Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Coincide'

English Word: coincide

Key Russian Translations:

• совпадать [səvpɐˈdatʲ] - [Formal/Informal, Used for events or ideas aligning]
• сойтись [sɐjˈtʲisʲ] - [Informal, Often used for opinions or paths converging]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in both formal and informal contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "совпадать"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "сойтись" due to nuanced usage

Pronunciation (Russian):

совпадать: [səvpɐˈdatʲ]

Note on совпадать: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "в" is pronounced softly as [v].

сойтись: [sɐjˈtʲisʲ]

Note on сойтись: Stress on the second syllable. The "й" creates a glide sound before the vowel.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To happen at the same time or place

Translation(s) & Context:

• совпадать - Used for events, schedules, or locations aligning in time or space.

Usage Examples:

• Наши встречи совпадают по времени.

  Our meetings coincide in time.

• Даты праздников иногда совпадают.

  The dates of the holidays sometimes coincide.

• Место преступления совпадает с местом находки.

  The crime scene coincides with the location of the discovery.

2. To agree or align in opinion or thought

Translation(s) & Context:

• совпадать - Used for ideas, views, or thoughts matching.
• сойтись - Often used for opinions or people coming to an agreement, especially after discussion.

Usage Examples:

• Наши мнения полностью совпадают.

  Our opinions completely coincide.

• Мы сошлись во мнении о проекте.

  We coincided in our opinion about the project.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

совпадать (verb, imperfective aspect):

This verb follows regular conjugation patterns for verbs ending in -ать. It is used in imperfective contexts to describe ongoing or repeated coincidence.

сойтись (verb, perfective aspect):

This verb indicates a completed action of coinciding or converging. It is less regular and often used with prepositions like "во" for opinions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for совпадать:

• соответствовать (to correspond)
• сходиться (to converge)

Note: "соответствовать" is more formal and often used for matching criteria, while "сходиться" can imply physical or metaphorical convergence.

Antonyms for совпадать:

• расходиться (to diverge)
• различаться (to differ)

Related Phrases:

• совпадать по времени - to coincide in time (used for schedules or events)
• сойтись во мнениях - to coincide in opinions (used for agreement after discussion)
• совпадение интересов - coincidence of interests (common in formal or diplomatic contexts)

Usage Notes:

• "Совпадать" is the more neutral and versatile term for "coincide," applicable to both physical and abstract alignment (e.g., time, place, opinions). It is imperfective, so it often describes ongoing or repeated actions.
• "Сойтись" is perfective and often implies a completed act of coming together, especially in informal contexts or for opinions after some process of discussion. It frequently pairs with prepositional phrases like "во мнении" (in opinion).
• Choose "совпадать" for general or formal contexts and "сойтись" when emphasizing agreement or convergence as a result.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "сойтись" without a preposition when discussing opinions. Incorrect: "Мы сошлись мнение." Correct: "Мы сошлись во мнении." (We coincided in opinion.)
• Error: Confusing aspect by using "совпадать" for a one-time completed action. Incorrect: "Мы совпадаем во мнении вчера." Correct: "Мы сошлись во мнении вчера." (We coincided in opinion yesterday.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of "coincidence" in opinions (совпадать or сойтись во мнении) often carries a positive connotation, reflecting harmony or mutual understanding, which is highly valued in interpersonal communication. Expressing coincidence in views can be a way to build rapport.

Related Concepts:

• согласие (agreement)
• сходство (similarity)
• пересечение (intersection)