Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'forestall'

English Word: forestall

Key Russian Translations:

• Предотвратить [prʲɪdɐˈtvrətʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, used in contexts requiring prevention of an event]
• Опередить [ɐpʲɪrʲɪˈdʲitʲ] - [Informal, often in competitive or strategic scenarios]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in formal writing, legal, or business contexts, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate, as it involves understanding verb conjugations and contextual usage; for 'Опередить', it may vary to B1 if in simpler contexts)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Предотвратить: [prʲɪdɐˈtvrətʲɪtʲ]

Опередить: [ɐpʲɪrʲɪˈdʲitʲ]

Note on Предотвратить: The stress falls on the third syllable ('tvrə'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the cluster of consonants; variations in fast speech may soften the 'r' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To prevent something from happening by taking action in advance

Translation(s) & Context:

• Предотвратить - Used in formal or official contexts, such as legal or safety scenarios, to emphasize proactive prevention.
• Опередить - Applied in informal or competitive settings, like business or sports, to mean acting ahead to gain an advantage.

Usage Examples:

• Мы должны предотвратить возможные проблемы заранее.

  We must forestall possible problems in advance.

• Компания опередила конкурентов, внедрив новую технологию.

  The company forestalled its competitors by implementing new technology.

• Правительство приняло меры, чтобы предотвратить экономический кризис.

  The government took measures to forestall an economic crisis.

• Он опередил нападение, уйдя из опасного места.

  He forestalled the attack by leaving the dangerous area.

• Чтобы предотвратить аварию, инженер проверил все системы.

  To forestall an accident, the engineer inspected all systems.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'Предотвратить' and 'Опередить' are Russian verbs of the first conjugation, which typically follow regular patterns but have specific infinitive, past, present, and future forms. 'Предотвратить' is imperfective in nature and can be used in various tenses.

Note: These verbs are regular but may require aspect adjustments (e.g., perfective forms like 'предотвратить' vs. imperfective 'предотвращать'). If unchanged in certain contexts, such as in infinitive phrases, they remain as listed.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Предупредить (predupredit' - to warn or prevent in advance; often used interchangeably but with a slight emphasis on notification)
  • Избежать (izbezhat' - to avoid; more about evasion than proactive prevention)
• Antonyms:
  • Позволить (pozvolit' - to allow)
  • Спровоцировать (sprovocirovat' - to provoke)

Related Phrases:

• Предотвратить беду - (To forestall trouble; used in contexts of averting disasters or negative events)
• Опередить события - (To forestall events; implies acting ahead in dynamic situations, like in politics or sports)
• Предотвратить конфликт - (To forestall conflict; common in diplomatic or interpersonal scenarios)

Usage Notes:

'Предотвратить' directly corresponds to the formal sense of 'forestall' in English, making it ideal for official documents or strategic planning, while 'Опередить' is better for informal, competitive uses. Be mindful of the verb's aspect in Russian: use the perfective form for completed actions. In everyday speech, these words are more common in written Russian than spoken, so English learners should practice in context to avoid overgeneralization. When choosing between translations, opt for 'Предотвратить' in preventive health or safety discussions.

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'Предотвратить' with 'Предупредить': Learners often use 'Предупредить' (to warn) when 'Предотвратить' (to prevent) is needed, e.g., Incorrect: "Я предупредил аварию" (I warned the accident) vs. Correct: "Я предотвратил аварию" (I forestalled the accident). Explanation: 'Предупредить' implies notification, not action.
• Misapplying tense: Forgetting to conjugate properly, e.g., Incorrect: "Я предотвратить проблему" (using infinitive instead of present) vs. Correct: "Я предотвращаю проблему" (I am forestalling the problem). This stems from not recognizing Russian verb requirements.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'Предотвратить' often appear in contexts of historical events, such as in literature or media discussions about avoiding wars or crises (e.g., in references to World War II prevention efforts). This reflects a cultural emphasis on proactive measures in the face of adversity, influenced by Russia's complex history.

Related Concepts:

• Защитить (zashchitit' - to protect)
• Предвидеть (predvidet' - to foresee)
• Избегать (izbegat' - to avoid)