Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'donate'

English Word: donate

Key Russian Translations:

• пожертвовать [pɐʐɨrtvəˈvatʲ] - [Formal, used in contexts of charitable giving or contributions]
• взносить [vznoˈsitʲ] - [Formal, often for regular or ongoing donations, such as to a fund or organization]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in discussions about charity, fundraising, or social causes, but not in everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of verb conjugations and formal contexts; for 'взносить', it may be slightly more advanced due to its association with specific financial or institutional scenarios)

Pronunciation (Russian):

пожертвовать: [pɐʐɨrtvəˈvatʲ]

взносить: [vznoˈsitʲ]

Note on пожертвовать: The stress falls on the third syllable ('vatʲ'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft 'tʲ' sound; pronounce it with a gentle, palatalized ending.

Note on взносить: The initial 'v' is pronounced as a voiced labiodental fricative, similar to English 'v', but the word has a rising intonation in questions.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To give money, goods, or time to a charity, cause, or organization without expecting anything in return.

Translation(s) & Context:

• пожертвовать - Used in formal or semi-formal contexts, such as donating to a nonprofit or during public appeals; emphasizes voluntary giving.
• взносить - Applied in contexts involving systematic contributions, like monthly donations to a church or club; implies regularity.

Usage Examples:

• Я решил пожертвовать часть своих сбережений на помощь пострадавшим от пожара.

  I decided to donate part of my savings to help those affected by the fire.

• Многие люди взносят деньги в фонд по борьбе с голодом каждый месяц.

  Many people donate money to the hunger relief fund every month.

• Организация попросила всех желающих пожертвовать одежду для беженцев.

  The organization asked everyone willing to donate clothes for the refugees.

• Взносите ли вы регулярно в местный благотворительный проект?

  Do you regularly donate to the local charity project?

• После концерта зрители могли пожертвовать на экологические инициативы.

  After the concert, viewers could donate to environmental initiatives.

To contribute something as a gift or for a public purpose.

Translation(s) & Context:

• пожертвовать - In broader contexts, such as donating blood or time, emphasizing altruism.

Usage Examples:

• Врачи призывают людей пожертвовать кровь для больницы.

  Doctors are urging people to donate blood to the hospital.

• Она пожертвовала своё время, чтобы помочь в организации фестиваля.

  She donated her time to help organize the festival.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'пожертвовать' and 'взносить' are verbs, and Russian verbs undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. 'Пожертвовать' is a perfective verb (indicating a completed action), while 'взносить' is imperfective (indicating ongoing or repeated actions). Below are key inflections in tables for clarity.

For 'пожертвовать' (Perfective):

For 'взносить' (Imperfective):

Note: These verbs do not change based on gender in the infinitive form but do in the past tense.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • жертвовать - Similar to пожертвовать but more general; often used interchangeably in casual contexts.
  • дарить - Implies giving as a gift, with subtle connotations of generosity but less formal than пожертвовать.
• Antonyms:
  • брать - Means 'to take', opposite in the sense of receiving rather than giving.
  • удерживать - Means 'to withhold', implying not donating or keeping for oneself.

Related Phrases:

• Сделать пожертвование - To make a donation; used for one-time acts of giving, often in formal settings.
• Взнос в фонд - Contribution to a fund; refers to regular financial support with a sense of obligation.
• Пожертвовать на благотворительность - To donate to charity; a common phrase emphasizing altruistic motives.

Usage Notes:

Use 'пожертвовать' for one-off, voluntary acts of giving, as it aligns closely with the English 'donate' in charitable contexts. 'Взносить' is better for ongoing contributions, such as subscriptions. Be mindful of formality: 'пожертвовать' is preferred in written or official language, while in casual speech, Russians might simplify to 'дать деньги' (give money). Grammatically, always pair these with direct objects, e.g., 'пожертвовать деньги' (donate money). If the English 'donate' implies blood or time, stick with 'пожертвовать' for accuracy.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'пожертвовать' interchangeably with 'дарить' without context. Incorrect: "Я дарю деньги на благотворительность" (implies a gift, not necessarily charitable). Correct: "Я пожертвую деньги на благотворительность." Explanation: 'Дарить' suggests personal exchange, while 'пожертвовать' emphasizes altruism.

• Error: Neglecting verb aspect; e.g., using 'пожертвовать' for ongoing actions. Incorrect: "Я пожертвую каждый месяц" (implies a single act). Correct: "Я буду вносить каждый месяц." Explanation: 'Пожертвовать' is perfective, so use imperfective forms like 'взносить' for routines.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, donating (пожертвовать) is often tied to traditions like supporting Orthodox churches or national holidays such as Victory Day, where public contributions honor historical events. It carries a strong sense of community and moral duty, influenced by Soviet-era collectivism, making it more than a transaction—it's a social gesture.

Related Concepts:

• благотворительность (charity)
• фонд (fund)
• спонсорство (sponsorship)