Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'carry'

English Word: carry

Key Russian Translations:

• нести [ˈnʲesʲtʲi] - [Informal, General Use]
• носить [ˈnosʲɪtʲ] - [Informal, Habitual or Repeated Action]
• переносить [pʲɪrʲɪˈnosʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, Transfer or Metaphorical Use]

Frequency: High (commonly used in everyday speech)

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner to Intermediate; varies by specific translation and context)

Pronunciation (Russian):

нести: [ˈnʲesʲtʲi]

Note on нести: Stress falls on the first syllable. The soft 'н' sound is typical in Russian.

носить: [ˈnosʲɪtʲ]

Note on носить: Stress on the first syllable. Pay attention to the soft 'с' sound.

переносить: [pʲɪrʲɪˈnosʲɪtʲ]

Note on переносить: Stress on the third syllable. The prefix 'пере-' often indicates a transfer or change.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To transport or hold something physically

Translation(s) & Context:

• нести - Used for carrying something in a specific direction or for a short duration (e.g., carrying a bag to a room).
• носить - Used for habitual carrying or wearing (e.g., carrying a backpack daily).

Usage Examples:

• Я несу сумку в комнату.

  I am carrying the bag to the room.

• Он носит тяжелый рюкзак каждый день.

  He carries a heavy backpack every day.

• Помоги мне нести этот ящик!

  Help me carry this box!

2. To transfer or move something (literal or metaphorical)

Translation(s) & Context:

• переносить - Used for transferring objects or ideas, often in formal or metaphorical contexts (e.g., transferring a meeting or carrying over emotions).

Usage Examples:

• Мы переносим собрание на завтра.

  We are carrying over the meeting to tomorrow.

• Она переносит свои чувства на других.

  She carries her feelings over to others.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

нести (to carry, imperfective, unidirectional):

носить (to carry/wear, imperfective, multidirectional): Follows similar conjugation patterns but implies habitual action. Perfective form is "выносить" for completed actions.

переносить (to transfer/carry over, imperfective): Perfective form is "перенести." Conjugates regularly with stress shift in some forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for нести/носить (physical carrying):

• тащить (to drag or haul, more informal and effortful)
• везти (to transport, often by vehicle)

Synonyms for переносить (metaphorical carrying):

• перемещать (to relocate or move)

Antonyms:

• оставлять (to leave behind)
• бросать (to abandon or drop)

Related Phrases:

• нести ответственность - To bear responsibility.
• носить одежду - To wear clothes (habitual).
• переносить трудности - To endure difficulties.

Usage Notes:

• нести vs. носить: "нести" implies a one-time or directional action (e.g., carrying something somewhere now), while "носить" suggests a repeated or habitual action (e.g., carrying/wearing something regularly).
• переносить: Often used in formal or metaphorical contexts, such as rescheduling or enduring something. It is less common in casual speech for physical carrying.
• Aspectual Pairs: Russian verbs often come in imperfective/perfective pairs. For example, "нести" (imperfective) pairs with "понести" (perfective) for completed actions.

Common Errors:

• Mixing нести and носить: English speakers often confuse these due to their overlap. Incorrect: "Я ношу сумку в магазин" (should be "несу" for a one-time action). Correct: "Я несу сумку в магазин."
• Overusing переносить: Learners may use "переносить" for physical carrying, which sounds unnatural in casual speech. Incorrect: "Я переносю коробку." Correct: "Я несу коробку."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the verb "нести" can carry metaphorical weight, such as "нести ответственность" (to bear responsibility), which is a common expression in formal and personal contexts, reflecting a cultural emphasis on accountability.

Related Concepts:

• везти (to transport by vehicle)
• держать (to hold)
• тащить (to drag or haul)