Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'digress'

English Word: digress

Key Russian Translations:

• отклоняться [ɐtklɐˈnʲætʲsə] - [Formal, Used in written or spoken contexts]
• отвлекаться [ɐtvʲlʲɪˈkatʲsə] - [Informal, Often used in conversational contexts]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

отклоняться: [ɐtklɐˈnʲætʲsə]

Note on отклоняться: Stress falls on the third syllable; the 'я' sound is a soft vowel.

отвлекаться: [ɐtvʲlʲɪˈkatʲsə]

Note on отвлекаться: Stress on the third syllable; the 'е' is pronounced softly due to the preceding 'лʲ'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To deviate from the main topic (in speech or writing)

Translation(s) & Context:

• отклоняться - Used when someone strays from the main subject in a formal or structured discussion.

Usage Examples:

• В своём докладе он часто отклоняется от основной темы.

  In his report, he often digresses from the main topic.

• Не отклоняйтесь от вопроса, пожалуйста.

  Please don’t digress from the question.

• Она отклоняется от темы, чтобы рассказать личную историю.

  She digresses from the topic to tell a personal story.

2. To get distracted or lose focus (in thought or conversation)

Translation(s) & Context:

• отвлекаться - Used in casual contexts to imply losing focus or attention.

Usage Examples:

• Я постоянно отвлекаюсь, когда работаю дома.

  I constantly digress when I work from home.

• Не отвлекайся, мы обсуждаем важный вопрос.

  Don’t digress, we’re discussing an important issue.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

отклоняться (Verb, Imperfective, Reflexive):

отвлекаться (Verb, Imperfective, Reflexive): Follows similar conjugation patterns as above.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for отклоняться:

• сбиваться
• уходить в сторону

Note: "сбиваться" is more colloquial and implies confusion, while "уходить в сторону" can be used metaphorically.

Antonyms for отклоняться:

• сосредотачиваться
• держаться темы

Related Phrases:

• отклоняться от курса - "to digress from the course" (often used in navigation or metaphorically)
• отвлекаться на мелочи - "to digress over trivial matters" (common in casual speech)

Usage Notes:

• "отклоняться" is more appropriate in formal or academic contexts when referring to deviating from a topic or plan, while "отвлекаться" is better for informal settings or when describing a loss of focus.
• Both verbs are reflexive (require the -ся suffix) and are typically used in imperfective aspect to describe ongoing or habitual digression.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "отвлекаться" in formal writing. Wrong: В статье автор отвлекается от темы. Correct: В статье автор отклоняется от темы. Explanation: "отвлекаться" sounds too conversational for formal texts.
• Error: Omitting the reflexive -ся ending. Wrong: Я отклоняю. Correct: Я отклоняюсь. Explanation: Both verbs are reflexive and always require -ся.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian communication, digressing from a topic during a conversation is often seen as acceptable in informal settings, especially during storytelling. However, in formal or academic discussions, staying on topic is highly valued, and "отклоняться" may carry a slight negative connotation if overused.

Related Concepts:

• сосредоточение (focus)
• отвлечение (distraction)