Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'drowse'

English Word: drowse

Key Russian Translations:

• дремать [drʲɪˈmatʲ] - [Informal, Verb]
• сонливость [sɐˈnlʲɪvəstʲ] - [Formal, Noun, Used in medical or descriptive contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday conversation, literature, and health-related discussions, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "спать").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; involves understanding verb conjugations and nuanced contexts. For "дремать", it's B1; for "сонливость", it's A2 due to its nominal form.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

дремать: [drʲɪˈmatʲ] (The "др" sound is a voiced alveolar trill followed by a palatalized "р", which can be tricky for English speakers; stress on the second syllable.)

сонливость: [sɐˈnlʲɪvəstʲ] (Emphasize the second syllable; the "лʲ" is a palatalized "l", common in Russian nouns.)

Note on дремать: Be careful with the palatalization in "дремать"; it softens the pronunciation, making it sound more fluid. Variations in casual speech may reduce the trill.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To be in a state of light sleep or drowsiness (Verb, as in falling into a doze).

Translation(s) & Context:

• дремать - Used in informal settings to describe dozing off unintentionally, such as during a boring meeting or while reading (Context: Everyday, casual conversations).

Usage Examples:

• Он дремал на диване после обеда. (He was drowsing on the couch after lunch.)

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

• Дети часто дремлют во время длинных поездок. (Children often drowse during long trips.)

  English: Children often drowse during long trips. (Demonstrates plural subject and habitual action in travel scenarios.)

• Из-за усталости она дремала за рулём, что было опасно. (Due to fatigue, she was drowsing at the wheel, which was dangerous.)

  English: Due to fatigue, she was drowsing at the wheel, which was dangerous. (Highlights a risky context with imperfective aspect.)

• В жару люди склонны дремать днём. (In the heat, people tend to drowse during the day.)

  English: In the heat, people tend to drowse during the day. (Shows environmental influence on the verb.)

Meaning 2: A state of drowsiness or sleepiness (Noun, less common but referring to the condition).

Translation(s) & Context:

• сонливость - Used in formal or medical contexts to describe a feeling of drowsiness, such as from medication or fatigue (Context: Professional, health-related discussions).

Usage Examples:

• Его сонливость после лекарства заставила отложить встречу. (His drowsiness after the medication made him postpone the meeting.)

  English: His drowsiness after the medication made him postpone the meeting. (This example uses the noun in a cause-effect sentence.)

• В офисе она боролась с сонливостью днём. (In the office, she fought against drowsiness during the day.)

  English: In the office, she fought against drowsiness during the day. (Illustrates the noun in a work environment.)

• Сонливость — распространённый симптом недосыпа. (Drowsiness is a common symptom of sleep deprivation.)

  English: Drowsiness is a common symptom of sleep deprivation. (Shows the noun in a general, explanatory context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "дремать" (a verb of the first conjugation), it follows standard imperfective patterns with regular inflections. It is an imperfective verb, meaning it describes ongoing actions.

For "сонливость" (a feminine noun, third declension), it has standard nominal inflections but is invariable in plural forms as an abstract noun:

• Nominative: сонливость
• Genitive: сонливости
• Dative: сонливости
• Accusative: сонливость
• Instrumental: сонливостью
• Prepositional: сонливости

Note: "Сонливость" does not change in plural as it is an uncountable noun.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • уснуть (usnut') - Similar but implies falling asleep fully; used for deeper sleep.
  • заснуть (zasnut') - Overlaps with "дремать" but often in contexts of unintended sleep.
• Antonyms:
  • проснуться (prosnut'sya) - To wake up, directly opposite in state.
  • бодрствовать (bodrstvovat') - To stay awake or be alert.

Related Phrases:

• дремать на уроке (dremat' na urokye) - To drowse in class; a common phrase for students falling asleep during lessons.
• сонливость после еды (sonlivost' posle yedy) - Post-meal drowsiness; often used in health or daily life contexts to describe food-induced fatigue.
• бороться с дремотой (borot'sya s dremotoy) - To fight against drowsiness; implies active resistance, as in staying awake during work.

Usage Notes:

"Дремать" is an imperfective verb that best matches the English "drowse" for ongoing, light sleep, while "сонливость" captures the noun form more precisely. Use "дремать" in informal spoken Russian for everyday scenarios, but opt for "сонливость" in formal or medical contexts. Be mindful of subject-verb agreement in conjugations, as Russian verbs change based on person and number. When choosing between translations, "дремать" is preferable for actions, whereas "сонливость" suits states; this mirrors English distinctions but requires attention to Russian's aspect system.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "дремать" with "спать" (to sleep), leading to overuse of "спать" for light dozing. Correct: Use "дремать" for shallow sleep to avoid implying deep rest. Example of error: "Я спал на уроке" (incorrect for drowse); Correct: "Я дремал на уроке". Explanation: "Спать" suggests full sleep, which can misrepresent the light, temporary state of "drowse".

• Error: Incorrectly inflecting "сонливость" in sentences, such as using it in the wrong case. Correct: Ensure proper declension, e.g., "из-за сонливости" (due to drowsiness). Explanation: English learners often overlook Russian case requirements, which can make sentences grammatically incorrect.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "дремать" or related states like "сонливость" are often linked to the concept of "отдых" (rest), especially in literature and daily life. For instance, Russian folktales frequently depict characters drowse during long winters, symbolizing introspection or the harsh climate's influence, which contrasts with more energetic Western portrayals of wakefulness.

Related Concepts:

• усталость (ustalost') - Fatigue
• сон (son) - Sleep
• бодрость (bodrost') - Alertness