Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'condenses'

English Word: condenses

Key Russian Translations:

• конденсировать [kən.dʲɪnˈsʲi.rə.vatʲ] - [Formal, Scientific]
• сгущать [sɡuˈʂatʲ] - [Informal, Everyday]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in scientific, technical, or industrial contexts, but less frequent in casual conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and scientific vocabulary; 'конденсировать' may be more challenging for beginners due to its length and specific usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

конденсировать: [kən.dʲɪnˈsʲi.rə.vatʲ]

сгущать: [sɡuˈʂatʲ]

Note on конденсировать: The stress falls on the fourth syllable ('si'), and the 'щ' sound is a soft, palatalized fricative, which can be tricky for English speakers. Pronunciation may vary slightly in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: To make something denser or more concentrated, often through reducing volume (e.g., gases, liquids, or information)

Translation(s) & Context:

• конденсировать - Used in formal or scientific contexts, such as physics or chemistry, to describe processes like gas liquefaction.
• сгущать - Applied in everyday contexts, like cooking, to thicken substances like milk or sauces.

Usage Examples:

• Машина конденсирует газ в жидкость для хранения.

  The machine condenses the gas into a liquid for storage. (This example shows the verb in a scientific context with direct object.)

• В лаборатории мы сгущаем молоко, чтобы сделать его более кремовым.

  In the lab, we condense the milk to make it creamier. (Here, it demonstrates informal usage in a practical, everyday scenario.)

• Этот процесс конденсирует пар, превращая его в воду.

  This process condenses the steam, turning it into water. (Illustrates the verb in a dynamic action with transformation.)

• Она сгущает суп, добавляя муку для густоты.

  She condenses the soup by adding flour to thicken it. (Shows the verb in a culinary context with an additional action.)

• Ученые конденсируют данные, чтобы сделать отчет короче.

  Scientists condense the data to make the report shorter. (This example extends the meaning to abstract concepts like summarizing information.)

Secondary Meaning: To summarize or shorten content while retaining essential information

Translation(s) & Context:

• конденсировать - Preferred in academic or professional writing for condensing texts or speeches.

Usage Examples:

• Редактор конденсировал статью, чтобы она поместилась в газету.

  The editor condensed the article so it would fit in the newspaper. (Demonstrates usage in media and publishing.)

• В лекции профессор конденсировал сложные идеи в простые пункты.

  In the lecture, the professor condensed complex ideas into simple points. (Shows application in educational settings.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'конденсировать' and 'сгущать' are verbs in Russian, belonging to the first conjugation group. They follow regular patterns but can have irregularities in certain forms. 'Конденсировать' is a transitive verb, while 'сгущать' is often used in both transitive and intransitive contexts.

Note: 'Сгущать' has a perfective counterpart 'сгустить', which is used for completed actions, as shown in the past tense above.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • сжимать (to compress) - More general, used for physical squeezing.
  • уплотнять (to densify) - Similar in scientific contexts, but implies increasing density without changing state.
• Antonyms:
  • разбавлять (to dilute) - Opposite in the context of liquids or mixtures.
  • расширять (to expand) - General opposite for making something less dense.

Related Phrases:

• конденсация пара - Condensation of vapor; commonly used in physics and weather discussions.
• сгущенное молоко - Condensed milk; a popular ingredient in Russian cuisine, often referring to sweetened, thickened milk.
• конденсированный воздух - Condensed air; relates to industrial processes like air compression.

Usage Notes:

Choose 'конденсировать' for precise, technical scenarios, as it directly mirrors the English 'condenses' in scientific contexts, while 'сгущать' is better for everyday thickening, like in cooking. Be mindful of aspect in Russian verbs: use imperfective forms (e.g., сгущать) for ongoing actions and perfective (e.g., сгустить) for completed ones. In formal writing, 'конденсировать' pairs well with abstract nouns, but avoid it in casual speech to prevent sounding overly technical.

Common Errors:

• Confusing aspect: Learners often use the imperfective 'сгущать' when a perfective form is needed, e.g., saying "Я сгущать молоко" instead of "Я сгустил молоко" for a completed action. Correct usage: Use perfective 'сгустить' for finished processes.

• Mispronouncing 'конденсировать': English speakers might soften the 'д' sound too much; remember it's [dʲ] in Russian. Error example: Pronouncing it as [kən.dɛnˈsaɪ.rət] instead of [kən.dʲɪnˈsʲi.rə.vatʲ]. Correction: Practice with native audio to master the palatalized consonants.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'сгущенное молоко' (condensed milk) holds a special place as a nostalgic treat from Soviet times, often associated with childhood and simple pleasures. It's commonly used in desserts and is a staple in Russian households, reflecting the country's history of resourcefulness in food preservation.

Related Concepts:

• испарение (evaporation)
• сжатие (compression)
• упругость (elasticity)