Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'douse'

English Word: douse

Key Russian Translations:

• залить [zɐˈlʲitʲ] - [Informal, Used for soaking or pouring liquid]
• затушить [zəˈtuʂɨtʲ] - [Formal, Used specifically for extinguishing fires or lights]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday contexts like cooking, firefighting, or casual descriptions, but not as frequent as basic verbs)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and context-specific usage; залить might be A2 for beginners, while затушить is B1 due to its fire-related connotations)

Pronunciation (Russian):

залить: [zɐˈlʲitʲ]

Note on залить: The stress falls on the second syllable; be careful with the palatalized 'л' sound, which is common in Russian verbs. This word may have slight regional variations in speed.

затушить: [zəˈtuʂɨtʲ]

Note on затушить: The 'ш' is a soft, retroflex sound; stress on the second syllable. It's often pronounced more emphatically in urgent contexts like emergencies.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To extinguish or put out (e.g., a fire or light)

Translation(s) & Context:

• затушить - Used in contexts involving fire safety, smoking, or stopping a flame; common in formal or emergency situations.

Usage Examples:

• Он быстро затушил костер, чтобы избежать пожара. (He quickly doused the campfire to prevent a fire.)

  He quickly extinguished the campfire to prevent a fire.

• Пожарные затушили пламя водой из шланга. (The firefighters doused the flames with water from the hose.)

  The firefighters extinguished the flames with water from the hose.

• Она затушила сигарету в пепельнице. (She doused the cigarette in the ashtray.)

  She extinguished the cigarette in the ashtray.

• Ветер затушил свечу на празднике. (The wind doused the candle at the celebration.)

  The wind extinguished the candle at the celebration.

Meaning 2: To soak or pour liquid over something

Translation(s) & Context:

• залить - Applied in everyday scenarios like cooking, cleaning, or accidental spills; informal and versatile.

Usage Examples:

• Он залил салат маслом перед подачей. (He doused the salad with oil before serving.)

  He soaked the salad with oil before serving.

• Дети случайно залили пол водой из ведра. (The children accidentally doused the floor with water from the bucket.)

  The children accidentally soaked the floor with water from the bucket.

• Механик залил двигатель маслом, чтобы избежать перегрева. (The mechanic doused the engine with oil to prevent overheating.)

  The mechanic soaked the engine with oil to prevent overheating.

• Во время дождя все было залито водой. (During the rain, everything was doused with water.)

  During the rain, everything was soaked with water.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are verbs, which follow Russian conjugation patterns. Russian verbs are conjugated based on tense, aspect, person, and number. These are imperfective verbs, meaning they describe ongoing or repeated actions.

For затушить (perfective aspect, meaning to extinguish completely):

For залить (perfective aspect, meaning to pour completely):

These verbs do not have irregular inflections but follow standard patterns; gender agreement in the past tense is key (e.g., залил for masculine, залила for feminine).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: погасить (pogastit' - to extinguish, similar to затушить but more general), облить (oblit' - to pour over, akin to залить)
• Antonyms: зажечь (zazhech' - to light or ignite)

Related Phrases:

• Залить водой - To douse with water (Used in contexts like firefighting or cleaning; implies thorough soaking).
• Затушить огонь - To douse the fire (A common phrase in safety instructions or narratives).
• Залить бензином - To douse with gasoline (Often in hazardous or mechanical contexts, with a connotation of risk).

Usage Notes:

"Douse" corresponds most closely to "затушить" for extinguishing and "залить" for soaking. Choose "затушить" in formal or safety-related contexts, as it implies complete cessation, while "залить" is better for liquid applications in everyday speech. Be mindful of aspect: Russian verbs have perfective (completed action) and imperfective forms, so "затушить" is perfective. In spoken Russian, these verbs may vary by region, and "залить" can sound casual, avoiding it in professional settings.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "затушить" with "погасить": Learners might use "погасить" interchangeably, but "затушить" is more specific to fires. Error: "Я погасил лампу" (incorrect if emphasizing dousing); Correct: "Я затушил огонь". Explanation: "Погасить" is for lights, not liquids.
• Misconjugating past tense: Forgetting gender agreement, e.g., saying "Она затушил" instead of "Она затушила". Error: "Она затушил сигарету"; Correct: "Она затушила сигарету". Explanation: Russian past tense verbs agree with the subject's gender.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like "затушить огонь" often appear in folklore or proverbs related to survival and nature, such as in stories where extinguishing a fire symbolizes overcoming danger. This reflects Russia's historical context of harsh winters and rural living, where fire management is crucial.

Related Concepts:

• огонь (fire)
• вода (water)
• пожар (fire, as in a blaze)