Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'drench'

English Word: drench

Key Russian Translations:

• промокать [/prɐˈmokətʲ/] - [Informal, often used for getting wet through exposure]
• залить [/zɐˈlʲitʲ/] - [Formal, implies flooding or soaking with liquid]

Frequency: Medium (This verb and its variants are commonly used in everyday Russian, especially in weather-related or household contexts, but not as ubiquitous as basic verbs like "идти").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and aspect differences in Russian, such as imperfective vs. perfective forms. For 'промокать', it's imperfective, while 'залить' is perfective, which may vary in complexity for learners.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

промокать: [/prɐˈmokətʲ/]

залить: [/zɐˈlʲitʲ/]

Note on промокать: The stress falls on the second syllable, and the final 'тʲ' is palatalized, which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft consonant. Pronunciation may vary slightly in rapid speech.

Note on залить: This word has a hard 'лʲ', and the vowel in the first syllable is reduced in unstressed positions, common in Russian phonetics.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To make something or someone thoroughly wet, often through immersion or heavy exposure (e.g., in rain or liquid).

Translation(s) & Context:

• 'промокать' - Used in informal contexts for gradual or ongoing wetting, such as in weather descriptions.
• 'залить' - Used in more formal or literal contexts for deliberate or sudden drenching, like with water or other liquids.

Usage Examples:

• Дождь промокал нас во время прогулки в парке.

  The rain drenched us during our walk in the park. (This example shows 'промокать' in an imperfective aspect, emphasizing the ongoing process in a casual, outdoor scenario.)

• Я залил одежду в воде, чтобы удалить пятна.

  I drenched the clothes in water to remove the stains. (Here, 'залить' is used in a perfective aspect for a completed action in a household context.)

• Ливень промокал урожай на поле, вызывая беспокойство у фермеров.

  The downpour drenched the harvest in the field, causing concern for the farmers. (Illustrates 'промокать' with a plural subject and environmental context.)

• Он залил комнату водой из шланга во время уборки.

  He drenched the room with water from the hose during cleaning. (Demonstrates 'залить' in a domestic setting, highlighting intensity.)

• Море промокало берег во время шторма, эродируя скалы.

  The sea drenched the shore during the storm, eroding the rocks. (This shows 'промокать' in a metaphorical or natural disaster context, with more complex sentence structure.)

Meaning 2: To saturate or overwhelm with something non-literal, such as emotions or information (less common, but possible idiomatic extension).

Translation(s) & Context:

• 'промокать' - Rarely used metaphorically, e.g., for being overwhelmed emotionally.
• 'залить' - Not typically used for this meaning; stick to literal translations.

Usage Examples:

• Эмоции промокали его душу после потери.

  Emotions drenched his soul after the loss. (Idiomatic use of 'промокать' to convey emotional saturation, though less common in standard Russian.)

• Информация промокала его разум во время лекции.

  Information drenched his mind during the lecture. (Extended metaphor, showing 'промокать' in an educational context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'промокать' and 'залить' are verbs, with 'промокать' being imperfective and 'залить' being perfective. Russian verbs inflect based on tense, aspect, person, number, and gender. 'Промокать' follows the first conjugation pattern with irregularities in some forms, while 'залить' is more straightforward.

Note: 'Промокать' is irregular in some aspects due to vowel changes, and it does not change in gender for infinitive forms. 'Залить' is invariant in its perfective nature and follows standard patterns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Намочить (namočitʲ) - Similar to 'залить', but more neutral; often used for lighter wetting.
  • Мокрить (mokritʲ) - Informal synonym for 'промокать', with subtle differences in intensity.
• Antonyms:
  • Высушить (vysušitʲ) - To dry out completely.
  • Сохранить сухим (soxranitʲ suxim) - To keep dry, implying prevention of drenching.

Related Phrases:

• Промокать до костей - Literally: "To drench to the bones"; English meaning: To get completely soaked through, often in heavy rain.
• Залить водой - Literally: "To drench with water"; English meaning: To flood an area or object with water, as in cleaning or accidents.
• Промокший до нитки - Literally: "Drenched to the thread"; English meaning: Completely wet, emphasizing saturation in clothing.

Usage Notes:

Russian translations like 'промокать' and 'залить' correspond closely to the English 'drench' but differ in aspect: 'промокать' is imperfective (ongoing action), ideal for descriptions, while 'залить' is perfective (completed action), better for results. Use 'промокать' in informal speech or narratives, and 'залить' in formal or technical contexts. Be mindful of Russian's aspect system; learners often confuse it with English tenses. For example, choose based on whether the action is habitual or one-time. In plural subjects, ensure verb agreement.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'промокать' when a perfective verb is needed, e.g., saying "Я промокал одежду" instead of "Я залил одежду" for a completed action.

  Correct: "Я залил одежду водой." (I drenched the clothes with water.) Explanation: 'Промокать' implies ongoing wetting, which might not convey completion, leading to confusion in narrative.

• Error: Mispronouncing the palatalized consonants, like saying [/prɐˈmokət/] without the 'tʲ' sound in 'промокать'.

  Correct Pronunciation: Emphasize the soft 'тʲ' as in 'tea'. Explanation: English speakers may overlook Russian's palatalization, making the word harder to understand for native listeners.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'промокать' often appear in literature and folklore describing harsh weather, such as in stories by Chekhov or Pushkin, where drenching rain symbolizes endurance or misfortune. This reflects Russia's climate, where heavy rains are common, and such vocabulary evokes resilience in everyday life.

Related Concepts:

• Мокрый (mokryj) - Wet
• Дождь (doždʲ) - Rain
• Залив (zaliv) - Flood or bay (extended metaphorically)