Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'distract'

English Word: distract

Key Russian Translations:

• отвлекать /ɐtvlʲɪˈkatʲ/ - [Informal, commonly used in everyday speech]
• рассеивать /rɐˈsʲejvətʲ/ - [Formal, often in literary or professional contexts]
• отвлечь /ɐtvlʲɪˈtɕ/ - [Informal, perfective aspect for completed actions]

Frequency: Medium (Common in daily conversations but not as frequent as basic verbs like 'to be' or 'to go')

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; requires understanding of verb aspects, but straightforward for learners with basic grammar knowledge. For 'рассеивать', it may be B2 due to its more formal tone.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

отвлекать: /ɐtvlʲɪˈkatʲ/ (Stress on the third syllable; note the soft 'л' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers.)

Note on отвлекать: The 'т' is palatalized before 'л', making it sound like /tʲ/. Practice with native speakers to master the fluid pronunciation.

рассеивать: /rɐˈsʲejvətʲ/ (Stress on the second syllable; the 'с' is soft, similar to 's' in 'measure'.)

Note on рассеивать: This word has a more elegant, elongated vowel sound, often used in formal settings; variations may occur in dialects.

отвлечь: /ɐtvlʲɪˈtɕ/ (Stress on the third syllable; ends with a soft 'ч' sound.)

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To draw away attention or focus

Translation(s) & Context:

• отвлекать - Used in informal contexts to describe temporarily diverting someone's attention, such as in casual conversations or daily interruptions.
• рассеивать - Applied in formal or abstract situations, like in psychology or literature, to indicate scattering or diffusing focus.

Usage Examples:

• Громкий шум отвлекал меня от чтения книги.

  The loud noise was distracting me from reading the book. (Shows 'отвлекать' in a present-tense, ongoing action.)

• Его речь рассеивала внимание аудитории, делая презентацию менее эффективной.

  His speech was distracting the audience, making the presentation less effective. (Illustrates 'рассеивать' in a formal, group setting.)

• Я отвлек его, чтобы он не заметил ошибки в отчете.

  I distracted him so he wouldn't notice the mistake in the report. (Demonstrates 'отвлечь' as a perfective verb for a completed action.)

• Дети отвлекали родителей игрушками во время путешествия.

  The children were distracting their parents with toys during the trip. (Highlights 'отвлекать' in a familial, plural context.)

• Социальные сети часто рассеивают внимание студентов во время уроков.

  Social media often distracts students during classes. (Shows 'рассеивать' in an educational context with a broader implication.)

To divert or amuse as a means of relief

Translation(s) & Context:

• отвлекать - In positive contexts, like using entertainment to ease stress.

Usage Examples:

• Музыка отвлекала меня от повседневных забот.

  Music distracted me from everyday worries. (Positive usage of 'отвлекать' to indicate relief.)

• Он использовал юмор, чтобы отвлечь друзей от грустных новостей.

  He used humor to distract his friends from the sad news. (Another example of 'отвлечь' in social interactions.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily verbs, which in Russian undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. 'Отвлекать' and 'рассеивать' are imperfective verbs, while 'отвлечь' is perfective. Russian verbs have aspects that indicate whether an action is ongoing or completed.

Note: These verbs follow regular conjugation patterns for most forms, but perfective verbs like 'отвлечь' do not have a present tense form.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: отвлечь (similar but perfective), мешать (to interfere), нарушать (to disrupt; often used in more negative contexts)
• Antonyms: сосредотачивать (to concentrate), фокусировать (to focus; implies directing attention precisely)

Related Phrases:

• отвлекать внимание - To distract attention (Used when something pulls focus away temporarily.)
• рассеивать мысли - To scatter thoughts (Implies a more profound distraction, often in introspective contexts.)
• отвлечь от работы - To distract from work (Common in professional or daily life scenarios.)

Usage Notes:

In Russian, choose 'отвлекать' for ongoing actions and 'отвлечь' for completed ones, mirroring English verb tenses. 'Рассеивать' is more formal and carries a sense of dispersion, so use it in academic or literary contexts rather than casual talk. Be mindful of aspect: English 'distract' can be imperfective or perfective, but Russian requires selecting the appropriate form. For example, in phone conversations, 'отвлекать' might be used informally, while 'рассеивать' suits written reports.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'отвлекать' when a perfective aspect is needed, e.g., saying "Я отвлекал его" instead of "Я отвлек его" for a one-time event. Correct: "Я отвлек его" means "I distracted him (and it's done)." Explanation: Russian aspect is crucial; mixing them can confuse the timeline of actions.
• Error: Confusing 'рассеивать' with 'отвлекать', leading to overly formal language in casual settings. Correct: In everyday speech, say "Это отвлекло меня" instead of "Это рассеивало меня." Explanation: Overusing formal synonyms can make speech sound unnatural for English learners adapting to context.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, distraction (e.g., 'отвлекать') is often linked to the value of focus and concentration, especially in education and work. Historically, during Soviet times, phrases like 'отвлекать от труда' (distracting from labor) were used in propaganda to emphasize productivity, reflecting a cultural emphasis on collective efficiency over individual whims.

Related Concepts:

• внимание (attention)
• сосредоточенность (concentration)
• нарушение (disruption)