Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'enlarge'

English Word: enlarge

Key Russian Translations:

• увеличить [uːvɪˈlɪtʃʲɪtʃ] - [Verb, Formal, Used in general contexts for increasing size or quantity]
• расширить [rɐˈʂɨrʲɪtʲ] - [Verb, Informal or Contextual, Often used for expanding space or scope]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday language, especially in technical or descriptive contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations, but basic forms are accessible to learners with A2 knowledge)

Pronunciation (Russian):

увеличить: [uːvɪˈlɪtʃʲɪtʃ]

Note on увеличить: The stress falls on the third syllable ("ли"), which is a common point of difficulty for English speakers due to Russian's variable stress patterns. Ensure to emphasize it for natural pronunciation.

расширить: [rɐˈʂɨrʲɪtʲ]

Note on расширить: The "ш" sound is a retroflex fricative, similar to the "sh" in "she" but more emphatic; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To make something larger in size or scale (e.g., physical enlargement)

Translation(s) & Context:

• увеличить - Used in formal or technical contexts, such as enlarging photos or objects.
• расширить - Applied when expanding areas, like rooms or concepts, often in everyday conversation.

Usage Examples:

• Я увеличил фото на компьютере, чтобы увидеть детали. (I enlarged the photo on the computer to see the details.)

  English: I enlarged the photo on the computer to see the details.

• Мы расширили офис, чтобы вместить больше сотрудников. (We enlarged the office to accommodate more employees.)

  English: We enlarged the office to accommodate more employees. This shows 'расширить' in a spatial context.

• Чтобы увеличить урожай, фермеры используют новые технологии. (To enlarge the harvest, farmers use new technologies.)

  English: To enlarge the harvest, farmers use new technologies. Here, 'увеличить' is used metaphorically for quantity.

• Она расширила свой кругозор, читая книги на иностранных языках. (She enlarged her horizons by reading books in foreign languages.)

  English: She enlarged her horizons by reading books in foreign languages. Demonstrates 'расширить' in an abstract sense.

• Врач увеличил дозу лекарства для лучшего эффекта. (The doctor enlarged the dose of medicine for better effect.)

  English: The doctor enlarged the dose of medicine for better effect. Illustrates 'увеличить' in a medical context.

Meaning 2: To increase in scope or extent (e.g., metaphorical enlargement)

Translation(s) & Context:

• увеличить - Common in quantitative or numerical contexts, like enlarging a budget.
• расширить - Preferred for broadening ideas, knowledge, or influence.

Usage Examples:

• Правительство увеличило финансирование образования. (The government enlarged funding for education.)

  English: The government enlarged funding for education. This highlights financial increase.

• Он расширил свои знания, посещая курсы. (He enlarged his knowledge by attending courses.)

  English: He enlarged his knowledge by attending courses. Shows 'расширить' for intellectual growth.

• Компания увеличила производство, чтобы удовлетворить спрос. (The company enlarged production to meet demand.)

  English: The company enlarged production to meet demand. Example of 'увеличить' in business contexts.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'увеличить' and 'расширить' are Russian verbs of the first conjugation, which typically follow regular patterns but have specific inflections based on tense, aspect, and person. They are imperfective in their base form and can be paired with perfective counterparts for completed actions.

Note: These verbs do not have irregular inflections but require attention to aspect (imperfective for ongoing actions, perfective for completed ones).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • увеличить: повысить (povysit' - to raise/increase)
  • увеличить: расширить (rasširit' - overlaps but focuses on expansion)
  • расширить: развить (razvit' - to develop/extend, with a connotation of growth over time)
• Antonyms:
  • уменьшить (uменьšit' - to decrease)
  • сузить (suzit' - to narrow)

Related Phrases:

• увеличить масштаб - To enlarge the scale (e.g., in maps or diagrams; refers to zooming in visually)
• расширить горизонты - To enlarge horizons (idiomatic; means to broaden one's experiences or knowledge)
• увеличить объём - To enlarge the volume (used for increasing size or quantity, e.g., in production)

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'увеличить' is a more direct equivalent to 'enlarge' for physical or quantitative changes, while 'расширить' is better for spatial or conceptual expansion. Always consider the context: use 'увеличить' for size increases and 'расширить' for broadening scope. These verbs are often used in formal writing or speech, but 'расширить' can be more casual. Grammatically, ensure correct aspect usage—pair with perfective forms like 'увеличить' for completed actions. English learners should note that Russian verbs require agreement with subject gender and number in the past tense.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'увеличить' interchangeably with 'расширить' without context. For example, saying "Я увеличил комнату" when meaning to expand space (correct: "Я расширил комнату"). Explanation: 'увеличить' implies making something bigger in size, not necessarily space; use 'расширить' for area expansion to avoid confusion.

• Error: Incorrect conjugation, e.g., saying "Я увеличиваюся" instead of "Я увеличиваю" (reflexive form misuse). Correct: "Я увеличусь" for reflexive actions like self-enlargement. Explanation: Russian verbs don't always take reflexive particles unnecessarily; check if the action is truly reflexive.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like 'расширить горизонты' reflect a value on personal growth and exploration, often tied to historical contexts of vast Russian landscapes and the emphasis on education in Soviet and post-Soviet eras. This can help English speakers understand why expansion-related vocabulary is prevalent in literature and daily discourse.

Related Concepts:

• уменьшить
• развить
• сузить