someone a task or responsibility

Translation(s) & Context:

• назначить - Used when appointing someone to a role or task, often in formal or official settings.
• поручить - Used for delegating tasks or responsibilities, often implying trust.

Usage Examples:

• Директор назначил его на должность менеджера.

  The director assigned him to the position of manager.

• Ей поручили подготовить отчет к завтрашнему дню.

  She was assigned to prepare the report by tomorrow.

• Мы назначили встречу на следующую неделю.

  We assigned a meeting for next week.

2. To allocate or attribute something (e.g., value, category)

Translation(s) & Context:

• присвоить - Used for assigning values, labels, or categories, often in technical or formal contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Программист присвоил переменной значение 10.

  The programmer assigned the variable a value of 10.

• Этому объекту присвоили уникальный код.

  This object was assigned a unique code.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

назначить (Verb, Perfective): Regular conjugation in the past, present, and future tenses. Often paired with imperfective "назначать" for ongoing actions.

Person	Present (назначать)	Past (назначить)	Future (назначить)
Я (I)	назначаю	назначил/назначила	назначу
Ты (You)	назначаешь	назначил/назначила	назначишь
Он/Она (He/She)	назначает	назначил/назначила	назначит

присвоить (Verb, Perfective): Regular conjugation, often paired with imperfective "присваивать".

поручить (Verb, Perfective): Regular conjugation, often paired with imperfective "поручать".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for назначить:

• определить (to define or designate)
• установить (to establish or set)

Note: "определить" is broader and can apply to defining concepts, while "установить" often implies setting rules or dates.

Antonyms for назначить:

• отменить (to cancel)
• снять (to remove)

Related Phrases:

• назначить встречу - To assign/schedule a meeting.
• поручить задание - To assign a task.
• присвоить звание - To assign a rank or title.

Usage Notes:

• "назначить" is the most versatile and formal of the translations, often used for appointments or scheduling.
• "поручить" implies a sense of trust or delegation, often used when assigning tasks to someone reliable.
• "присвоить" is more technical and specific, commonly used in programming, classification, or formal attribution.
• Be mindful of aspect (perfective/imperfective) when using these verbs, as it affects the meaning (e.g., completed vs. ongoing action).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "присвоить" for assigning tasks to people. Incorrect: "Я присвоил ему задание." Correct: "Я поручил ему задание." Explanation: "присвоить" is for inanimate objects or values, not for delegating tasks to people.
• Error: Ignoring verb aspect. Incorrect: "Я назначаю его каждый день." Correct: Use "назначить" for one-time actions or specify context. Explanation: Aspect is crucial in Russian to convey whether the action is ongoing or completed.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, assigning roles or tasks (using "назначить" or "поручить") often carries a sense of hierarchy or formality, especially in professional settings. It’s common to use polite forms or indirect language when assigning tasks to avoid sounding overly authoritative.

Related Concepts:

• делегировать (to delegate)
• распределить (to distribute)
• установить (to establish)