Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'decamp'

English Word: decamp

Key Russian Translations:

• сбежать [sˈbʲɪʐətʲ] - [Informal, often used for sudden or secretive escapes]
• уйти [uˈitʲi] - [Formal, used in more neutral contexts of departure]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature, narratives, and discussions of escapes, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; involves understanding verb prefixes and imperfective aspects, which can be challenging for learners; for 'сбежать', it's B1, while 'уйти' is A2)

Pronunciation (Russian):

сбежать: [sˈbʲɪʐətʲ]

уйти: [uˈitʲi]

Note on сбежать: The 'ж' sound ([ʐ]) can be tricky for English speakers; it's a voiced fricative similar to the 's' in 'measure'. Pronounce with emphasis on the prefix 'с-' for the sense of sudden action.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To leave a place suddenly and secretly, often implying haste or escape.

Translation(s) & Context:

• сбежать - Used in informal contexts for escaping danger, like in military or adventurous scenarios; implies a secretive or urgent departure.
• уйти - Applied in formal or neutral situations, such as leaving a meeting abruptly, but less emphasis on secrecy.

Usage Examples:

• Они сбежали из лагеря под покровом ночи, чтобы избежать преследования.

  They decamped from the camp under the cover of night to avoid pursuit.

• Солдаты решили сбежать, когда стало ясно, что позиция не удержать.

  The soldiers decided to decamp when it became clear the position couldn't be held.

• Ей пришлось сбежать из города, чтобы начать новую жизнь.

  She had to decamp from the city to start a new life.

• Вместо того чтобы уйти тихо, он сбежал, оставив все свои вещи.

  Instead of leaving quietly, he decamped, leaving all his belongings.

• Группа туристов сбежала от бури, найдя убежище в ближайшей деревне.

  The group of tourists decamped from the storm, finding shelter in the nearest village.

To depart abruptly from a group or obligation.

Translation(s) & Context:

• уйти - More suitable for formal withdrawals, such as from a job or social event, without the connotation of escape.

Usage Examples:

• Он ушел с работы, не предупредив коллег, что было похоже на побег.

  He decamped from work without warning his colleagues, which felt like an escape.

• Делегация ушла с переговоров раньше времени из-за разногласий.

  The delegation decamped from the negotiations early due to disagreements.

• После спора она ушла из дома, чтобы остыть.

  After the argument, she decamped from the house to cool off.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'сбежать' and 'уйти' are verbs in Russian, belonging to the first conjugation group. 'Сбежать' is the perfective aspect (indicating a completed action), while 'уйти' can be perfective. Russian verbs inflect based on tense, aspect, person, number, and gender. Below is a conjugation table for 'сбежать' (perfective) and 'уйти' (perfective) in the past tense, as these are common for 'decamp' contexts.

Note: These verbs are irregular in their perfective forms and change based on gender in the past tense. They do not inflect for future in this perfective aspect without additional context.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • убежать - Similar to сбежать, but emphasizes running away quickly.
  • скрыться - Implies hiding while leaving, often with a nuance of evasion.
• Antonyms:
  • остаться - To stay or remain.
  • вернуться - To return.

Related Phrases:

• сбежать от кого-то - To escape from someone; used in contexts of fleeing pursuit or danger.
• уйти в тень - To slip away into the shadows; a metaphorical phrase for discreet departure.
• сбежать из-под ареста - To break out of custody; common in legal or adventure narratives.

Usage Notes:

'Сбежать' is the most direct equivalent to 'decamp' in informal or narrative contexts, capturing the suddenness and secrecy, while 'уйти' is better for more formal or everyday departures. English speakers should note that Russian verbs often require a perfective aspect for completed actions, so choose based on context—e.g., use 'сбежать' for a one-time escape. Be mindful of gender agreement in past tense forms. When selecting between translations, opt for 'сбежать' in military or adventurous scenarios and 'уйти' in professional settings to match the appropriate register.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'сбежать' in formal contexts where 'уйти' is more appropriate, e.g., saying "Я сбежал с работы" instead of "Я ушёл с работы" for a professional resignation. Correct: Use 'уйти' to avoid implying criminality. Explanation: 'Сбежать' connotes escape, which can sound exaggerated.
• Mistake: Incorrect gender agreement in past tense, e.g., "Она сбежал" (wrong) instead of "Она сбежала". Correct: "Она сбежала". Explanation: Russian past tense verbs agree with the subject's gender, a common pitfall for English learners used to gender-neutral verbs.
• Mistake: Omitting the aspect, e.g., confusing with imperfective 'бежать'. Correct: Use perfective 'сбежать' for a completed action. Explanation: This changes the meaning from ongoing to finished, which is crucial for accurate translation of 'decamp'.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'сбежать' often evoke themes from literature and history, such as escapes in Soviet-era stories or wartime narratives (e.g., in Tolstoy's works). It carries a connotation of resilience or rebellion, reflecting Russia's history of revolutions and exiles, which can add emotional depth when used in storytelling.

Related Concepts:

• побег
• скрытность
• отступление