Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'forget'

English Word: forget

Key Russian Translations:

• забыть [zəˈbɨtʲ] - [Perfective verb, used for completed actions]
• забывать [zəˈbɨvətʲ] - [Imperfective verb, used for ongoing or repeated actions]

Frequency: High (Common in everyday conversation and writing)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian verb aspects, but basic forms are straightforward for learners beyond beginner level)

Pronunciation (Russian):

забыть: [zəˈbɨtʲ]

Note on забыть: The stress is on the second syllable; the 'ы' sound is a distinct Russian vowel, similar to a short 'i' in English, which can be tricky for beginners.

забывать: [zəˈbɨvətʲ]

Note on забывать: Similar to забыть, but with an additional syllable; pay attention to the soft 'тʲ' at the end, which softens the preceding consonant.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To fail to remember something.

Translation(s) & Context:

• забыть - Used in contexts where the act of forgetting is completed, such as in narratives or specific events (e.g., "I forgot my keys").
• забывать - Used for habitual or ongoing forgetting, like in general statements (e.g., "I always forget things").

Usage Examples:

• Я забыл ключи дома. (Ya zabyt' klyuchi doma.)

  I forgot the keys at home. (This shows a completed action in a simple past context.)

• Он часто забывает свои обязанности. (On chasto zabыvaet svoi obyazannosti.)

  He often forgets his duties. (Illustrates habitual forgetting in daily life.)

• Не забудь позвонить мне вечером! (Ne zabyt' pozvonit' mne vecherom!)

  Don't forget to call me tonight! (Imperative form, emphasizing a future action.)

• Я всегда забываю имена новых людей. (Ya vsegda zabыvaю imena novykh lyudey.)

  I always forget the names of new people. (Demonstrates repeated action in a personal habit context.)

• После болезни она забыла многое из прошлого. (Posle bolezni ona zabyt' mnogoye iz proshlogo.)

  After the illness, she forgot much of the past. (Used in a more emotional or narrative setting.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "забыть" and "забывать" are verbs, so they follow Russian conjugation patterns based on aspect (perfective for забыть, imperfective for забывать). Russian verbs conjugate for person, number, tense, and mood. These verbs are irregular in some forms due to vowel changes.

Note: These verbs do not change for gender in the infinitive or future forms but follow standard past tense gender agreements.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • упустить из виду (upustit' iz vida) - More formal, implies letting something slip from attention.
  • не помнить (ne pomnit') - Literal "not to remember," often used interchangeably in casual speech.
• Antonyms:
  • запомнить (zapomnit') - To remember permanently.
  • не забыть (ne zabyt') - To not forget, often used in commands.

Related Phrases:

• забыть о чём-то (zabyt' o chem-to) - To forget about something; used in contexts of intentionally ignoring or overlooking, e.g., "to move on from a problem."
• забыть прошлое (zabyt' proshloye) - To forget the past; a common phrase in emotional or philosophical discussions.
• не забыть шляпу (ne zabyt' shlyapu) - Don't forget your hat; a practical reminder in everyday language.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "forget" corresponds closely to "забыть" for perfective actions and "забывать" for imperfective ones. Always consider the aspect: use perfective for single events and imperfective for habits. For example, in questions or negatives, imperfective is often preferred for ongoing states. English speakers should note that Russian verbs require agreement with the subject in person and number, and context dictates which translation to use—e.g., in formal writing, opt for more precise synonyms like "упустить из виду."

Common Errors:

• Confusing perfective and imperfective aspects: Learners might say "Я забываю ключи" when meaning a one-time event, which should be "Я забыл ключи." Error: "Я забываю ключи" (implies habitual forgetting). Correct: "Я забыл ключи" (for a specific instance). Explanation: Russian requires the correct aspect to convey tense accurately.
• Overusing "забыть" in future contexts: Saying "Я забуду завтра" without proper conjugation. Error: "Я забуду ключи" in past tense contexts. Correct: "Я забуду ключи завтра" (future). Explanation: Ensure verb forms match the intended time frame to avoid timeline confusion.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, forgetting is often tied to themes of memory and history, as seen in literature like Tolstoy's works, where "забыть" symbolizes letting go of past traumas. This reflects a broader cultural emphasis on collective memory in Russian society, where remembering history is crucial, making "forget" a loaded term in discussions of national identity.

Related Concepts:

• Память (pamyat') - Memory
• Вспомнить (vspomnit') - To recall
• Напомнить (napomnit') - To remind