Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Decelerate'

English Word: decelerate

Key Russian Translations:

• замедлять [zɐˈmʲedlʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, Often used for physical or abstract slowing down]
• замедлиться [zɐˈmʲedlʲɪtsə] - [Neutral, Reflexive, Often used for self-slowing actions]
• снижать скорость [ˈsnʲiʐətʲ ˈskorəsʲtʲ] - [Formal, Specific to reducing speed, often vehicular]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in technical and everyday contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "замедлять" and "замедлиться"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "снижать скорость" due to phrasal structure

Pronunciation (Russian):

замедлять: [zɐˈmʲedlʲɪtʲ]

Note on замедлять: Stress falls on the second syllable; ensure soft pronunciation of "л" before "я".

замедлиться: [zɐˈmʲedlʲɪtsə]

Note on замедлиться: Similar stress pattern, with reflexive suffix "-ся" pronounced softly.

снижать скорость: [ˈsnʲiʐətʲ ˈskorəsʲtʲ]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To slow down (physical movement or speed)

Translation(s) & Context:

• замедлять - Used for deliberate slowing of motion or process (e.g., a vehicle or workflow).
• замедлиться - Reflexive, often implies something slowing itself down naturally.
• снижать скорость - Specifically for reducing speed, often in driving or mechanical contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Водитель начал замедлять машину перед поворотом.

  The driver started to decelerate the car before the turn.

• Поезд замедлился, подъезжая к станции.

  The train decelerated as it approached the station.

• Вам нужно снизить скорость на этом участке дороги.

  You need to decelerate on this section of the road.

• Экономический рост замедлился в этом году.

  Economic growth decelerated this year.

• Она замедлила шаг, чтобы подождать друга.

  She decelerated her pace to wait for her friend.

2. To slow down (figurative, e.g., progress or activity)

Translation(s) & Context:

• замедлять - Used for abstract processes like progress or development.
• замедлиться - Often used for natural or involuntary slowing of abstract processes.

Usage Examples:

• Кризис замедлил развитие проекта.

  The crisis decelerated the project’s development.

• Производство замедлилось из-за нехватки материалов.

  Production decelerated due to a shortage of materials.

• Темпы роста замедлились после реформ.

  The pace of growth decelerated after the reforms.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

замедлять (Imperfective Verb): Regular conjugation in present, past, and future tenses. Often used with direct objects.

замедлиться (Imperfective Reflexive Verb): Reflexive form with "-ся", follows similar conjugation but implies self-action.

снижать скорость (Phrasal Verb): "снижать" is an imperfective verb; "скорость" (speed) is a feminine noun, accusative case when used as object.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for замедлять/замедлиться:

• тормозить (more colloquial, often for braking or hindering)
• притормаживать (informal, slight slowing down)

Antonyms for замедлять/замедлиться:

• ускорять (to accelerate)
• разгоняться (to speed up, reflexive)

Related Phrases:

• замедлять темп - to slow down the pace (e.g., of work or activity)
• замедлить ход - to slow down the progress (often figurative)
• снижать скорость движения - to reduce the speed of movement (technical or vehicular context)

Usage Notes:

• "замедлять" is typically transitive and requires a direct object (e.g., замедлять машину - to decelerate the car), while "замедлиться" is reflexive and used without a direct object (e.g., машина замедлилась - the car decelerated).
• "снижать скорость" is more formal and specific to contexts involving measurable speed, such as driving or machinery.
• Be mindful of aspect: "замедлять/замедлиться" are imperfective (ongoing action); perfective counterparts like "замедлить" imply completed slowing.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "замедлять" without an object. Incorrect: *Машина замедляет.* Correct: Машина замедляется (reflexive form).
• Error: Confusing "замедлять" with "тормозить". While "тормозить" can mean slowing down, it often implies braking or obstructing, not just deceleration. Example: Incorrect: *Он замедлил проект.* Better: Он затормозил проект (hindered the project).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian driving culture, "снижать скорость" is frequently used in formal instructions or road signs, reflecting a focus on safety and regulation. In contrast, "замедляться" might be used more colloquially among drivers discussing their actions.

Related Concepts:

• ускорение (acceleration)
• торможение (braking)
• скорость (speed)