Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'discolor'

English Word: discolor

Key Russian Translations:

• выцветать /vɨftsʲɪˈvatʲ/ - [Informal, often used for natural fading or bleaching]
• потемнеть /pətʲɪˈmnʲetʲ/ - [Formal, implies darkening or losing brightness]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday contexts like describing aging materials or fabrics, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "быть").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, as it involves understanding verb conjugations and context-specific usage; for 'выцветать', it may be slightly easier, while 'потемнеть' could edge toward B2 due to its nuances).

Pronunciation (Russian):

выцветать: /vɨftsʲɪˈvatʲ/ (The stress is on the third syllable; note the soft 'т' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers due to the palatalization.)

потемнеть: /pətʲɪˈmnʲetʲ/ (Stress on the second syllable; pay attention to the soft 'т' and the final 'ть' which indicates imperfective aspect.)

Note on выцветать: This verb has a rolling 'в' sound at the beginning, and the 'ы' vowel is distinct from 'и', often pronounced with a slight back-of-the-throat quality. Variations in regional accents may soften the consonants.

Note on потемнеть: In fast speech, the initial 'п' can be aspirated, making it sound more emphatic; be cautious with the perfective form.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: To change or spoil the color of something, often implying fading or darkening.

Translation(s) & Context:

• выцветать - Used in informal contexts for gradual color loss, such as in clothing or photographs exposed to sunlight.
• потемнеть - Applied in formal or descriptive contexts, like scientific or artistic discussions, for colors becoming darker over time.

Usage Examples:

• Эта ткань выцветает на солнце, поэтому её лучше хранить в тени.

  This fabric discolors in the sun, so it's better to store it in the shade.

• Картина потемнела от времени и нуждается в реставрации.

  The painting has discolored over time and needs restoration.

• Если вы оставите фрукты на воздухе, они быстро выцветают и теряют привлекательность.

  If you leave the fruits out in the air, they discolor quickly and lose their appeal.

• Металл потемнел из-за воздействия влаги, что указывает на коррозию.

  The metal has discolored due to moisture exposure, indicating corrosion.

• В жаркую погоду краска на стенах может выцветать, если не использовать качественные материалы.

  In hot weather, the paint on walls can discolor if low-quality materials are used.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'выцветать' and 'потемнеть' are verbs, with 'выцветать' being imperfective and 'потемнеть' perfective. Russian verbs conjugate based on tense, aspect, person, and number. 'Выцветать' follows a regular pattern for imperfective verbs, while 'потемнеть' is perfective and has a more straightforward conjugation.

Note: These verbs do not change irregularly but follow standard patterns. 'Выцветать' can be used for ongoing actions, while 'потемнеть' is for completed ones.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • выгорать (to burn out, similar to fading, but often for colors under heat)
  • потерять цвет (to lose color, more literal and versatile)
• Antonyms:
  • осветлить (to lighten or brighten)
  • покрасить (to paint or color)

Related Phrases:

• Выцветать на солнце - To fade in the sun (Common phrase for describing outdoor discoloration due to UV exposure).
• Потемнеть от времени - To darken with age (Used in contexts like antiques or historical artifacts, implying natural aging).
• Выцветший цвет - Faded color (A fixed expression for describing dull or washed-out hues in art or fashion).

Usage Notes:

'Discolor' in English often implies a negative change, which aligns closely with 'выцветать' for gradual fading or 'потемнеть' for darkening. Choose 'выцветать' in informal, everyday scenarios like talking about clothes or photos, as it conveys a process. 'Потемнеть' is better for formal or precise contexts, such as scientific descriptions. Be mindful of aspect in Russian: use imperfective for ongoing actions and perfective for results. English learners should note that Russian verbs require agreement with subject gender in the past tense, which has no direct equivalent in English.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'выцветать' interchangeably with 'потемнеть' without considering aspect. For example, saying "Картина выцветает от времени" (incorrect for a completed action) instead of "Картина потемнела от времени" (correct for a finished process). Explanation: Russian aspect is crucial; 'выцветать' is for ongoing fading, while 'потемнеть' is for the end result.
• Mistake: Forgetting gender agreement in past tense, e.g., saying "Ткань выцветал" (wrong, as it's feminine) instead of "Ткань выцветала". Explanation: Always match the past tense ending to the subject's gender, number, and case for grammatical accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like 'выцветать' often appear in discussions of heritage and preservation, such as in museums or literature about the passage of time. For instance, faded icons or photographs in Russian folk art symbolize the impermanence of life, reflecting a broader Slavic cultural emphasis on history and nostalgia.

Related Concepts:

• осветление (lightening)
• коррозия (corrosion)
• реставрация (restoration)