Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'envelop'

English Word: envelop

Key Russian Translations:

• окружать /ɐˈkruʐətʲ/ - [Formal, Verb, Used in descriptive or literary contexts]
• обволакивать /ɐbvɐlɐˈkʲivətʲ/ - [Formal, Verb, Used for wrapping or covering, often metaphorical]

Frequency: Medium (Common in written Russian, less frequent in everyday spoken language)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, as it involves understanding verb conjugations and contextual usage; for 'окружать', B1; for 'обволакивать', B2 due to its complexity)

Pronunciation (Russian):

окружать: /ɐˈkruʐətʲ/

обволакивать: /ɐbvɐlɐˈkʲivətʲ/

Note on окружать: The stress is on the second syllable; be careful with the palatalized 'тʲ' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. This verb has variations in imperfective aspect.

Note on обволакивать: Pronounce with a soft 'кʲ', and the verb is imperfective; common in poetic or scientific descriptions.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To surround or enclose something physically or metaphorically

Translation(s) & Context:

• 'окружать' - Used in contexts involving physical encirclement, such as in military or natural descriptions.
• 'обволакивать' - Applied to wrapping or covering, often with a sense of gentleness, like fog enveloping a city.

Usage Examples:

• Окружать врагов — это ключевой тактический маневр в бою.

  Enveloping enemies is a key tactical maneuver in battle.

• Туман начал обволакивать горы, делая их невидимыми.

  The fog began to envelop the mountains, making them invisible.

• В поэзии часто используют "окружать" для описания эмоциональных состояний.

  In poetry, "okružat'" is often used to describe emotional states.

• Обволакивать тканью предметы — это древний метод защиты от холода.

  Enveloping objects with fabric is an ancient method of protection from the cold.

• Солдаты решили окружать лагерь, чтобы предотвратить побег.

  The soldiers decided to envelop the camp to prevent escape.

Meaning 2: To wrap up or cover completely, often in a figurative sense

Translation(s) & Context:

• 'обволакивать' - Common in metaphorical uses, such as emotions or atmospheres.
• 'окружать' - Less common here, but possible in broader contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Страх обволакивает его разум, не давая сосредоточиться.

  Fear envelops his mind, preventing him from concentrating.

• Тьма начала обволакивать комнату, сигнализируя о приближающейся ночи.

  Darkness began to envelop the room, signaling the approaching night.

• Окружать себя друзьями — это способ борьбы с одиночеством.

  Enveloping oneself with friends is a way to fight loneliness.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'окружать' and 'обволакивать' are imperfective verbs in Russian, which means they describe ongoing or repeated actions. Russian verbs change based on tense, aspect, person, number, and gender. Here is a conjugation table for the present tense:

Note: These verbs follow regular conjugation patterns for first-conjugation verbs. The perfective counterparts are 'окружить' and 'обволочь', which indicate completed actions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • окружать: обступать (obstupat' – to surround closely)
  • обволакивать: окутывать (okutyvat' – to wrap around, often used for fabrics or atmospheres)
• Antonyms:
  • освобождать (osvobždat' – to free or release)
  • открывать (otkryvat' – to uncover or expose)

Related Phrases:

• Окружать заботой — To surround with care (used in familial or emotional contexts).
• Обволакивать туманом — To envelop in fog (common in weather or metaphorical descriptions).
• Окружать стеной — To surround with a wall (literal or figurative, e.g., in defense).

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'окружать' and 'обволакивать' are more formal than everyday English equivalents and are often used in literary, scientific, or descriptive writing. Choose 'окружать' for military or spatial contexts, while 'обволакивать' suits metaphorical or sensory descriptions. Be mindful of aspect: use imperfective for ongoing actions and perfective (e.g., 'окружить') for completed ones. English speakers might confuse this with 'envelope' as a noun, but 'envelop' as a verb aligns closely with these translations.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'окружать' incorrectly in the past tense, e.g., saying "я окружал" when it should be "я окружил" for perfective aspect. Correct: Always pair with the right aspect based on context; explanation: Russian verbs require aspect agreement to convey completion.
• Mistake: Overusing 'обволакивать' in casual speech; it sounds overly poetic. Correct: Opt for simpler synonyms like 'покрывать' in everyday contexts; explanation: This maintains natural flow and avoids sounding unnatural to native speakers.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian literature, such as in works by Tolstoy or Chekhov, verbs like 'окружать' often symbolize isolation or entrapment, reflecting themes of existential struggle in Russian culture. This usage highlights the language's depth in expressing emotional and psychological states, influenced by historical contexts like wartime experiences.

Related Concepts:

• защищать (zaščišat' – to protect)
• покрывать (pokryvat' – to cover)
• изоляция (izoljacija – isolation)