Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Choose'

English Word: choose

Key Russian Translations:

• выбирать [vɨbʲɪˈratʲ] - [Imperfective, General Use]
• выбрать [ˈvɨbratʲ] - [Perfective, Completed Action]
• избирать [ɪzbʲɪˈratʲ] - [Formal, Often Used in Elections or Official Contexts]

Frequency: High (commonly used in everyday speech)

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner to Intermediate, depending on aspect usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

выбирать: [vɨbʲɪˈratʲ]

Note on выбирать: Stress falls on the second syllable. The soft 'р' sound might be challenging for non-native speakers.

выбрать: [ˈvɨbratʲ]

Note on выбрать: Stress is on the first syllable, and the word is shorter due to its perfective nature.

избирать: [ɪzbʲɪˈratʲ]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To Select or Pick (General Sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• выбирать/выбрать - Used for general selection, like choosing clothes or food.

Usage Examples:

• Я выбираю новое платье.

  I am choosing a new dress.

• Он выбрал книгу из библиотеки.

  He chose a book from the library.

• Мы выбираем место для отпуска.

  We are choosing a place for vacation.

2. To Elect or Appoint (Formal Context)

Translation(s) & Context:

• избирать/избрать - Used in formal contexts, such as elections or appointments.

Usage Examples:

• Народ избирает президента.

  The people elect the president.

• Его избрали председателем.

  He was chosen as the chairman.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

выбирать/выбрать (Verb, Imperfective/Perfective Pair):

избирать/избрать (Verb, Imperfective/Perfective Pair): Follows a similar conjugation pattern but is less commonly used in everyday speech.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• подбирать (to pick out, often with care)
• отбирать (to select, often with a sense of filtering)

Note: 'подбирать' implies more careful selection, while 'отбирать' can imply taking something away or filtering.

Antonyms:

• отказываться (to refuse)
• игнорировать (to ignore)

Related Phrases:

• выбирать между - to choose between (e.g., choosing between two options)
• выбрать путь - to choose a path (often metaphorical, e.g., life path)
• избрать профессию - to choose a profession (formal tone)

Usage Notes:

• The choice between 'выбирать' (imperfective) and 'выбрать' (perfective) depends on whether the action is ongoing or completed. Use 'выбирать' for ongoing selection and 'выбрать' for a completed choice.
• 'избирать' is reserved for formal or official contexts, such as elections. Avoid using it in casual conversation.
• Russian verbs of choosing often require the accusative case for direct objects (e.g., выбираю книгу - I choose a book).

Common Errors:

• Incorrect Aspect Usage: English speakers often mix up 'выбирать' and 'выбрать'. For example, saying "Я выбираю книгу вчера" (incorrect) instead of "Я выбрал книгу вчера" (correct) because the action happened in the past and is completed.
• Overusing 'избирать': Using 'избирать' in casual contexts, e.g., "Я избираю яблоко" (incorrect) instead of "Я выбираю яблоко" (correct) for choosing an apple.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of choice ('выбор') can carry significant weight, especially in literature and philosophy, often symbolizing life decisions or moral dilemmas. Phrases like 'сделать выбор' (to make a choice) are frequently used in discussions of personal responsibility.

Related Concepts:

• выбор (choice, noun)
• решение (decision)
• предпочтение (preference)