Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Beg'

English Word: beg

Key Russian Translations:

• просить [ˈprosʲɪtʲ] - [Neutral, Commonly Used]
• умолять [ʊˈmolʲɪtʲ] - [Emotional, Intense]
• попрашивать [pəprɐˈʂaɪvətʲ] - [Informal, Often for Begging in Public]

Frequency: High (especially "просить")

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner to Intermediate; "просить" is A2, "умолять" and "попрашивать" are B1 due to emotional or contextual nuances)

Pronunciation (Russian):

просить: [ˈprosʲɪtʲ]

Note on просить: The stress is on the first syllable. The 'о' sounds like 'o' in "core" when stressed.

умолять: [ʊˈmolʲɪtʲ]

Note on умолять: Stress on the second syllable. The 'у' is pronounced as 'oo' in "food".

попрашивать: [pəprɐˈʂaɪvətʲ]

Note on попрашивать: Stress on the third syllable. The prefix "по-" adds a sense of repetition or casualness.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To Request Something (General)

Translation(s) & Context:

• просить - Used in neutral or formal contexts to ask for something (e.g., help, permission, or an object).

Usage Examples:

• Я прошу вашей помощи.

  I beg for your help. / I am asking for your help.

• Прошу прощения за опоздание.

  I beg your pardon for being late. / I apologize for being late.

• Можно попросить воды?

  May I beg/ask for some water?

2. To Plead or Implored (Emotional)

Translation(s) & Context:

• умолять - Used when pleading desperately or emotionally, often in serious or dramatic situations.

Usage Examples:

• Она умоляла его остаться.

  She begged him to stay.

• Умоляю, не уходи!

  I beg you, don’t leave!

3. To Beg for Alms (Informal/Public Context)

Translation(s) & Context:

• попрашивать - Often refers to begging for money or items in public, with a colloquial or slightly derogatory tone.

Usage Examples:

• Он попрашивает на улице каждый день.

  He begs on the street every day.

• Некоторые дети попрашивают у метро.

  Some children beg near the metro station.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

просить (Imperfective Verb): Regular verb of the first conjugation. Below is the present tense conjugation:

Person	Singular	Plural
1st	прошу [ˈproʂʊ]	просим [ˈprosʲɪm]
2nd	просишь [ˈprosʲɪʂ]	просите [prɐˈsʲitʲɪ]
3rd	просит [ˈprosʲɪt]	просят [ˈprosʲət]

умолять (Imperfective Verb): Also a regular verb of the first conjugation, follows similar patterns to "просить".

попрашивать (Imperfective Verb): Regular but less formal, often used with iterative prefix "по-". Conjugates similarly to "просить".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "просить":

• запрашивать (more formal, often for information)
• обращаться (to appeal or address someone)

Synonyms for "умолять":

• молить (to plead, often in religious contexts)
• заклинать (to implore, very intense)

Antonyms:

• требовать (to demand)
• приказывать (to order)

Related Phrases:

• просить прощения - to beg for forgiveness / to apologize
• умолять о пощаде - to beg for mercy
• попрашивать милостыню - to beg for alms (charity)

Usage Notes:

• "просить" is the most neutral and versatile translation for "beg", suitable for most contexts where a request is made. It can be used formally and informally.
• "умолять" carries a strong emotional tone and is used when the begging is desperate or heartfelt. It is less common in casual conversation.
• "попрашивать" is colloquial and often implies begging for material things (like money) in a public or repetitive manner. It may carry a negative connotation.
• Be mindful of the aspect in Russian verbs: "просить" (imperfective) is for ongoing or repeated requests, while "попросить" (perfective) is for a single, completed request.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "умолять" in casual requests. For example, saying "Умоляю воды" instead of "Прошу воды" for "I beg for water".
  Explanation: "умолять" is too intense for everyday requests and should be reserved for emotional pleading.
• Error: Forgetting to use the accusative case after "просить". For example, saying "Прошу вода" instead of "Прошу воды".
  Explanation: "просить" requires the accusative case for the object being requested.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, direct begging for material help (e.g., money on the street) can sometimes carry a stigma, and "попрашивать" may reflect this negative perception. However, polite requests using "просить" (e.g., "Прошу прощения" for apologies) are seen as a sign of good manners. Emotional pleading with "умолять" often appears in literature or dramatic contexts, reflecting deep cultural values of compassion and empathy.

Related Concepts:

• мольба (plea)
• милостыня (alms)
• прошение (formal request or petition)