Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'eavesdrop'

English Word: eavesdrop

Key Russian Translations:

• подслушивать [pɐdˈsluʂɨvətʲ] - [Informal, commonly used in everyday conversations]
• прослушивать [prɐˈsluʂɨvətʲ] - [Formal or technical contexts, such as surveillance]

Frequency: Medium (This verb appears regularly in spoken Russian, especially in narratives or discussions about privacy, but it's not among the most basic everyday words.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; involves understanding verb conjugations and contexts. For "подслушивать", it's straightforward for intermediates, while "прослушивать" might be B2 due to its formal nuances.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

подслушивать: [pɐdˈsluʂɨvətʲ]

прослушивать: [prɐˈsluʂɨvətʲ]

Note on подслушивать: The "щ" sound (as in [ʂ]) can be challenging for English speakers; it's a voiceless retroflex fricative, similar to the "sh" in "she" but more emphatic. Pronounce it with a slight emphasis on the second syllable.

Note on прослушивать: The initial "пр" cluster requires a smooth transition; avoid separating the sounds.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To secretly listen to a conversation without the speakers' knowledge.

Translation(s) & Context:

• подслушивать - Used in informal, everyday situations, such as personal eavesdropping in social settings.
• прослушивать - Applied in more formal or professional contexts, like wiretapping or monitoring.

Usage Examples:

• Он подслушивал разговор своих коллег за стеной.

  He was eavesdropping on his colleagues' conversation through the wall.

• Не подслушивай чужие телефонные разговоры; это невежливо.

  Don't eavesdrop on other people's phone conversations; it's rude.

• Дети иногда прослушивают родителей, чтобы узнать секреты.

  Children sometimes eavesdrop on their parents to discover secrets.

• Агенты прослушивали телефонные линии во время расследования.

  Agents were eavesdropping on phone lines during the investigation.

• Она случайно подслушала сплетню в кафе.

  She accidentally eavesdropped on gossip in the cafe.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "подслушивать" and "прослушивать" are imperfective verbs in Russian, meaning they describe ongoing or repeated actions. Russian verbs conjugate based on tense, aspect, person, and number. These verbs follow the standard first conjugation pattern with some irregularities in stems.

For "подслушивать" (imperfective):

For "прослушивать", the inflections are similar:

These verbs do not have perfective forms in standard usage for "eavesdrop," but can pair with perfectives like "подслушать" for completed actions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • шпионить (more secretive, espionage-like connotation)
  • прослеживать (implies tracking or monitoring, often in digital contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • игнорировать (to ignore)
  • не вмешиваться (to not interfere, though not a direct antonym)

Related Phrases:

• Подслушивать за дверью - Eavesdropping at the door (used for literal physical eavesdropping).
• Прослушивать телефон - Monitoring a phone (common in surveillance or parental contexts).
• Подслушать разговор - To overhear a conversation (implies accidental eavesdropping).

Usage Notes:

"Подслушивать" directly corresponds to the informal, everyday sense of "eavesdrop" in English, while "прослушивать" is better for formal or technological contexts. Be mindful of the imperfective aspect in Russian, which emphasizes the ongoing nature of the action—use it for habitual or continuous eavesdropping. In polite conversation, these verbs carry a negative connotation, so they're often avoided in formal writing. When choosing between translations, opt for "подслушивать" in personal scenarios and "прослушивать" in professional ones. Grammatically, ensure correct conjugation based on subject and tense to avoid errors.

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse "подслушивать" with "слушать" (to listen), using "слушать" in contexts where eavesdropping is implied. Incorrect: "Я слушал их разговор тайно." Correct: "Я подслушивал их разговор тайно." Explanation: "Слушать" means neutral listening, while "подслушивать" adds the secretive element.

• Mixing up aspects: Using the perfective "подслушать" for ongoing actions. Incorrect: "Я подслушал весь день." (implies a single instance). Correct: "Я подслушивал весь день." Explanation: "Подслушать" is for completed actions, so reserve it for finished eavesdropping events.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, eavesdropping is often viewed as a breach of privacy, reflecting historical sensitivities from the Soviet era when surveillance was common. Words like "подслушивать" can evoke connotations of distrust or intrigue in literature and media, such as in spy novels or films about the KGB, emphasizing the importance of personal boundaries in social interactions.

Related Concepts:

• шпион (spy)
• прослушка (wiretapping)
• тайна (secret)