Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'blend'

English Word: blend

Key Russian Translations:

• смешивать [smʲɪˈʂɨvətʲ] - [Verb, Imperfective, Informal]
• смешать [smʲɪˈʂatʲ] - [Verb, Perfective, Informal]
• смесь [smʲesʲ] - [Noun, Feminine, Refers to the result of blending]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for verbs; A2 (Beginner-Intermediate) for noun

Pronunciation (Russian):

смешивать: [smʲɪˈʂɨvətʲ]

Note on смешивать: Stress falls on the second syllable. The 'ш' sound is a retroflex fricative, distinct from English 'sh'.

смешать: [smʲɪˈʂatʲ]

смесь: [smʲesʲ]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To mix or combine (as a verb)

Translation(s) & Context:

• смешивать - Used for ongoing or habitual mixing (imperfective aspect).
• смешать - Used for a completed act of mixing (perfective aspect).

Usage Examples:

• Я люблю смешивать разные соки для завтрака.

  I love blending different juices for breakfast.

• Она смешала краски, чтобы получить новый цвет.

  She blended the paints to get a new color.

• Не смешивай эти ингредиенты слишком долго.

  Don’t blend these ingredients for too long.

2. A mixture or combination (as a noun)

Translation(s) & Context:

• смесь - Refers to the result of blending, often used for physical mixtures or abstract combinations.

Usage Examples:

• Эта смесь трав очень полезна для здоровья.

  This blend of herbs is very good for health.

• Его музыка — смесь джаза и рока.

  His music is a blend of jazz and rock.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

смешивать (Imperfective Verb): Regular conjugation in present, past, and future tenses.

Person	Present	Past (Masc./Fem./Neut.)	Future
1st Sing.	смешиваю	смешивал/смешивала/смешивало	буду смешивать
3rd Plur.	смешивают	смешивали	будут смешивать

смешать (Perfective Verb): Used only in past and future tenses (no present form due to aspect).

смесь (Noun, Feminine): Declines regularly in all cases.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	смесь	смеси
Genitive	смеси	смесей

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for смешивать/смешать:

• перемешивать (to mix, often with a focus on stirring)
• сочетать (to combine, often abstract or stylistic)

Synonyms for смесь:

• комбинация (combination, often abstract)
• сплав (alloy or fusion, often for materials)

Antonyms for смешивать/смешать:

• разделять (to separate)

Related Phrases:

• смешивать краски - to blend paints (literal mixing of colors)
• смешать карты - to shuffle cards (also metaphorical for confusing plans)
• смесь культур - a blend of cultures (referring to cultural fusion)

Usage Notes:

• The choice between смешивать (imperfective) and смешать (perfective) depends on the aspect of the action. Use the former for ongoing or repeated actions, and the latter for completed actions.
• смесь as a noun is often used in both literal (e.g., a blend of ingredients) and figurative (e.g., a blend of ideas) contexts.
• Be mindful of the context when translating "blend." If referring to a result, use the noun; if referring to the action, use the appropriate verb form.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using смешивать instead of смешать when describing a one-time, completed action.
  Incorrect: Я смешиваю коктейль вчера.
  Correct: Я смешал коктейль вчера. (I blended the cocktail yesterday.)
  Explanation: Perfective aspect is needed for past completed actions.
• Error: Misusing смесь in verb contexts.
  Incorrect: Я смесь ингредиенты.
  Correct: Я смешиваю ингредиенты. (I blend the ingredients.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of "blending" often appears in culinary contexts (e.g., blending flavors in traditional dishes like borscht) and in discussions of cultural or ethnic diversity, where смесь might describe a fusion of traditions.

Related Concepts:

• комбинировать (to combine)
• соединять (to connect or unite)
• гармония (harmony, as a result of blending)