Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Attract'

English Word: Attract

Key Russian Translations:

• привлекать [prʲɪvlʲɪˈkatʲ] - [Formal, General Usage]
• притягивать [prʲɪtʲɪˈɡʲivatʲ] - [Often Figurative or Physical Attraction]
• манить [mɐˈnʲitʲ] - [Informal, Emotional or Mystical Attraction]

Frequency: High (especially "привлекать")

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "привлекать" and "притягивать"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "манить"

Pronunciation (Russian):

привлекать: [prʲɪvlʲɪˈkatʲ]

Note on привлекать: Stress falls on the second syllable. The soft "л" sound [lʲ] can be challenging for non-native speakers.

притягивать: [prʲɪtʲɪˈɡʲivatʲ]

Note on притягивать: Stress on the third syllable. Pay attention to the soft "т" [tʲ].

манить: [mɐˈnʲitʲ]

Note on манить: Stress on the second syllable. The "и" sounds like a short "ee".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To draw attention or interest (general attraction)

Translation(s) & Context:

• привлекать - Used in formal or neutral contexts to describe drawing attention or interest (e.g., attracting customers, attention).

Usage Examples:

• Этот магазин привлекает много покупателей.

  This store attracts a lot of customers.

• Её улыбка привлекает всех вокруг.

  Her smile attracts everyone around.

• Нам нужно привлечь внимание к этой проблеме.

  We need to attract attention to this issue.

2. To pull or draw physically or metaphorically (like a magnet)

Translation(s) & Context:

• притягивать - Often used for physical attraction (e.g., gravity, magnets) or metaphorical pull (e.g., mysterious allure).

Usage Examples:

• Магнит притягивает железо.

  A magnet attracts iron.

• Его харизма притягивает людей.

  His charisma attracts people.

• Этот город притягивает туристов своей историей.

  This city attracts tourists with its history.

3. To lure or entice (emotional or mystical attraction)

Translation(s) & Context:

• манить - Used in informal or poetic contexts to describe luring or enticing, often with an emotional or mystical connotation.

Usage Examples:

• Далёкие страны манят путешественников.

  Distant lands attract travelers.

• Её взгляд манит и завораживает.

  Her gaze attracts and captivates.

• Мечта о свободе манила его всю жизнь.

  The dream of freedom attracted him all his life.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

привлекать (verb, imperfective, transitive): Follows regular conjugation for verbs ending in -ать. Below is the present tense conjugation:

Person	Singular	Plural
1st	привлекаю [prʲɪvlʲɪˈkaju]	привлекаем [prʲɪvlʲɪˈkajɪm]
2nd	привлекаешь [prʲɪvlʲɪˈkajɪʃ]	привлекаете [prʲɪvlʲɪˈkajɪtʲɪ]
3rd	привлекает [prʲɪvlʲɪˈkajɪt]	привлекают [prʲɪvlʲɪˈkajut]

Note: Perfective form is "привлечь" [prʲɪvlʲɪˈtʃʲ].

притягивать (verb, imperfective, transitive): Follows similar conjugation patterns to "привлекать". Perfective form is "притянуть".

манить (verb, imperfective, transitive): Regular conjugation for -ить verbs. Perfective form is "поманить".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "привлекать":

• интересовать (to interest)
• влечь (to draw, often emotionally)

Note: "интересовать" is more about sparking curiosity, while "влечь" implies a deeper emotional pull.

Antonyms for "привлекать":

• отталкивать (to repel)
• отпугивать (to scare off)

Related Phrases:

• привлекать внимание - To attract attention.
• притягивать взгляды - To attract looks/eyes (to be eye-catching).
• манить к себе - To lure or draw someone in (often emotionally).

Usage Notes:

• "Привлекать" is the most neutral and widely used translation for "attract", suitable for formal and general contexts.
• "Притягивать" often implies a physical or metaphorical force, such as magnetism or an irresistible pull.
• "Манить" carries a more poetic or emotional tone, often used in literature or informal speech to describe luring or enticing.
• Be mindful of aspect (imperfective vs. perfective) when using these verbs, as it affects the meaning (e.g., ongoing action vs. completed action).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "манить" in formal contexts. Incorrect: "Эта компания манит клиентов." Correct: "Эта компания привлекает клиентов." (This company attracts clients.)
• Error: Confusing "притягивать" with physical-only contexts. It can be metaphorical, e.g., "Его идеи притягивают слушателей" (His ideas attract listeners).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of attraction (especially emotional or mystical, as conveyed by "манить") often appears in literature and folklore, reflecting a deep connection to themes of destiny or enchantment. For instance, the idea of a distant land or dream "манить" (luring) someone is a common trope in Russian poetry.

Related Concepts:

• очарование (enchantment)
• притяжение (attraction, pull)
• соблазн (temptation)