Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'curdle'

English Word: curdle

Key Russian Translations:

• свернуться [svʲɪrˈnut͡sə] - [Verb, Intransitive, Informal; used in everyday contexts like cooking or describing spoilage]
• свертывать [svʲɪrˈtvəvətʲ] - [Verb, Transitive, Formal; implies causing something to curdle, e.g., in scientific or culinary instructions]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in cooking, science, and everyday language, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "eat" or "go")

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; involves understanding verb conjugation and aspect in Russian, which can vary by translation; for "свернуться", it's B1, while "свертывать" might lean towards B2 due to transitive usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

свернуться: [svʲɪrˈnut͡sə]

свертывать: [svʲɪrˈtvəvətʲ]

Note on свернуться: The stress falls on the second syllable ("nut"), and the "щ" sound (palatalized 'sh') can be tricky for beginners; variations in casual speech might soften the vowels.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To turn into curds, as in milk or other liquids becoming thick and separated (literal sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• свернуться - Used in informal contexts for natural processes, such as milk spoiling in the fridge.
• свертывать - Used in formal or instructional contexts, like in recipes or chemistry, to describe an action causing curdling.

Usage Examples:

• Молоко свернулось из-за жары.

  The milk curdled because of the heat. (This example shows the verb in a simple past context, highlighting a natural process.)

• Если добавить лимон, творог свернется быстрее.

  If you add lemon, the cottage cheese will curdle faster. (Demonstrates the verb in a conditional sentence, common in cooking instructions.)

• В лаборатории мы свертывали белки для эксперимента.

  In the lab, we curdled the proteins for the experiment. (Illustrates transitive use in a scientific setting, with a more formal tone.)

• Сметана свернулась, и теперь суп испорчен.

  The sour cream curdled, and now the soup is ruined. (Shows the verb in a negative everyday scenario, emphasizing spoilage.)

• Не сверни молоко, иначе блюдо не удастся.

  Don't let the milk curdle, or the dish won't turn out right. (Uses the imperative form in a warning context.)

Meaning 2: Figuratively, to spoil or go bad, often in a metaphorical sense (e.g., plans curdling)

Translation(s) & Context:

• свернуться - Applied metaphorically in informal speech, like describing failed plans.

Usage Examples:

• Наши планы свернулись из-за дождя.

  Our plans curdled because of the rain. (Figurative use in a casual conversation about disruptions.)

• Договор свернулся под давлением обстоятельств.

  The agreement curdled under the pressure of circumstances. (Shows metaphorical application in a formal or business context.)

• Ее настроение свернулось после плохих новостей.

  Her mood curdled after the bad news. (Illustrates emotional or abstract use in everyday language.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are verbs, so they follow Russian verb conjugation patterns. "Свернуться" is an imperfective verb (intransitive), while "свертывать" is imperfective and can be transitive. Russian verbs change based on aspect, tense, person, and number. Below is a table for key conjugations:

Note: These verbs are irregular in some aspects due to root changes, but they follow general patterns. If the verb is perfective (e.g., свернуть), it would have different forms, but these are the base imperfective ones.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • соседиться (to clump together; more specific to particles)
  • загустеть (to thicken; often used interchangeably in cooking)

  Note: "Загустеть" is milder and implies gradual thickening, while "свернуться" suggests a more abrupt change.

• Antonyms:
  • разжижаться (to liquefy)
  • освежиться (to freshen up, implying the opposite of spoiling)

Related Phrases:

• Свернуть молоко - A common phrase meaning "to curdle milk"; used in recipes or troubleshooting. (Implies intentional or accidental curdling.)
• Свертываться в комки - Means "to curdle into lumps"; often in scientific or culinary contexts for describing textures.
• Планы свернулись - A figurative phrase for "plans curdled"; used in everyday talk to describe failed arrangements.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "curdle" translations like "свернуться" are aspect-sensitive: use imperfective for ongoing processes and perfective (e.g., свернуться) for completed actions. Unlike English, Russian verbs distinguish between transitive and intransitive forms, so choose based on context—e.g., use "свертывать" if an agent is causing the action. This word is neutral in register but more common in informal speech; in formal writing, opt for descriptive phrases. When translating from English, ensure the aspect matches the original intent to avoid confusion.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "свернуться" transitively, e.g., saying "Я свернулся молоко" instead of "Я свернул молоко" (for the perfective form). Correct: "Молоко свернулось" for intransitive. Explanation: Russian verbs must align with transitivity; this error stems from direct word-for-word translation.
• Mistake: Confusing aspect, e.g., using "свертывать" for a one-time event. Correct: Use perfective "свернуть" for completed actions. Explanation: Learners often overlook Russian's aspect system, leading to imprecise tense usage.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, curdling is often associated with traditional dairy products like tvorog (cottage cheese), which is a staple in Slavic cuisine. The concept appears in folklore and proverbs, such as references to spoiled milk symbolizing misfortune, reflecting a historical reliance on fresh ingredients in rural life.

Related Concepts:

• творог (cottage cheese)
• загуститель (thickener)
• спойлер (spoiler, in a figurative sense for things that "curdle" plans)