Russian Translation(s) & Details for '{{doff}}'

English Word: {{doff}}

Key Russian Translations:

• снять [ˈsnʲatʲ] - [Informal, Verb; Used in everyday contexts for removing items like hats or clothing]
• сбросить [ˈsbrəsʲɪtʲ] - [Informal; Often used for quickly removing or discarding something, but less precise for courteous actions]

Frequency: Low (The verb 'doff' is archaic in English and its Russian equivalents like 'снять' are common but not frequent in modern contexts without specific cultural nuances.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; Learners need familiarity with Russian verb conjugations and perfective/imperfective aspects, but basic forms are straightforward.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

снять: [ˈsnʲatʲ] (The 'сн' is pronounced with a soft 'n' sound, and the final 'ть' is a soft 't'.)

сбросить: [ˈsbrəsʲɪtʲ] (Emphasize the 's' cluster; the 'и' is a short 'i' sound.)

Note on снять: This word has a perfective aspect, which can be tricky for learners as it implies completion; be cautious with imperfective alternatives like 'снимать' for ongoing actions.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To remove an item of clothing, especially in a courteous or formal manner

Translation(s) & Context:

• снять - Used in polite or everyday situations, such as removing a hat in greeting (e.g., in formal settings or historical contexts).
• сбросить - Applied in more casual or abrupt scenarios, but not ideal for 'doff's courteous connotation.

Usage Examples:

• Он снял шляпу, приветствуя гостей. (He doffed his hat to greet the guests.)

  English Translation: He removed his hat in a polite manner to welcome the guests. This example shows the verb in a formal, social context.

• Вежливо сними куртку перед входом в дом. (Politely doff your jacket before entering the house.)

  English Translation: Politely remove your jacket before going into the house. Here, it demonstrates imperative form in everyday etiquette.

• Актер снял шляпу на поклоне, как в старых фильмах. (The actor doffed his hat while bowing, just like in old movies.)

  English Translation: The actor removed his hat during the bow, similar to scenes in classic films. This highlights cultural or performative usage.

• Она сбросила шарф, входя в тёплую комнату. (She doffed her scarf upon entering the warm room.)

  English Translation: She quickly removed her scarf when she went into the warm room. This shows a more casual variant in practical settings.

• В традиционных русских обычаях мужчины снимают головной убор при встрече. (In traditional Russian customs, men doff their headwear when meeting someone.)

  English Translation: In traditional Russian customs, men remove their hats upon meeting others. This illustrates cultural context with imperfective implications.

To remove or take off something quickly

Translation(s) & Context:

• сбросить - Best for rapid or informal removal, though it lacks the politeness of 'doff'.

Usage Examples:

• Он сбросил рюкзак у двери. (He doffed his backpack by the door.)

  English Translation: He quickly removed his backpack near the door. This example emphasizes speed in a daily routine.

• Дети сбросили обувь, вбегая в дом. (The children doffed their shoes as they ran into the house.)

  English Translation: The children hurriedly took off their shoes while entering the house. This shows plural subject usage.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are verbs with perfective aspects. 'Снять' is perfective, while 'сбросить' is also perfective. Russian verbs inflect based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Here are the key inflections for 'снять' (as it's more directly related):

Note: 'Сбросить' follows similar patterns but is less common for courteous actions. These verbs do not change in the imperative form beyond basic endings (e.g., сними for "doff").

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • удалить (udalit') - More general, for removing objects; differs by implying complete elimination.
  • сбросить (sbrosit') - As listed, for quick removal; applicable in informal contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • надеть (nadet') - To put on or wear.
  • накинуть (nakinut') - To throw on quickly.

Related Phrases:

• снять шляпу (snyat' shlyapu) - To doff one's hat; Meaning: A gesture of respect or politeness in formal greetings.
• сбросить груз (sbrosit' gruz) - To doff a load; Meaning: To remove a burden, often metaphorically in everyday speech.
• снять верхнюю одежду (snyat' verkhnyuyu odezhdu) - To doff outerwear; Meaning: Used when entering a building, emphasizing etiquette.

Usage Notes:

The English word 'doff' is somewhat archaic and directly corresponds to 'снять' in Russian for polite actions, but Russian speakers might use it in cultural or historical contexts (e.g., literature). Be mindful of aspect: 'Снять' is perfective, so it's for completed actions, whereas 'снимать' (imperfective) is for ongoing ones. In formal settings, pair it with gestures like bowing. If multiple translations exist, choose 'снять' for courtesy and 'сбросить' for informality to match the context accurately.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'снять' interchangeably with 'сбросить' without considering politeness. Incorrect: Сбросить шляпу в формальной встрече. (Doffing a hat in a formal meeting using an informal verb.) Correct: Снять шляпу в формальной встрече. (Explanation: 'Сбросить' implies haste, which can seem rude.)
• Mistake: Forgetting gender agreement in past tense. Incorrect: Она снял шляпу. (She doffed her hat – wrong gender.) Correct: Она сняла шляпу. (Explanation: Russian past tense verbs agree with the subject's gender.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, doffing a hat (снять шляпу) is a traditional sign of respect, often seen in historical contexts like 19th-century literature or formal events. It reflects chivalry and etiquette, similar to Western customs, but is less common in modern urban life, where a simple nod might suffice.

Related Concepts:

• приветствие (privetstvie) - Greeting
• этикет (etiket) - Etiquette
• одежда (odezhda) - Clothing