Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Detonate'

English Word: Detonate

Key Russian Translations:

• взрывать [vzɨˈvatʲ] - [Formal, Used for causing an explosion]
• взорвать [vzɐrˈvatʲ] - [Formal/Informal, Perfective form, Used for a completed action of exploding]
• подрывать [pɐdrɨˈvatʲ] - [Formal, Often used in military or technical contexts]

Frequency: Medium (often used in specific contexts like military, technology, or news reports)

Difficulty: B1-B2 (Intermediate - varies by form and context; "взрывать" is easier, while "подрывать" may require more nuanced understanding)

Pronunciation (Russian):

взрывать: [vzɨˈvatʲ]

Note on взрывать: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "ы" sound is unique to Russian and has no direct English equivalent; it’s a central vowel sound.

взорвать: [vzɐrˈvatʲ]

Note on взорвать: Stress on the second syllable. The "р" is rolled slightly, typical of Russian pronunciation.

подрывать: [pɐdrɨˈvatʲ]

Note on подрывать: Stress on the third syllable. Pay attention to the soft "д" sound, influenced by the following "р".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To cause an explosion (literal)

Translation(s) & Context:

• взрывать / взорвать - Used for the act of causing something to explode, such as a bomb or dynamite.
• подрывать - Often used in military contexts, e.g., detonating mines or undermining structures.

Usage Examples:

• Сапёры взорвали старую бомбу на полигоне.

  Sappers detonated an old bomb at the training ground.

• Они планировали взрывать мост, чтобы остановить врага.

  They planned to detonate the bridge to stop the enemy.

• Подрывник успешно подорвал укрепления противника.

  The demolition expert successfully detonated the enemy’s fortifications.

2. To trigger or provoke (figurative)

Translation(s) & Context:

• взорвать - Used metaphorically to mean "to blow up" a situation, like causing a scandal or intense reaction.

Usage Examples:

• Эта новость взорвала интернет.

  This news detonated the internet (caused a huge reaction online).

• Его слова взорвали аудиторию смехом.

  His words detonated the audience with laughter.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

взрывать / взорвать (Verb, Imperfective/Perfective pair): These verbs follow regular conjugation patterns for Russian verbs of the first conjugation. "Взрывать" is imperfective (ongoing/repeated action), while "взорвать" is perfective (completed action).

Conjugation of взорвать (Perfective)

Person	Present (Imperfective: взрывать)	Past	Future (Simple)
Я (I)	взрываю	взорвал(а)	взорву
Ты (You, informal)	взрываешь	взорвал(а)	взорвёшь
Он/Она/Оно (He/She/It)	взрывает	взорвал(а/о)	взорвёт
Мы (We)	взрываем	взорвали	взорвём
Вы (You, formal/plural)	взрываете	взорвали	взорвёте
Они (They)	взрывают	взорвали	взорвут

подрывать (Verb, Imperfective): Follows similar conjugation rules but often implies an ongoing or incomplete action in military or figurative contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• разрушать (to destroy - broader term, less specific to explosions)
• взламывать (to blow up - less common, sometimes used for breaking into something with force)

Antonyms:

• обезвреживать (to defuse - used for bombs or dangerous situations)
• предотвращать (to prevent - broader term for stopping an explosion or event)

Note: Synonyms like "разрушать" are broader and not always tied to explosions, while antonyms focus on stopping or neutralizing the action.

Related Phrases:

• взорвать бомбу - To detonate a bomb (literal use in military or criminal contexts).
• взорвать ситуацию - To blow up a situation (figurative, meaning to escalate a conflict or issue).
• подрывать авторитет - To undermine authority (figurative use of "подрывать" to mean weakening someone’s position).

Usage Notes:

• "Взрывать" (imperfective) is used for ongoing or repeated actions, while "взорвать" (perfective) indicates a single, completed act. Choose based on the context of the action.
• "Подрывать" often carries a technical or military connotation and can also be used figuratively to mean "undermine" (e.g., trust or authority).
• Be mindful of figurative uses of "взорвать," especially in modern slang or media contexts (e.g., "blow up" as in gaining sudden popularity).

Common Errors:

1. Confusing Imperfective and Perfective Forms: English speakers often misuse "взрывать" and "взорвать." For example, saying "Я взрываю бомбу вчера" (I detonate a bomb yesterday) is incorrect because "взрываю" is present tense and imperfective. Correct: "Я взорвал бомбу вчера" (I detonated a bomb yesterday).

2. Misusing "подрывать" in Non-Military Contexts: Using "подрывать" for a simple explosion (e.g., fireworks) sounds unnatural. Correct: Use "взорвать" for general explosions unless the context is military or technical.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian media and literature, the word "взорвать" often appears in contexts related to terrorism, war, or dramatic events, carrying a heavy emotional or tragic connotation. It may evoke historical associations with events like WWII or more recent conflicts. Figurative uses (e.g., "взорвать интернет") are common in modern slang, reflecting the influence of social media.

Related Concepts:

• взрыв (explosion)
• бомба (bomb)
• разрушение (destruction)
• обезвреживание (defusal)