Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'dry'

English Word: dry

Key Russian Translations:

• сухой [ˈsuxəj] - [Adjective, Formal, Singular]
• осушить [ɐˈsuʂɨtʲ] - [Verb, Formal, Used for making something dry]
• высушить [vɨˈsuxʲɪtʲ] - [Verb, Informal, Plural or general drying actions]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday contexts like weather, food, and materials, but not as ubiquitous as basic verbs like "to be")

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; involves understanding adjective and verb inflections, which can be challenging for beginners due to Russian case systems and verb aspects)

Pronunciation (Russian):

сухой: [ˈsuxəj]

осушить: [ɐˈsuʂɨtʲ]

высушить: [vɨˈsuxʲɪtʲ]

Note on сухой: The stress is on the first syllable; be careful with the "х" sound, which is a guttural fricative, similar to the "ch" in Scottish "loch".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Not containing moisture (Adjective form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• сухой - Used in contexts like weather, food, or materials, e.g., describing arid conditions or dehydrated items.

Usage Examples:

• В пустыне воздух всегда сухой.

  In the desert, the air is always dry.

• Эта ткань сухая после стирки.

  This fabric is dry after washing.

• Зимой почва становится сухой из-за мороза.

  In winter, the soil becomes dry due to frost.

• Сухой климат помогает сохранять продукты.

  A dry climate helps preserve food products.

• После дождя дорожки быстро высыхают и становятся сухими.

  After the rain, the paths dry quickly and become dry.

Meaning 2: To remove moisture (Verb form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• осушить - Used for draining or drying out liquids, often in a more formal or technical context, like flooding.
• высушить - Used for general drying, such as clothes or food, in everyday informal situations.

Usage Examples:

• Мы должны осушить болото, чтобы построить дом.

  We need to dry out the swamp to build a house.

• Она высушит фрукты на солнце для варенья.

  She will dry the fruits in the sun for jam.

• Инженеры осушат реку перед строительством моста.

  Engineers will dry up the river before building the bridge.

• Дети высушат мокрые игрушки на балконе.

  The children will dry the wet toys on the balcony.

• В лаборатории они осушат образцы для анализа.

  In the lab, they will dry the samples for analysis.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "сухой" (adjective), it follows standard Russian adjective declension patterns, changing by gender, number, and case. It is a first-declension adjective.

For "осушить" and "высушить" (verbs), they are perfective verbs. They conjugate irregularly in some tenses. Example: Present tense of высушить (imperfective: сушить) - я сушу, ты сушишь, etc. These verbs do not change in infinitive form but vary by aspect and person.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • засохший (completely dried out, often for plants or materials; implies a more permanent state)
  • аридный (scientific term for dry climates, used in formal contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • влажный (wet or moist)
  • мокрый (soaked or drenched)

Related Phrases:

• сухой воздух - Dry air (often used in weather reports or health contexts, referring to low humidity environments).
• осушить слезы - To dry tears (a metaphorical phrase for comforting someone emotionally).
• высушить волосы - To dry hair (common in daily routines, like after a shower).

Usage Notes:

The English word "dry" corresponds most directly to "сухой" as an adjective, but for actions, use verbs like "осушить" (more formal and aspectual) or "высушить" (informal and general). In Russian, adjectives like "сухой" must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, which is a key grammatical difference from English. Choose "осушить" for perfective actions (completed drying) and "высушить" for similar but less intense contexts. It's common in formal writing or scientific discussions, but in casual speech, simpler alternatives might be preferred.

Common Errors:

• English learners often forget adjective agreement: Error - "Я ем сухой яблоко" (incorrect, as it should agree: "Я ем сухое яблоко" for neuter noun). Correct: Use the proper form based on the noun's gender and case.
• Confusing verb aspects: Error - Using "осушить" for ongoing actions, like "Я осушаю посуду" when it should be the imperfective "сушу" for continuous drying. Correct: "осушить" is perfective, so use for completed actions, e.g., "Я осушил болото."
• Mispronouncing the "х" in "сухой": Error - Pronouncing it like English "h"; Correct: It's a throaty sound, as in [ˈsuxəj].

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "сухой" can carry connotations in literature and folklore, such as in descriptions of harsh, arid landscapes in Siberian or steppe regions, symbolizing resilience or desolation. For instance, in Russian poetry, a "сухой ветер" (dry wind) might evoke themes of endurance in adverse conditions, reflecting historical experiences like those during the Soviet era.

Related Concepts:

• влажный
• засуха
• вода