Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Crave'

English Word: Crave

Key Russian Translations:

• жаждать [ˈʐaʐdətʲ] - [Formal, Often used for strong desires or aspirations]
• хотеть [xɐˈtʲetʲ] - [Informal, General use for wanting or craving something]
• страстно желать [ˈstrasʲnə ʐɨˈlatʲ] - [Formal, Emphasizes intense or passionate craving]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in various contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "хотеть"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "жаждать" and "страстно желать"

Pronunciation (Russian):

жаждать: [ˈʐaʐdətʲ]

Note on жаждать: Pay attention to the soft "д" sound, which is typical in Russian pronunciation.

хотеть: [xɐˈtʲetʲ]

Note on хотеть: The initial "х" is a guttural sound, unique to Russian, not like English "h".

страстно желать: [ˈstrasʲnə ʐɨˈlatʲ]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To desire something strongly (general craving)

Translation(s) & Context:

• хотеть - Commonly used for general desires, such as craving food or objects.

Usage Examples:

• Я хочу шоколад.

  I crave chocolate.

• Он хочет новую машину.

  He craves a new car.

• Мы хотим путешествовать.

  We crave traveling.

2. To long for something with intensity (emotional or abstract craving)

Translation(s) & Context:

• жаждать - Used for intense or deep longing, often in formal or literary contexts.
• страстно желать - Emphasizes passionate or fervent desire, often for abstract concepts like love or success.

Usage Examples:

• Он жаждет свободы.

  He craves freedom.

• Она страстно желает успеха.

  She passionately craves success.

• Мы жаждем справедливости.

  We crave justice.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

хотеть (verb, imperfective): This verb is irregular in the present tense. Below is the conjugation for present tense:

жаждать (verb, imperfective): Regular conjugation, follows standard first conjugation rules.

страстно желать (phrase with verb желать, imperfective): "желать" follows regular conjugation patterns for the second conjugation group.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "crave":

• желать
• стремиться
• мечтать (when craving something unattainable)

Note: "мечтать" often implies a dream-like or unrealistic craving, unlike "хотеть".

Antonyms for "crave":

• отвергать
• ненавидеть

Related Phrases:

• хотеть не могу - Literally "I want so much I can’t", meaning to crave something desperately.
• жаждать крови - Literally "to crave blood", a figurative expression for seeking revenge.
• страстно желать встречи - To passionately crave a meeting, often used in romantic contexts.

Usage Notes:

• "хотеть" is the most versatile and commonly used translation for "crave", suitable for everyday situations. However, it is less intense than "crave" in English, so context matters.
• "жаждать" often carries a formal or literary tone and is used for abstract or profound desires (e.g., жаждать справедливости - to crave justice).
• "страстно желать" is reserved for passionate or intense cravings, often in emotional or romantic contexts.
• When choosing between translations, consider the level of intensity and formality of the situation.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "жаждать" for mundane cravings like food. Incorrect: *Я жаждаю пиццу.* (I crave pizza). Correct: Я хочу пиццу.
• Error: Overusing "страстно желать" in casual contexts. Incorrect: *Я страстно желаю кофе.* (I passionately crave coffee). Correct: Я хочу кофе.
• Error: Misconjugating "хотеть" due to its irregularity. Incorrect: *Я хотю.* Correct: Я хочу.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressing intense cravings or desires (especially with "жаждать") can sometimes be associated with poetic or dramatic language, often found in literature or historical contexts. Using such terms in casual conversation might sound overly formal or outdated.

Related Concepts:

• желание (desire)
• страсть (passion)
• мечта (dream)