Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Dehydrate'

English Word: dehydrate

Key Russian Translations:

• обезвоживать [ɐbʲɪzˈvoʐɨvətʲ] - [Formal, Verb, Often used in scientific or medical contexts]
• сушить [ˈsuʂɨtʲ] - [Informal, Verb, Commonly used for drying food or objects]
• обезвоживаться [ɐbʲɪzˈvoʐɨvətʲsə] - [Formal, Reflexive Verb, Used for describing the state of dehydration]

Frequency: Medium (especially in specific contexts like health, cooking, or science)

Difficulty: B1-B2 (Intermediate; varies by term—'сушить' is easier at A2, while 'обезвоживать' is more advanced at B2)

Pronunciation (Russian):

обезвоживать: [ɐbʲɪzˈvoʐɨvətʲ]

Note on обезвоживать: Stress falls on the third syllable ('vo'). The 'ж' sound is a voiced retroflex fricative, which may be challenging for English speakers.

сушить: [ˈsuʂɨtʲ]

Note on сушить: Stress on the first syllable. The 'ш' sound is a voiceless retroflex fricative, distinct from English 'sh'.

обезвоживаться: [ɐbʲɪzˈvoʐɨvətʲsə]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To remove water from something (e.g., food, materials)

Translation(s) & Context:

• сушить - Commonly used for drying food (e.g., fruits, herbs) or objects (e.g., clothes).
• обезвоживать - More technical, often used in industrial or scientific contexts for dehydration processes.

Usage Examples:

• Я сушу яблоки в духовке.

  I am drying apples in the oven.

• Этот аппарат обезвоживает продукты для длительного хранения.

  This device dehydrates food for long-term storage.

• Мы сушим травы на солнце.

  We dry herbs in the sun.

2. To lose water or become dehydrated (e.g., a person or organism)

Translation(s) & Context:

• обезвоживаться - Reflexive verb used to describe the state of becoming dehydrated, often in medical or biological contexts.

Usage Examples:

• После долгого похода организм может обезвоживаться.

  After a long hike, the body can become dehydrated.

• Если не пить воду, можно быстро обезвоживаться.

  If you don’t drink water, you can quickly become dehydrated.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

обезвоживать (Verb, Imperfective Aspect, Transitive):

сушить (Verb, Imperfective Aspect, Transitive): Regular conjugation with simpler forms. Perfective form is 'высушить' (to finish drying).

обезвоживаться (Reflexive Verb, Imperfective Aspect): Follows reflexive conjugation with the suffix '-ся'. Perfective form is rare.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for сушить (drying food/objects):

• высушивать
• иссушать (more literary or intense)

Synonyms for обезвоживать/обезвоживаться (dehydration):

• лишать влаги (to deprive of moisture, formal)

Antonyms:

• увлажнять (to moisturize)
• насыщать влагой (to saturate with moisture)

Related Phrases:

• сушить на воздухе - Drying in the open air.
• обезвоживание организма - Dehydration of the body (medical term).
• сушить волосы феном - To dry hair with a hairdryer.

Usage Notes:

• 'сушить' is the most versatile and commonly used term for everyday drying activities, such as drying clothes or food. It is less formal and easier to learn.
• 'обезвоживать' is a technical term often used in scientific, medical, or industrial contexts. It implies a deliberate process of removing water.
• 'обезвоживаться' is reflexive and refers to the passive state of losing water, often used when discussing the human body or organisms.
• Be mindful of the aspect (imperfective/perfective) when using these verbs, as it affects the meaning (e.g., 'сушить' for ongoing action vs. 'высушить' for completed action).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'обезвоживать' in casual contexts like drying clothes. Wrong: Я обезвоживаю белье. Correct: Я сушу белье. Explanation: 'обезвоживать' is too formal and specific for everyday tasks like drying laundry.
• Error: Forgetting the reflexive '-ся' in 'обезвоживаться' when describing a state. Wrong: Организм обезвоживает. Correct: Организм обезвоживается. Explanation: The reflexive form is necessary to indicate a passive state.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, drying food (using 'сушить') is a common practice, especially in rural areas where people dry fruits, mushrooms, and herbs for winter preservation. The term 'обезвоживание' (dehydration) is often discussed in health contexts, especially during hot summers or sports activities, as a reminder to stay hydrated.

Related Concepts:

• увлажнение (moisturizing)
• сушка (drying process)
• гидратация (hydration)