Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'extinguish'

English Word: extinguish

Key Russian Translations:

• гасить [ˈɡasʲɪtʲ] - [Verb, Imperfective Aspect, Informal; Used for ongoing or repeated actions of extinguishing]
• тушить [ˈtuʂɨtʲ] - [Verb, Imperfective Aspect, Formal; Often used in contexts involving fire safety or emergencies]
• погасить [pɐˈɡasʲɪtʲ] - [Verb, Perfective Aspect, Neutral; Indicates completion of extinguishing an action]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday language, especially in contexts like fire, safety, or metaphorical uses, but not as frequent as basic verbs like 'to be' or 'to go').

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; Requires understanding of Russian verb aspects, which can be challenging for learners, but the vocabulary itself is straightforward once aspects are grasped. For 'гасить' and 'тушить': B1; For 'погасить': B2 due to perfective nuances.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

гасить: [ˈɡasʲɪtʲ] (The 'г' is a voiced velar fricative, similar to the 'g' in 'go', but softer. Stress on the first syllable.)

Note on гасить: Be careful with the palatalized 'sʲ' sound, which is common in Russian and may feel unfamiliar to English speakers. It softens the pronunciation.

тушить: [ˈtuʂɨtʲ] (The 'ш' is a voiceless retroflex fricative, like the 'sh' in 'shoe'. Stress on the first syllable.)

Note on тушить: The 'у' vowel is pronounced as a short 'oo', and this verb often appears in formal or emergency contexts, affecting intonation.

погасить: [pɐˈɡasʲɪtʲ] (Stress on the second syllable; the prefix 'по-' adds a prepositional nuance.)

Note on погасить: As a perfective verb, it's often used in past tense narratives, and the stress shift can trip up learners.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To put out a fire or flame (Literal sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• гасить - Used in informal, everyday situations, such as extinguishing a candle or a small fire.
• тушить - Applied in more formal or emergency contexts, like firefighting or safety procedures.

Usage Examples:

• Я гасил свечу, чтобы не тратить электричество. (Ya gasil svechu, chtoby ne tratit' elektrichestvo.)

  I was extinguishing the candle to save electricity. (Shows imperfective aspect in a routine action.)

• Пожарные тушат огонь в лесу. (Pozharnye tushat ogon' v lesu.)

  Firefighters are extinguishing the fire in the forest. (Illustrates formal usage in an emergency scenario.)

• Он погасил костер перед уходом. (On pogasil kostyor pered ukhodom.)

  He extinguished the campfire before leaving. (Demonstrates perfective aspect for a completed action.)

Meaning 2: To end or suppress something metaphorically (e.g., hopes, desires)

Translation(s) & Context:

• гасить - In figurative speech, for ongoing suppression, like emotions.
• погасить - For completely ending something, such as a conflict.

Usage Examples:

• Ее слова гасили мой энтузиазм. (Yeyo slova gasili moy entuziastizm.)

  Her words were extinguishing my enthusiasm. (Context: Ongoing emotional suppression.)

• Правительство погасило протесты силой. (Pravitel'stvo pogasilo protesty siloy.)

  The government extinguished the protests by force. (Context: Complete termination of an event.)

• Время гасит старые обиды. (Vremya gasit starые obidy.)

  Time extinguishes old grudges. (Context: Metaphorical, gradual fading.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These verbs are primarily first-conjugation verbs in Russian, with variations based on aspect (imperfective for ongoing actions, perfective for completed ones). They follow standard patterns but require attention to prefixes and endings.

Note: These verbs do not change irregularly but must agree with subject gender and number in the past tense.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • затушить [zatushit'] (Similar to тушить, but more specific to smothering)
  • погаснуть (for self-extinguishing, intransitive)
• Antonyms:
  • зажигать [zazhigat'] (To light or ignite)
  • воспламенять [vosplyamenyat'] (To inflame or ignite metaphorically)

Related Phrases:

• Гасить свет [Gasit' svet] - To turn off the lights; Common in daily energy-saving contexts.
• Тушить пожар [Tushit' pozhar] - To extinguish a fire; Used in emergency or firefighting scenarios.
• Погасить надежду [Pogasit' nadezhdu] - To extinguish hope; A metaphorical phrase for crushing expectations.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, choosing between 'гасить' (imperfective) and 'погасить' (perfective) depends on whether the action is ongoing or completed, which is a key aspect of Russian verbs not present in English. For 'extinguish', use 'тушить' in formal settings like fire safety. Be mindful of context: literal for fires, metaphorical for emotions. English learners often confuse aspects, so practice with native sentences to grasp nuances.

• Always pair with objects, e.g., 'гасить огонь' (extinguish fire).
• In metaphorical use, it's more poetic in Russian literature.

Common Errors:

One common mistake is mixing up imperfective and perfective aspects, e.g., using 'гасить' when 'погасить' is needed for a completed action. Incorrect: "Я погасил свечу каждый вечер" (should be 'гасил' for repeated action). Correct: "Я гасил свечу каждый вечер." Explanation: Imperfective for habits, perfective for single events. Another error is overusing 'тушить' in casual talk, which sounds overly formal.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, verbs like 'тушить' are often linked to historical contexts such as wartime fire prevention or rural traditions of campfire management. Metaphorically, 'погасить надежду' reflects the Russian literary theme of resilience against suppression, as seen in works by authors like Tolstoy, emphasizing endurance in the face of adversity.

Related Concepts:

• огонь [ogon'] (Fire)
• пожар [pozhar] (Blaze or fire disaster)
• защита [zashchita] (Protection, often in safety contexts)