Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'clothe'

English Word: clothe

Key Russian Translations:

• одеть /ɐˈdʲetʲ/ - [Transitive verb, Formal]
• надеть /nɐˈdʲetʲ/ - [Transitive verb, Informal, Used for putting on clothes]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday and literary contexts, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "to be" or "to have")

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, as it involves understanding verb conjugations and aspect in Russian; for "одеть" and "надеть", both are B1 level)

Pronunciation (Russian):

одеть: /ɐˈdʲetʲ/ (The "о" is pronounced as a reduced vowel, and the stress is on the second syllable.)

надеть: /nɐˈdʲetʲ/ (Similar to "одеть", with a soft "д" sound; note the initial "н" is pronounced clearly.)

Note on одеть: This verb has perfective aspect and can be tricky for learners due to its perfective-imperfective pairs; avoid confusing it with "одевать" (imperfective).

Note on надеть: Often used in daily speech; the "е" in the second syllable can vary slightly in speed.

Audio: Listen to pronunciation of одеть | Listen to pronunciation of надеть

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To provide someone with clothing or to dress them.

Translation(s) & Context:

• одеть - Used in contexts involving dressing someone else, often formal or literary (e.g., in stories or instructions).
• надеть - Used for putting clothes on oneself or others in everyday, informal situations (e.g., daily routines).

Usage Examples:

• Мама одела дочь в тёплый свитер перед выходом на улицу.

  Mom clothed her daughter in a warm sweater before going outside.

• Он надевал куртку, чтобы защититься от холода.

  He put on his jacket to protect himself from the cold.

• В магазине консультант одела манекен в новую коллекцию одежды.

  In the store, the consultant clothed the mannequin in the new clothing collection.

• Дети надевали костюмы для праздника, чтобы выглядеть ярко.

  The children put on costumes for the holiday to look bright and festive.

• Она одела брата в официальный костюм для свадьбы.

  She clothed her brother in a formal suit for the wedding.

Meaning 2: To cover or envelop metaphorically (e.g., in literature, to clothe in mystery).

Translation(s) & Context:

• одеть - In metaphorical senses, such as in poetry or descriptive writing (e.g., clothing an idea in words).

Usage Examples:

• Поэт одел свои мысли в прекрасные метафоры.

  The poet clothed his thoughts in beautiful metaphors.

• Эта история одела правду в легенду.

  This story clothed the truth in legend.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "одеть" and "надеть" are perfective verbs in Russian, which means they express completed actions. They follow standard verb conjugation patterns for first-conjugation verbs. Note that Russian verbs have aspects (perfective and imperfective), and these are perfective forms; their imperfective counterparts are "одевать" and "надевать".

These verbs do not change irregularly but follow the standard patterns for verbs ending in -еть. For imperfective forms, see "одевать" and "надевать" for ongoing actions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • надеть (for similar actions, but more specific to putting on)
  • облачить (more formal, literary synonym for clothing in a metaphorical sense)
• Antonyms:
  • раздеть (to undress)
  • снять (to take off clothes)

Related Phrases:

• одеть в новое платье - To dress in a new dress (used for formal occasions; implies complete outfit change).
• надеть на себя - To put on oneself (common in daily contexts; emphasizes personal action).
• одеть с ног до головы - To clothe from head to toe (idiomatic, meaning to dress completely).

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "одеть" is typically used for dressing others or in a more formal sense, while "надеть" is for putting clothes on oneself. Unlike English "clothe," which can be somewhat archaic, these Russian verbs are everyday words. Be mindful of verb aspect: use perfective for completed actions and imperfective for ongoing ones. When choosing between translations, opt for "надеть" in casual speech and "одеть" in written or instructional contexts.

• Grammar note: These verbs require the accusative case for the object (e.g., одеть ребенка - clothe the child).
• Context tip: In polite or professional settings, like customer service, "одеть" might sound more appropriate.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse "одеть" and "надеть" with their imperfective forms ("одевать" and "надевать"). For example:

• Error: Using "одевать" when a completed action is needed, e.g., "Я одевать ребенка" (incorrect for a finished action).
• Correct: "Я одел ребенка" (I clothed the child, completed).
• Explanation: Russian requires matching verb aspect to the context; imperfective is for processes, perfective for results.
• Another error: Forgetting case agreement, e.g., "одеть стол" (incorrect, as "стол" is not a living thing; use for people or metaphorically).
• Correct: Use with appropriate nouns, like "одеть человека".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, clothing and dressing are often tied to social norms and seasons. For instance, "одеть" might appear in folk tales where characters are dressed for protection or status, reflecting historical values of modesty and preparation for harsh winters. Metaphorically, clothing in literature symbolizes identity or transformation, as seen in Russian classics like Tolstoy's works.

Related Concepts:

• одежда (clothing)
• переодеться (to change clothes)
• мода (fashion)