Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'forewarn'

English Word: forewarn

Key Russian Translations:

• предупредить [prʲɪdʊˈprʲɛtʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, Perfective verb; used in contexts requiring a completed action]
• предостеречь [prʲɪdɐstɐˈrʲɛtɕ] - [Formal, often implies caution or advice against potential danger]
• предупреждать [prʲɪdʊˈprʲɛʐːətʲ] - [Informal/Neutral, Imperfective verb; used for ongoing or repeated warnings]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday communication, news, and formal writing, but not as ubiquitous as basic verbs like "сказать").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb aspects and basic sentence structures, with some translations varying in nuance based on context).

Pronunciation (Russian):

предупредить: [prʲɪdʊˈprʲɛtʲɪtʲ]

Note on предупредить: This is a perfective verb with stress on the third syllable. Pay attention to the soft sign (ь) which affects the pronunciation of the preceding consonant, making it softer and more palatalized.

предостеречь: [prʲɪdɐstɐˈrʲɛtɕ]

Note on предостеречь: The final sound is a soft palatalized "ch" [tɕ], common in Russian verbs; it may vary slightly in rapid speech.

предупреждать: [prʲɪdʊˈprʲɛʐːətʲ]

Note on предупреждать: This imperfective form has a prolonged "zh" sound [ʐː], which is a key feature of Russian phonetics; practice with native speakers for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: To warn someone in advance about a potential danger, event, or issue.

Translation(s) & Context:

• предупредить - Used in formal or urgent situations, such as safety instructions or official communications.
• предостеречь - Applied when advising against something, often with a sense of caution in interpersonal or advisory contexts.
• предупреждать - For ongoing warnings, like in educational or preventive scenarios.

Usage Examples:

• Я должен предупредить тебя о надвигающемся шторме.

  I must forewarn you about the approaching storm. (This example shows the verb in a direct, formal warning context.)

• Родители всегда предостерегают детей от опасных игр.

  Parents always forewarn children against dangerous games. (Illustrates advisory use in family settings.)

• В новостях часто предупреждают о рисках инвестиций.

  In the news, they often forewarn about investment risks. (Demonstrates ongoing warnings in media.)

• Она предупредила меня заранее, чтобы я не опаздывал на встречу.

  She forewarned me in advance so that I wouldn't be late for the meeting. (Shows perfective aspect in everyday planning.)

• Учитель предостерегает класс от повторения ошибок.

  The teacher forewarns the class against repeating mistakes. (Highlights cautionary use in educational contexts.)

Secondary Meaning: To give prior notice or alert in a non-emergency context, such as in planning or etiquette.

Translation(s) & Context:

• предупредить - In polite or professional settings, e.g., notifying about schedule changes.
• предупреждать - For habitual or repeated notices, like in instructions.

Usage Examples:

• Пожалуйста, предупредите меня, если вы не сможете прийти.

  Please forewarn me if you won't be able to come. (Example of polite, interpersonal communication.)

• В контракте всегда предупреждают о возможных штрафах.

  In the contract, they always forewarn about possible penalties. (Shows use in legal or formal documents.)

• Друзья предупреждают друг друга о дорожных пробках.

  Friends forewarn each other about traffic jams. (Illustrates informal, daily interactions.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily verbs, which in Russian undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. "Предупредить" is a perfective verb, while "Предупреждать" is its imperfective counterpart. Russian verbs often have aspect pairs, and inflections follow standard patterns with some irregularities.

Note: These verbs are conjugated regularly for the most part, but pay attention to gender agreement in past tense (e.g., -л for masculine, -ла for feminine).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Оповестить (opovestit') - More formal, used for official notifications; differs by implying broader dissemination.
  • Известить (izvestit') - Similar but often used in written or bureaucratic contexts.
  • Напомнить (napomnit') - Less urgent, focused on reminding rather than warning.
• Antonyms:
  • Успокоить (uspokoitt') - To calm or reassure.
  • Скрыть (skrytt') - To hide or conceal information.

Related Phrases:

• Предупредить заранее - To forewarn in advance; used for emphasizing timely notice.
• Предостеречь от опасности - To warn against danger; common in safety contexts.
• Предупреждать о рисках - To forewarn about risks; often in financial or health discussions.

Usage Notes:

• Russian translations like "предупредить" precisely match "forewarn" in implying advance notice, but always consider verb aspect: use perfective for completed actions and imperfective for ongoing ones.
• In formal contexts, "предупредить" is preferred, while "предупреждать" suits narratives or instructions; choose based on the situation to avoid sounding awkward.
• Grammar note: These verbs require a direct object (e.g., "кого" or "что"), so structure sentences accordingly, as Russian word order is flexible but object placement affects emphasis.
• For English speakers, the nuance between "предупредить" and "предостеречь" is key: the latter carries a stronger advisory tone, similar to "caution" in English.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using the imperfective "предупреждать" when a perfective action is needed, e.g., saying "Я предупреждать тебя" instead of "Я предупрежу тебя."
  Correct: "Я предупрежу тебя о проблеме." (Explanation: Imperfective implies ongoing action, which can confuse the intended meaning of a single warning.)
• Mistake: Forgetting gender agreement in past tense, e.g., "Она предупредил" instead of "Она предупредила."
  Correct: "Она предупредила меня." (Explanation: Russian past tense verbs agree with the subject's gender, a common pitfall for English learners.)
• Mistake: Overusing "предостеречь" in casual contexts, making speech sound overly dramatic.
  Correct: Use "предупредить" for everyday warnings. (Explanation: This can make the speaker seem formal or alarmist.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, forewarning (e.g., via "предупредить") often reflects a collectivist mindset, where sharing potential risks is seen as a communal responsibility. For instance, in literature like Dostoevsky's works, warnings are portrayed as moral obligations, emphasizing the cultural value of preparedness in the face of uncertainty, such as harsh winters or historical upheavals.

Related Concepts:

• Оповещать (opoveshchat') - To notify or inform broadly.
• Предвидеть (predvidet') - To foresee or anticipate.
• Беречься (beretsya) - To be cautious or take care.