Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'await'

English Word: await

Key Russian Translations:

• ожидать [ɐʐɨˈdatʲ] - [Formal/Informal]
• ждать [ʐdatʲ] - [Informal]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

ожидать: [ɐʐɨˈdatʲ]

Note on ожидать: Stress falls on the second syllable. The initial 'о' is pronounced as a reduced 'a' sound due to Russian vowel reduction.

ждать: [ʐdatʲ]

Note on ждать: The 'ж' sound is a voiced retroflex fricative, unique to Russian. Non-native speakers often struggle with this sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To wait for someone or something with expectation

Translation(s) & Context:

• ожидать - Used in formal or neutral contexts, often implying expectation of an event or person.
• ждать - More casual, commonly used in everyday speech for waiting for someone or something.

Usage Examples:

• Я ожидаю важного звонка сегодня.

  I am awaiting an important call today.

• Мы ожидаем прибытия гостей к вечеру.

  We are awaiting the arrival of guests by evening.

• Ты долго ждёшь автобус?

  Have you been awaiting the bus for long?

• Она ждёт ответа на своё письмо.

  She is awaiting a reply to her letter.

• Мы ждём хороших новостей с нетерпением.

  We are eagerly awaiting good news.

2. To be in store for (formal, often figurative)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ожидать - Used in formal or literary contexts to imply something (often negative) awaits someone.

Usage Examples:

• Его ожидает трудное будущее.

  A difficult future awaits him.

• Нас ожидают серьёзные испытания.

  Serious challenges await us.

• Что ожидает эту страну в ближайшие годы?

  What awaits this country in the coming years?

Russian Forms/Inflections:

ожидать (verb, imperfective): Regular verb of the first conjugation. Below is the present tense conjugation:

ждать (verb, imperfective): Irregular verb. Below is the present tense conjugation:

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for ожидать/ждать:

• дожидаться (slightly more formal, implies waiting until something happens)
• поджидать (implies waiting with intent, often for a person)

Antonyms for ожидать/ждать:

• уходить (to leave)
• игнорировать (to ignore)

Related Phrases:

• ожидать с нетерпением - to await eagerly
• ждать своей очереди - to await one’s turn
• ожидать худшего - to await the worst

Usage Notes:

• Choosing between ожидать and ждать: Use "ожидать" in formal or written contexts, or when emphasizing expectation. Use "ждать" in casual, everyday speech.
• Aspectual Pair: Both verbs are imperfective. Their perfective counterparts are "дождаться" (for ждать) and "ожидать" (can be used in perfective contexts with prefixes like "до-").
• Grammar Note: Both verbs often take a direct object in the accusative case (e.g., "ждать автобус" - awaiting the bus).

Common Errors:

• Error: Misusing "ожидать" in casual speech, e.g., saying "Я ожидаю друга" in an informal setting sounds unnatural. Correction: Use "Я жду друга" instead.
• Error: Incorrect conjugation of "ждать," e.g., saying "Я ждаю" instead of "Я жду." Explanation: "ждать" is irregular, and the first person singular form drops the 'а' vowel.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, waiting is often associated with patience, a valued trait. Expressions like "ждать своей очереди" (awaiting one’s turn) reflect a cultural acceptance of waiting as part of daily life, especially in bureaucratic or service contexts.

Related Concepts:

• терпение (patience)
• ожидание (expectation)
• время (time)