Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'down'

English Word: down

Key Russian Translations:

• вниз [/vniz/] - [Informal, commonly used for downward direction]
• пух [/pux/] - [Formal, refers to soft feathers or down material]
• подавленный [/pədɐˈvlʲen:nyj/] - [Informal, for emotional state like depressed]

Frequency: Medium (e.g., 'вниз' is frequently used in everyday contexts, while 'пух' is more specific to material descriptions)

Difficulty: A2 for 'вниз' (Beginner level, basic direction); B1 for 'пух' (Intermediate, involves vocabulary for objects); B2 for 'подавленный' (Upper-Intermediate, deals with emotions)

Pronunciation (Russian):

вниз: [/vniz/] - Stress on the first syllable; pronounced with a soft 'z' sound.

Note on вниз: This word has a clear, short vowel in the first syllable; be cautious of the final 'z' which can vary slightly in fast speech.

пух: [/pux/] - Stress on the first syllable; the 'uh' sound is a back vowel.

Note on пух: The 'kh' sound is guttural; common in words related to nature.

подавленный: [/pədɐˈvlʲen:nyj/] - Stress on the third syllable; palatalized 'l' sound is key.

Note on подавленный: This adjective has a complex consonant cluster; learners often mistake the palatalization.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Downward direction (as an adverb or preposition)

Translation(s) & Context:

• вниз - Used in informal contexts for physical movement downward, such as in directions or descriptions.
• внизу - Used when specifying a location below something, in both formal and informal settings.

Usage Examples:

• Он спустился вниз по лестнице. (He went down the stairs.)

  English Translation: He descended down the stairs. This example shows 'вниз' in a simple directional context.

• Книга лежит внизу ящика. (The book is down in the drawer.)

  English Translation: The book is at the bottom of the drawer. Here, 'внизу' indicates position.

• Птица полетела вниз, чтобы поймать добычу. (The bird flew down to catch its prey.)

  English Translation: The bird flew down to catch its prey. Demonstrates 'вниз' in action verbs.

• Вниз ведёт крутая тропа. (A steep path leads down.)

  English Translation: A steep path leads down. Shows usage in descriptive sentences.

Meaning 2: Soft feathers or material (as a noun)

Translation(s) & Context:

• пух - Used in formal or descriptive contexts for feathers, often in clothing or nature.

Usage Examples:

• Эта подушка набита пухом. (This pillow is filled with down.)

  English Translation: This pillow is filled with down. Illustrates 'пух' in everyday object description.

• Пух с утки используется в одежде. (Down from ducks is used in clothing.)

  English Translation: Down from ducks is used in clothing. Shows 'пух' in a material context.

• Зимой пух защищает птиц от холода. (In winter, down protects birds from the cold.)

  English Translation: In winter, down protects birds from the cold. Demonstrates 'пух' in a natural setting.

• Пух – это лёгкий и тёплый материал. (Down is a light and warm material.)

  English Translation: Down is a light and warm material. Highlights adjective use with 'пух'.

Meaning 3: Depressed or low state (as an adjective)

Translation(s) & Context:

• подавленный - Used in informal emotional contexts, often for feelings of being down or suppressed.

Usage Examples:

• Он чувствует себя подавленным после неудачи. (He feels down after the failure.)

  English Translation: He feels down after the failure. Shows 'подавленный' in emotional contexts.

• Подавленный человек нуждается в поддержке. (A down person needs support.)

  English Translation: A down person needs support. Illustrates use in describing states.

• Её подавленное настроение прошло после отпуска. (Her down mood passed after the vacation.)

  English Translation: Her down mood passed after the vacation. Demonstrates change in state.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'вниз' (adverb): This is an invariable adverb and does not change form in Russian.

For 'пух' (noun, masculine): It follows the standard second declension pattern for masculine nouns.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	пух	пуши
Genitive	пуха	пухов
Dative	пуху	пухам
Accusative	пух	пуши
Instrumental	пухом	пухами
Prepositional	пухе	пухах

For 'подавленный' (adjective): It is a short-form adjective and follows standard adjectival declension, which is irregular in some cases.

Form	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Plural
Nominative	подавленный	подавленная	подавленное	подавленные

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • вниз: книзу (knizu) - Similar for downward, but more literary.
  • пух: перья (peryá) - For feathers, but less specific.
  • подавленный: грустный (grustnyy) - Often interchangeable in casual contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • вверх (vverkh) - Opposite of 'вниз' for upward direction.
  • твёрдый (tvjordyj) - Opposite of 'пух' for something not soft.
  • весёлый (vesjolyj) - Opposite of 'подавленный' for cheerful.

Related Phrases:

• вниз по реке (vniz po reke) - Down the river; used for directional flow in travel contexts.
• пуховая подушка (puhovaya podushka) - Down pillow; common in descriptions of bedding.
• чувствовать себя подавленным (chuvstvovat' sebya podavlennyim) - To feel down; an emotional phrase in psychology.

Usage Notes:

'Вниз' directly corresponds to the English 'down' for directions but is more adverbial; use it in motion verbs like 'спускаться' (to descend). 'Пух' is precise for feathers and doesn't have a perfect English equivalent in all contexts, so avoid over-translating. For 'подавленный', it's ideal for emotional states but carries a connotation of suppression, not just sadness—choose it over synonyms when emphasizing external pressure. In formal writing, prefer full declensions for accuracy.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'вниз' as a noun, e.g., saying *вниз как пух* instead of 'пух' for feathers. Correct: Use 'пух' for material. Explanation: 'Вниз' is only directional; mixing it confuses word classes.
• Error: Forgetting gender agreement with 'подавленный', e.g., *она подавленный* (she is down). Correct: она подавленная. Explanation: Adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case in Russian.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'пух' (down) often evokes warmth and tradition, as seen in folklore where down feathers symbolize comfort in harsh winters, reflecting Russia's cold climate. 'Подавленный' might relate to historical contexts of suppression under past regimes, adding a layer of emotional depth in literature.

Related Concepts:

• вверх
• перья
• грусть