Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Depart'

English Word: Depart

Key Russian Translations:

• уезжать [uˈjeʒːatʲ] - [Informal, General Use]
• отправляться [ɐtˈpravʲɪtʲsə] - [Formal, Often for Scheduled Departures]
• покидать [pɐˈkʲidətʲ] - [Formal/Emotional, Often Implies Leaving Permanently]

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

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "уезжать"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "отправляться" and "покидать" due to nuanced usage

Pronunciation (Russian):

уезжать: [uˈjeʒːatʲ]

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

отправляться: [ɐtˈpravʲɪtʲsə]

Note on отправляться: Stress on the second syllable. The reflexive ending "-ся" is common in Russian verbs indicating an action done to oneself.

покидать: [pɐˈkʲidətʲ]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To Leave a Place (Physical Departure)

Translation(s) & Context:

• уезжать - Used for general or informal departure, often by vehicle (e.g., leaving a city).
• отправляться - Used for scheduled or formal departures, often for trains, ships, or planned trips.

Usage Examples:

• Мы уезжаем из города завтра утром.

  We are departing from the city tomorrow morning.

• Поезд отправляется в 18:00.

  The train departs at 6:00 PM.

• Когда ты уезжаешь в отпуск?

  When are you departing for vacation?

2. To Leave Permanently or Emotionally

Translation(s) & Context:

• покидать - Implies a more permanent or emotional leaving, often with a sense of abandonment.

Usage Examples:

• Он покинул свою родину навсегда.

  He departed his homeland forever.

• Она не хотела покидать друзей.

  She didn’t want to depart from her friends.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

уезжать (Imperfective Verb): Regular verb of the first conjugation. Used for ongoing or repeated actions. Below are the present tense forms:

отправляться (Imperfective Reflexive Verb): Reflexive verb with "-ся." Conjugates similarly to regular verbs but with reflexive endings.

покидать (Imperfective Verb): Regular conjugation, often paired with accusative case for the object being left.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• уходить (to leave on foot, less formal)
• выезжать (to depart, often by vehicle, aspectual pair of уезжать)

Note: "уходить" is more casual and often implies leaving on foot, while "выезжать" is the perfective form of "уезжать."

Antonyms:

• приезжать (to arrive)
• приходить (to come, often on foot)

Related Phrases:

• уезжать на каникулы - to depart for vacation
• отправляться в путь - to set off on a journey
• покидать дом - to leave/abandon home

Usage Notes:

• "уезжать" is the most versatile and commonly used term for departing, especially in informal contexts. Use it for general leaving by transport.
• "отправляться" is more formal and often tied to scheduled departures (trains, planes). It can sound overly stiff in casual speech.
• "покидать" carries an emotional or permanent connotation, so it’s best reserved for serious or dramatic contexts.
• All three verbs are imperfective, meaning they describe ongoing or repeated actions. Their perfective counterparts (e.g., "уехать" for "уезжать") are used for one-time completed actions.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "покидать" for casual departures. Incorrect: "Я покидаю на работу." (I’m departing for work.)
  Correct: "Я уезжаю на работу." Explanation: "покидать" implies a deeper or permanent leaving, not suitable for daily routines.
• Error: Mixing up imperfective and perfective forms. Incorrect: "Я уезжаю вчера." (I depart yesterday.)
  Correct: "Я уехал вчера." Explanation: Use perfective "уехал" for past completed actions.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, departures (especially long-term ones) often carry emotional weight. Saying goodbye at train stations or airports is a significant ritual, often accompanied by hugs, tears, and well-wishes. The use of "покидать" can evoke this sentiment, unlike the more neutral "уезжать."

Related Concepts:

• приезд (arrival)
• отъезд (departure, noun form)
• путешествие (journey)