Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'dampen'

English Word: dampen

Key Russian Translations:

• увлажнять [ʊvlʲɪˈʐnʲætʲ] - [Formal, Often used in technical or descriptive contexts]
• снижать [ˈsnʲiʐətʲ] - [Neutral, Used for reducing intensity or enthusiasm]
• приглушать [prʲɪɡlʊˈʂatʲ] - [Neutral, Often for muting sound or emotions]

Frequency: Medium (used in specific contexts rather than everyday speech)

Difficulty: B1-B2 (Intermediate; varies by translation and context)

Pronunciation (Russian):

увлажнять: [ʊvlʲɪˈʐnʲætʲ]

Note on увлажнять: Stress falls on the third syllable. The "ж" sound is a voiced fricative, similar to the 's' in "measure".

снижать: [ˈsnʲiʐətʲ]

Note on снижать: Stress on the first syllable. The soft "н" requires palatalization.

приглушать: [prʲɪɡlʊˈʂatʲ]

Note on приглушать: Stress on the third syllable. Pay attention to the rolled "р".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To make something wet or moist

Translation(s) & Context:

• увлажнять - Used for moistening or humidifying, often in technical or formal contexts (e.g., skin care, environment).

Usage Examples:

• Нужно увлажнять кожу зимой, чтобы избежать сухости.

  You need to dampen your skin in winter to avoid dryness.

• Этот прибор помогает увлажнять воздух в комнате.

  This device helps to dampen the air in the room.

• Она увлажнила ткань перед глажкой.

  She dampened the fabric before ironing.

2. To reduce intensity or enthusiasm

Translation(s) & Context:

• снижать - Used for reducing levels, often of emotions, interest, or activity.
• приглушать - Used for muting or dampening emotions, sounds, or effects.

Usage Examples:

• Его слова снизили мой энтузиазм к проекту.

  His words dampened my enthusiasm for the project.

• Дождь не смог снизить настроение на празднике.

  The rain couldn’t dampen the mood at the celebration.

• Она приглушала свои чувства, чтобы не расстраивать других.

  She dampened her feelings so as not to upset others.

• Этот материал приглушает звук в помещении.

  This material dampens the sound in the room.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

увлажнять (Verb, Imperfective): Follows regular first conjugation patterns. Below is the present tense conjugation:

снижать (Verb, Imperfective): Regular first conjugation. Similar structure to увлажнять.

приглушать (Verb, Imperfective): Regular first conjugation. Follows similar patterns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for увлажнять (moisten):

• смачивать
• намочить (Perfective)

Note: "смачивать" is often more colloquial than "увлажнять".

Synonyms for снижать (reduce):

• уменьшать
• понижать

Antonyms for снижать (reduce):

• повышать
• увеличивать

Related Phrases:

• увлажнять воздух - To dampen/humidify the air (common in discussions about indoor climate).
• снижать скорость - To dampen/reduce speed (often used in driving or technical contexts).
• приглушать голос - To dampen/muffle one’s voice (used for speaking softly or discreetly).

Usage Notes:

• "увлажнять" is primarily used in formal or technical contexts for moistening or humidifying. It is less common in casual speech.
• "снижать" is versatile and can refer to reducing abstract concepts like enthusiasm or concrete things like speed or volume.
• "приглушать" often carries a connotation of muting or softening, especially with sounds or emotions. It’s important to choose this over "снижать" when the context involves suppression rather than reduction.
• Be mindful of aspect: these verbs are imperfective. For completed actions, use perfective forms like "увлажнить", "снизить", or "приглушить".

Common Errors:

1. Confusing "снижать" and "приглушать": English speakers might use "снижать" for muting sounds, but "приглушать" is more appropriate. For example:

• Incorrect: Я снизил звук телевизора. (I reduced the TV sound.)
• Correct: Я приглушил звук телевизора. (I dampened/muted the TV sound.)

2. Overusing "увлажнять": This word is formal and specific. In casual speech, "намочить" (to wet) might be more natural for physical dampening.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, the concept of "dampening" emotions or enthusiasm (via "снижать" or "приглушать") can sometimes carry a cultural nuance of restraint or modesty, which is often valued in interpersonal communication. Expressing overt enthusiasm might be seen as excessive in some contexts, so "dampening" one’s tone or feelings is a common social practice.

Related Concepts:

• уменьшение (reduction)
• ослабление (weakening)
• влажность (humidity)