Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'disunite'

English Word: disunite

Key Russian Translations:

• Разъединить (razʲjɪdʲɪˈnʲitʲ) - [Formal, used in contexts involving separation or division]
• Разделить (rəzʲdʲɪˈlʲitʲ) - [Informal/Neutral, often for dividing objects or groups]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are encountered in everyday language, especially in discussions of politics, relationships, or mechanics, but not as common as basic verbs.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; learners at this level can grasp the concept with practice, but verb conjugations may require attention. For 'Разъединить', it's slightly more challenging due to its perfective aspect.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Разъединить: razʲjɪdʲɪˈnʲitʲ

Note on Разъединить: The soft sign (ʲ) indicates palatalization, which can be tricky for English speakers; emphasize the 'y' sound before 'i'. Pronounce it with stress on the third syllable.

Разделить: rəzʲdʲɪˈlʲitʲ

Note on Разделить: Stress falls on the third syllable; the 'zʲ' sound is softened, similar to the 's' in 'measure'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To cause separation or division, often in a figurative or literal sense (e.g., breaking unity in groups or objects).

Translation(s) & Context:

• Разъединить - Used in formal or technical contexts, such as politics or mechanics, to imply a complete separation.
• Разделить - Applied in everyday situations for dividing resources or ideas, with a less permanent connotation.

Usage Examples:

• Разъедините провода, чтобы избежать короткого замыкания. (Razedinite provoda, chtoby izbezhat korotkogo zamykaniya.)

  Disconnect the wires to avoid a short circuit. (This example shows the verb in an imperative form for practical, technical use.)

• Эта политика разъединила страну на две части. (Eta politika razedinila stranu na dve chasti.)

  This policy disunited the country into two parts. (Illustrates figurative use in a political context, highlighting division.)

• Мы решили разделить задачи между всеми членами команды. (My reshili razdelit' zadachi mezhddu vsemi chlenami komandy.)

  We decided to disunite the tasks among all team members. (Demonstrates distribution in a collaborative setting, using the imperfective aspect for ongoing action.)

• Разделите конфеты поровну, чтобы никто не обиделся. (Razdelite konfety porovnu, chtoby nikto ne obidelas'.)

  Disunite the candies equally so that no one gets upset. (Shows informal, everyday use in social interactions.)

• Война разъединила семьи на долгие годы. (Voyna razedinila sem'i na dolgie gody.)

  The war disunited families for many years. (Emphasizes long-term, emotional separation in historical contexts.)

Meaning 2: To disrupt unity or harmony in relationships or organizations.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Разъединить - Preferred for more severe disruptions, like in conflicts or breakups.
• Разделить - Used for milder divisions, such as splitting opinions.

Usage Examples:

• Ссора разъединила друзей навсегда. (Ssora razedinila druzey navsegda.)

  The quarrel disunited friends forever. (Highlights permanent relational damage.)

• Разделите мнения по этому вопросу на собрании. (Razdelite mneniya po etomu voprosu na sobranii.)

  Disunite opinions on this issue at the meeting. (Shows use in discussions, focusing on differing views.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'Разъединить' and 'Разделить' are perfective verbs in Russian, meaning they describe completed actions. Russian verbs undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. 'Разъединить' is the perfective form of 'разъединять' (imperfective), and 'Разделить' is the perfective of 'разделять'.

Note: These verbs do not change irregularly but follow standard patterns for first-conjugation verbs in Russian.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Отделить (otdelit') - Similar to 'separate', but often for physical detachment; less emotional than 'Разъединить'.
  • Распустить (raspusit') - Used for dissolving groups or organizations.
• Antonyms:
  • Соединить (soedinit')
  • Объединить (ob'edinit')

Related Phrases:

• Разъединить силы - To divide forces (e.g., in military or team contexts; implies strategic separation).
• Разделить ответственность - To share responsibility (common in professional settings; promotes accountability).
• Разъединить семью - To break up a family (often used in emotional or legal discussions).

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'Разъединить' is more formal and implies a complete, often irreversible separation, making it a closer match to 'disunite' in serious contexts like politics or relationships. 'Разделить' is versatile for everyday division but can overlap. English speakers should note the aspect system: use perfective for completed actions and imperfective for ongoing ones (e.g., 'разъединять'). In formal writing, prefer 'Разъединить' for emphasis on disunity, but in casual speech, 'Разделить' might suffice. Always consider context to avoid confusion with simpler words like 'разделить' for 'divide' mathematically.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Confusing the perfective and imperfective forms, e.g., using 'Разъединить' for ongoing actions. Incorrect: Я разъединяю провода сейчас. (Incorrect use of perfective.) Correct: Я разъединяю провода сейчас. (Wait, no—correct imperfective is 'разъединяю' for ongoing; error is in not knowing when to use it.) Explanation: English learners often forget that Russian requires aspect specification; use imperfective 'разъединять' for processes.
• Mistake: Overusing 'Разделить' in emotional contexts where 'Разъединить' is more appropriate, leading to understatement. Incorrect: Эта новость разделила семью. (Might sound too mild.) Correct: Эта новость разъединила семью. Explanation: 'Разделить' implies simple division, while 'Разъединить' conveys deeper rupture.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'Разъединить' often carry historical connotations, such as the divisions during the Soviet era or in literature by authors like Tolstoy, where family or national disunity is a theme. This reflects Russia's emphasis on collective unity, so using such terms can evoke strong emotional or patriotic responses in conversations.

Related Concepts:

• Единство (unity)
• Разрыв (breakup or rupture)
• Отделение (separation)