Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'fetch'

English Word: fetch

Key Russian Translations:

• Взять [vɐˈtʲatʲ] - [Informal, commonly used in everyday contexts]
• Доставить [dəˈstavʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, often in professional or logistical settings]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are encountered regularly in conversational Russian but not as ubiquitous as basic verbs like "идти" (to go).)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate level, based on CEFR; requires understanding of verb conjugations and context, with "Взять" being slightly easier for beginners and "Доставить" more challenging due to its perfective aspect.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Взять: [vɐˈtʲatʲ]

Note on Взять: The soft sign (ь) softens the preceding consonant, making it palatalized; stress on the second syllable can vary in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Доставить: [dəˈstavʲɪtʲ]

Note on Доставить: The prefix "до-" adds a prepositional nuance; pay attention to the vowel reduction in unstressed syllables, common in Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: To go and bring back an object (e.g., retrieving something)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Взять - Used in informal, everyday situations, such as fetching an item from another room; context: casual conversations or commands.
• Доставить - Used in formal contexts, like delivery services; context: professional or transactional scenarios.

Usage Examples:

• Пожалуйста, пойди и возьми книгу с полки. (Please go and fetch the book from the shelf.)

  Translation: Please go and fetch the book from the shelf. (This example shows "взять" in an imperative form for a simple request.)

• Можно попросить вас доставить пакет по адресу? (Can I ask you to fetch the package to the address?)

  Translation: Can I ask you to deliver the package to the address? (Here, "доставить" implies a more formal action, often involving transportation.)

• Собака всегда быстро берёт мяч, когда мы играем. (The dog always quickly fetches the ball when we play.)

  Translation: The dog always quickly fetches the ball when we play. (Demonstrates "взять" in a habitual context with animals.)

• Я должен доставить документы в офис к утру. (I need to fetch the documents to the office by morning.)

  Translation: I need to deliver the documents to the office by morning. (Illustrates "доставить" in a time-sensitive, professional setting.)

• Дети бегают, чтобы взять игрушки из сада. (The children run to fetch the toys from the garden.)

  Translation: The children run to fetch the toys from the garden. (Shows "взять" in a playful, plural subject context.)

Secondary Meaning: To retrieve data or information (e.g., in computing or abstract senses)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Взять - Less common, but used metaphorically; context: informal tech discussions.
• Загрузить [zəɡruˈzʲɪtʲ] - More precise for digital fetching; context: online or technical environments.

Usage Examples:

• Программа автоматически берёт данные из интернета. (The program automatically fetches data from the internet.)

  Translation: The program automatically fetches data from the internet. (Uses "взять" metaphorically in a tech context.)

• Пользователь может загрузить файл с сервера. (The user can fetch the file from the server.)

  Translation: The user can fetch the file from the server. (Employs "загрузить" for downloading, highlighting digital retrieval.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "Взять" and "Доставить" are verbs, which undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, and person. Russian verbs have imperfective and perfective aspects; "Взять" is perfective, while related imperfective forms exist (e.g., "брать").

Note: These verbs do not change for gender in the infinitive but do in the past tense. Irregularities exist in stems (e.g., "Взять" from "брать").

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Взять - Брать (imperfective form, implying ongoing action)
  • Доставить - Принести (to bring, with a connotation of carrying to a place)
• Antonyms:
  • Оставить (to leave behind)
  • Потерять (to lose)

Related Phrases:

• Взять на руки (To pick up or fetch into one's arms) - Used for holding a child or object gently.
• Доставить заказ (To deliver an order) - Common in e-commerce contexts.
• Пойти и взять (To go and fetch) - A fixed phrase for retrieving something from elsewhere.

Usage Notes:

"Fetch" in English often implies a round trip (going and returning), which aligns closely with "Взять" in informal Russian but may require additional context with "Доставить" for formal delivery. Choose "Взять" for everyday speech and "Доставить" in business scenarios to avoid sounding overly casual. Be mindful of aspect: use perfective forms like these for completed actions. In questions, Russian often inverts word order for emphasis, e.g., "Ты возьмёшь?" (Will you fetch it?).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "Взять" in formal contexts where "Доставить" is more appropriate, e.g., saying "Взять посылку" instead of "Доставить посылку" in a shipping context. Correct: "Доставить посылку" means "to deliver the package," which implies professional handling. Explanation: This can make speech sound too informal or imprecise.

• Error: Forgetting verb aspect, e.g., using "Взять" for ongoing actions. Correct: Use the imperfective "Брать" for continuous fetching. Explanation: Russian requires aspect to convey whether an action is completed, which English "fetch" does not always specify.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like "Взять на руки" (to fetch into one's arms) often carry emotional weight, such as when comforting a child, reflecting the value placed on family and physical affection in daily life. Historically, "Доставить" has roots in trade and logistics, influenced by Russia's vast geography and emphasis on reliable delivery systems.

Related Concepts:

• Принести (to bring)
• Забрать (to pick up or take away)
• Доставка (delivery)