Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'crouch'

English Word: crouch

Key Russian Translations:

• приседать /prʲɪˈsʲedətʲ/ - [Informal, commonly used in everyday contexts]
• согнуться /sɐˈɡnut͡ɕɪ/ - [Formal, often in descriptive or literary settings]
• пригнуться /prʲɪˈɡnut͡ɕɪ/ - [Informal, specifically for ducking or avoiding something]

Frequency: Medium (This verb and its translations are encountered in everyday Russian conversations and literature, but not as common as basic verbs like "идти" (to go).)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; learners at this level can grasp the basic conjugations, but mastering nuances and inflections may require practice. For "приседать," it's B1; for "согнуться," it's also B1 due to similar verb patterns.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

приседать: /prʲɪˈsʲedətʲ/ (The stress is on the second syllable; note the palatalized 'с' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers.)

согнуться: /sɐˈɡnut͡ɕɪ/ (Emphasize the 'ɡn' cluster; the 'у' is pronounced as a short 'u' sound.)

пригнуться: /prʲɪˈɡnut͡ɕɪ/ (Similar to "согнуться," but with a softer initial 'pr' due to palatalization.)

Note on приседать: This word has a soft consonant at the end, which might lead to devoicing in fast speech; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To lower the body by bending the knees and hips, often to a squatting position.

Translation(s) & Context:

• приседать - Used in casual, everyday situations like exercise or hiding.
• согнуться - Applied in more formal or descriptive contexts, such as in writing or instructions.

Usage Examples:

• Он присел в углу, чтобы спрятаться от дождя. (He crouched in the corner to hide from the rain.)

  Translation: He crouched in the corner to hide from the rain. (This example shows "приседать" in a simple present tense, illustrating a common physical action.)

• Дети присели за кустами во время игры. (The children crouched behind the bushes during the game.)

  Translation: The children crouched behind the bushes during the game. (Demonstrates use in a playful, informal context with plural subjects.)

• Я присел, чтобы завязать шнурки. (I crouched down to tie my shoelaces.)

  Translation: I crouched down to tie my shoelaces. (Shows the verb in a routine daily activity.)

• Она присела на корточки, наблюдая за птицами. (She crouched on her haunches, watching the birds.)

  Translation: She crouched on her haunches, watching the birds. (Illustrates a more sustained position in a observational context.)

Meaning 2: To bend low or stoop, often to avoid danger or for stealth.

Translation(s) & Context:

• пригнуться - Common in action-oriented or urgent scenarios, like dodging.
• согнуться - Used metaphorically in literature for emotional or physical submission.

Usage Examples:

• Солдат пригнулся, услышав выстрел. (The soldier crouched down upon hearing the shot.)

  Translation: The soldier crouched down upon hearing the shot. (This highlights "пригнуться" in a high-stakes, reflexive action.)

• В ветреный день она согнулась, чтобы не упасть. (On a windy day, she crouched to avoid falling.)

  Translation: On a windy day, she crouched to avoid falling. (Shows "согнуться" in a protective, environmental context.)

• Он пригнулся под низкой веткой. (He crouched under the low branch.)

  Translation: He crouched under the low branch. (Demonstrates spatial awareness in navigation.)

• Животное согнулось в страхе. (The animal crouched in fear.)

  Translation: The animal crouched in fear. (Illustrates metaphorical use for emotional states.)

• Девушка пригнулась, чтобы пройти под дверью. (The girl crouched to pass under the door.)

  Translation: The girl crouched to pass under the door. (Shows practical, everyday application.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily verbs, which in Russian undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. "Приседать" and "пригнуться" are imperfective verbs, while "согнуться" can be both imperfective and perfective in context. Russian verbs follow patterns of conjugation that are often irregular.

Note: These verbs do not change for gender in the infinitive form but adjust in past tense. They are aspectual, so perfective forms like "присесть" (for приседать) exist for completed actions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Сесть на корточки (to squat down) - More specific for a stable position.
  • Наклониться (to bend forward) - Used when the action involves leaning.
  • Скрючиться (to hunch over) - Implies a more twisted or uncomfortable crouch.
• Antonyms:
  • Встать (to stand up) - Direct opposite, indicating rising from a crouched position.
  • Выпрямиться (to straighten up) - Emphasizes returning to an upright posture.

Related Phrases:

• Приседать в укрытие (To crouch in cover) - A phrase used in military or survival contexts; means taking a defensive position.
• Согнуться от боли (To crouch in pain) - Describes physical reactions to discomfort, often in medical descriptions.
• Пригнуться от удара (To duck from a blow) - Common in action scenarios, implying quick evasion.

Usage Notes:

"Crouch" corresponds most directly to "приседать" in informal settings and "согнуться" in formal ones. Be mindful of aspect in Russian: use imperfective forms like these for ongoing actions, and switch to perfective (e.g., "присесть") for completed ones. In spoken Russian, these verbs often appear in imperative forms for commands, such as "Присядь!" (Crouch down!). Choose based on context: "пригнуться" for sudden movements and "согнуться" for deliberate ones.

Common Errors:

• Confusing aspect: Learners might use "приседать" for a one-time action; correct is to use perfective "присесть." Error: "Я приседать вчера." Correct: "Я присел вчера." (Explanation: Russian requires aspect agreement with the action's completion.)
• Mispronouncing palatalized sounds: English speakers often soften the 'с' in "приседать" incorrectly. Error: Pronouncing it as /prɪˈsedət/ instead of /prʲɪˈsʲedətʲ/. (Explanation: Practice with audio to master the Russian palatalization.)
• Overusing in formal writing: Using "приседать" in literary contexts where "согнуться" is more appropriate. Error: "Герой приседал в страхе." Correct: "Герой согнулся в страхе." (Explanation: "Приседать" sounds too casual for narrative descriptions.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, actions like crouching or bending low can symbolize humility or submission, as seen in traditional folk tales where characters "согнуться" before authority figures. This reflects historical influences from Orthodox traditions, where physical postures in prayer often involve similar movements.

Related Concepts:

• Сидеть (to sit)
• Лежать (to lie down)
• Стать (to stand)