Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'cling'

English Word: cling

Key Russian Translations:

• прилипать [prʲɪlʲɪˈpatʲ] - [Informal, Used for physical sticking or clinging]
• цепляться [t͡sɨpˈlʲat͡sə] - [Informal, Often used metaphorically for holding on or clinging emotionally]
• придерживаться [prʲɪdʲɪrˈʐat͡sə] - [Formal, Used for adhering to ideas or principles]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in various contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "прилипать" and "цепляться"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "придерживаться"

Pronunciation (Russian):

прилипать: [prʲɪlʲɪˈpatʲ]

Note on прилипать: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "л" sound is palatalized (soft).

цепляться: [t͡sɨpˈlʲat͡sə]

Note on цепляться: Stress on the second syllable. The "ц" is a distinct affricate sound, not like English "ts".

придерживаться: [prʲɪdʲɪrˈʐat͡sə]

Note on придерживаться: Stress on the third syllable. The "р" is rolled, and "ж" is a voiced retroflex sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To stick to something physically

Translation(s) & Context:

• прилипать - Used for literal sticking, such as glue, tape, or wet clothes to skin.

Usage Examples:

• Мокрая футболка прилипла к телу.

  The wet T-shirt clung to the body.

• Жевательная резинка прилипла к подошве.

  The chewing gum stuck to the sole of the shoe.

• Листья прилипают к окну после дождя.

  Leaves cling to the window after the rain.

2. To hold on tightly or depend emotionally

Translation(s) & Context:

• цепляться - Often used for emotional or physical clinging, like holding onto someone or something for support.

Usage Examples:

• Ребёнок цеплялся за руку матери.

  The child clung to the mother’s hand.

• Он цепляется за надежду на лучшее будущее.

  He clings to the hope of a better future.

• Она цепляется за каждое слово учителя.

  She clings to every word of the teacher.

3. To adhere to ideas or principles

Translation(s) & Context:

• придерживаться - Formal usage for sticking to rules, opinions, or plans.

Usage Examples:

• Мы должны придерживаться плана.

  We must cling to the plan.

• Он придерживается строгих моральных принципов.

  He clings to strict moral principles.

• Она придерживается традиционных взглядов.

  She clings to traditional views.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

прилипать (Imperfective Verb): Regular verb of the first conjugation. Used for ongoing or repeated action.

Person	Present Tense	Past Tense (Masculine/Feminine/Neuter)
Я (I)	прилипаю	прилипал / прилипала / прилипало
Ты (You, informal)	прилипаешь	прилипал / прилипала / прилипало
Он/Она/Оно (He/She/It)	прилипает	прилипал / прилипала / прилипало

Note: Perfective form is "прилипнуть" (to stick once or suddenly).

цепляться (Imperfective Verb): Reflexive verb, often used with prepositions like "за" (for holding onto something).

придерживаться (Imperfective Verb): Reflexive verb, used with genitive case for abstract adherence (e.g., "придерживаться правил" - to cling to rules).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for прилипать (physical clinging):

• липнуть
• приставать

Note: "липнуть" is more colloquial and often implies stickiness, while "приставать" can also mean "to pester."

Antonyms for прилипать:

• отлипать
• отрываться

Related Phrases:

• прилипать как банный лист - Literally "to cling like a bathhouse leaf," meaning to be overly clingy or persistent.
• цепляться за соломинку - Literally "to cling to a straw," meaning to grasp at any hope, no matter how small.
• придерживаться курса - Literally "to cling to a course," meaning to stick to a direction or policy.

Usage Notes:

• "прилипать" is primarily used for physical sticking and is the most direct translation for literal clinging. It is less common in metaphorical contexts.
• "цепляться" often implies a desperate or emotional act of clinging and is frequently used with prepositions like "за" to indicate what is being clung to.
• "придерживаться" is formal and restricted to abstract contexts like ideas, rules, or plans. It cannot be used for physical clinging.
• Choose the translation based on context: physical sticking ("прилипать"), emotional dependence ("цепляться"), or adherence to concepts ("придерживаться").

Common Errors:

Error 1: Using "прилипать" in metaphorical contexts for emotional clinging.

Incorrect: Он прилипает к своим старым привычкам. (He clings to his old habits.)

Correct: Он цепляется за свои старые привычки.

Explanation: "прилипать" is for physical sticking, while "цепляться" is appropriate for abstract or emotional clinging.

Error 2: Using "придерживаться" without the genitive case.

Incorrect: Придерживаться план. (Cling to a plan.)

Correct: Придерживаться плана.

Explanation: "придерживаться" governs the genitive case for the object being adhered to.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressions like "цепляться за соломинку" (to cling to a straw) reflect a common idiom for desperate hope, often used in literature and everyday speech to describe perseverance in dire situations. This imagery is deeply rooted in Russian storytelling and folklore, where straw symbolizes fragility yet vital hope.

Related Concepts:

• держаться
• приклеиваться
• оставаться верным