Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'fizzle'

English Word: fizzle

Key Russian Translations:

• провалиться [prɐˈvalʲɪt͡ɕːɪ] - [Informal, Verb, Used in contexts of failure or gradual decline]
• сойти на нет [sɐˈjɪtʲ nɐ nʲɛt] - [Formal, Idiomatic Expression, Used in literary or descriptive contexts]

Frequency: Low (This word and its translations are not commonly used in everyday conversation but appear in narratives or discussions about disappointments.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and idiomatic expressions for провалиться, while сойти на нет may be slightly more advanced due to its figurative nature.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

провалиться: [prɐˈvalʲɪt͡ɕːɪ] (The stress is on the third syllable; note the palatalized 'л' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers.)

сойти на нет: [sɐˈjɪtʲ nɐ nʲɛt] (Emphasize the 'ой' diphthong; the phrase flows smoothly in spoken Russian.)

Note on провалиться: This verb has a soft consonant cluster that might sound like a quick glide; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To fail or end feebly, without achieving the expected result (e.g., a plan or event that fizzles out)

Translation(s) & Context:

• провалиться - Used in informal settings to describe a sudden or quiet failure, such as a business venture.
• сойти на нет - Applied in more formal or narrative contexts, like a relationship gradually fading away.

Usage Examples:

• Мой новый бизнес-план провалился из-за отсутствия финансирования.

  My new business plan fizzled out due to a lack of funding.

• Вечеринка сначала была весёлой, но потом сошла на нет из-за плохой погоды.

  The party was fun at first, but it fizzled out because of the bad weather.

• Его энтузиазм провалился, когда он столкнулся с первыми трудностями.

  His enthusiasm fizzled when he encountered the first difficulties.

• Романтические отношения часто сходят на нет, если не поддерживать общение.

  Romantic relationships often fizzle out if communication isn't maintained.

• Проект провалился на финальной стадии, несмотря на все усилия команды.

  The project fizzled at the final stage, despite the team's efforts.

Meaning 2: To make a hissing or sputtering sound (less common, literal sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• провалиться - Rarely used in this sense; more for metaphorical failure, but can imply a sputtering sound in outdated contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Фейерверк провалился с шипением, не взорвавшись должным образом.

  The firework fizzled with a hissing sound, failing to explode properly.

• Горящая спичка сходит на нет, издавая лёгкое шипение.

  The burning match fizzles out, making a light hissing noise.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both key translations are verbs, so they undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. "Провалиться" is a perfective verb, while "сойти на нет" is a phrase involving an infinitive verb.

For "провалиться" (infinitive):

"Сойти на нет" does not inflect as a single word; "сойти" conjugates as: я сойду, ты сойдёшь, etc., but the full phrase remains stable.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • сложиться (to collapse or fail) - Often used in similar failure contexts but implies more structural breakdown.
  • рассыпаться (to fall apart) - Applies to plans or ideas disintegrating.
• Antonyms:
  • удаться (to succeed)
  • развиться (to develop fully)

Related Phrases:

• Провалиться в тартарары (To go to hell or fail miserably) - A stronger idiomatic expression for complete failure.
• Сойти на нет постепенно (To gradually fizzle out) - Emphasizes a slow decline in energy or interest.

Usage Notes:

"Fizzle" corresponds closely to "провалиться" in informal English-Russian translation, especially for verbs of failure, but choose "сойти на нет" for more elegant or literary contexts. Be mindful of aspect in Russian: use perfective for completed actions. In formal writing, avoid direct translations and opt for phrases that match the register.

• Grammar note: Verbs like "провалиться" require agreement in gender and number in past tense.
• Context guidance: Use in narratives or casual speech; not suitable for technical discussions.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse the aspect: for example, saying "Я провалюсь" when meaning an ongoing failure (correct: "Я проваливаюсь"). Error: "Провалиться план" (incorrect word order and missing case); Correct: "План провалился". This stems from direct word-for-word translation without considering Russian's verb-subject structure.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressions like "провалиться" often carry a sense of resignation or humor in the face of failure, reflecting the historical resilience in literature (e.g., in Chekhov's works). It's not as negatively charged as in English, sometimes used lightheartedly in everyday talk.

Related Concepts:

• неудача (failure)
• распад (disintegration)
• кризис (crisis)