Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'doze'

English Word: doze

Key Russian Translations:

• дремать [drʲɪˈmatʲ] - [Informal, Verb form, commonly used in everyday contexts for light sleeping]
• дремота [drʲɪˈmotə] - [Formal or Neutral, Noun form, referring to a state of drowsiness]

Frequency: Medium (This word is moderately common in spoken and written Russian, appearing in casual conversations, literature, and media, but not as ubiquitous as basic verbs like "спать".)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; involves understanding verb conjugations and noun declensions, which may challenge beginners, but is manageable for intermediate learners. For 'дремать' as a verb: B1; for 'дремота' as a noun: A2.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

дремать: [drʲɪˈmatʲ]

Note on дремать: The stress falls on the second syllable ('ma'), and the 'р' is lightly rolled. Pay attention to the palatalized 'тʲ' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers.

дремота: [drʲɪˈmotə]

Note on дремота: The ending 'ота' is pronounced with a soft 't', and the word has a neutral tone. Variations in regional accents may slightly alter vowel length.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Verb: To sleep lightly or doze off (e.g., falling into a brief, unintentional sleep)

Translation(s) & Context:

• дремать - Used in informal settings, such as describing someone nodding off during a meeting or while reading; often implies a temporary, light state of sleep.

Usage Examples:

• Он дремал на диване после обеда.

  He was dozing on the couch after lunch. (This example shows the verb in a simple present context, illustrating everyday relaxation.)

• Дети дремали в машине во время долгой поездки.

  The children were dozing in the car during the long trip. (Demonstrates plural subject and habitual action in travel scenarios.)

• Она дремала у окна, слушая дождь.

  She was dozing by the window, listening to the rain. (Highlights the verb with a sensory element, showing emotional or atmospheric context.)

• В старости люди часто дремлют днём.

  In old age, people often doze during the day. (Illustrates a general statement with implications of aging and routine.)

Noun: A brief period of light sleep or drowsiness

Translation(s) & Context:

• дремота - Used in more formal or descriptive contexts, such as in literature or medical discussions, to denote a state of half-sleep; less common in casual speech.

Usage Examples:

• Его охватила дремота во время лекции.

  Drowsiness overtook him during the lecture. (This shows the noun in a situational context, emphasizing sudden onset.)

• Дремота мешала ему сосредоточиться на работе.

  The doze was hindering his focus on work. (Illustrates the noun with a negative impact, in a professional setting.)

• После ужина наступила приятная дремота.

  After dinner, a pleasant doze set in. (Demonstrates a positive, relaxed connotation in daily life.)

• В летней жаре все ощущали дремоту.

  In the summer heat, everyone felt a doze coming on. (Shows the noun in an environmental context, with plural subjects.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'дремать' (verb, imperfective aspect): This is a first-conjugation verb with regular inflections. It follows standard patterns for Russian verbs, changing based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Below is a conjugation table for the present tense:

Note: It has an imperfective aspect, so for perfective actions (e.g., to complete dozing), use 'дремнуть'. The verb is regular, with no irregularities.

For 'дремота' (noun, feminine, 1st declension): This noun declines regularly based on case and number. It is invariant in gender but changes in endings.

This noun does not have irregular forms, making it straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: спать (to sleep; more general and common, but less specific to light sleep), задремать (to nod off; similar but implies sudden onset), зевота (yawning; related to drowsiness)
• Antonyms: бодрствовать (to stay awake; direct opposite, emphasizing alertness), активироваться (to become active; more modern usage)

Note: 'Спать' is a broader synonym but may lack the nuance of light, brief sleep implied in 'дремать'.

Related Phrases:

• впадать в дремоту - To fall into a doze; used to describe drifting off unintentionally, often in tired states.
• дремота после еды - Post-meal drowsiness; a common phrase referring to the sleepy feeling after eating.
• бороться с дремотой - To fight off drowsiness; implies effort to stay awake in situations like driving or studying.

Usage Notes:

'Дремать' directly corresponds to the verb 'doze' in English, capturing the idea of light, intermittent sleep, while 'дремота' aligns with the noun form. Use 'дремать' in informal contexts like daily conversations, but opt for 'дремота' in descriptive or formal writing. Be mindful of aspect in verbs: 'дремать' is imperfective for ongoing actions, whereas 'дремнуть' is perfective for completed ones. English learners should note that Russian verbs require conjugation based on subject, which has no direct equivalent in English.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'дремать' without proper conjugation, e.g., saying "Он дремать" instead of "Он дремлет". Correct: Always conjugate based on person and number, as shown in the inflections table. Explanation: Russian verbs must agree with the subject, unlike English, which can lead to oversight.
• Mistake: Confusing 'дремота' with 'дремать' in sentences, e.g., "Я дремота" (incorrect noun as verb). Correct: Use 'дремлю' for the verb form. Explanation: Mixing parts of speech is common for beginners; remember, 'дремота' is a noun and cannot function as a verb.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'дремота' is often associated with the concept of 'отдых' (rest), reflecting a societal emphasis on relaxation, as seen in literature like Chekhov's stories where characters doze during lazy afternoons. This ties into the Russian 'dacha' lifestyle, where brief naps are a common way to unwind, highlighting a cultural appreciation for pausing amidst daily routines.

Related Concepts:

• сон (sleep)
• усталость (fatigue)
• бодрость (alertness)