Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'furrow'

English Word: furrow

Key Russian Translations:

• борозда [bɐˈroz.də] - [Formal, Noun; used for a groove or trench in soil]
• бороздить [bɐˈroz.dʲitʲ] - [Formal, Verb; used for creating furrows or navigating through]
• хмурить [ˈxmu.rʲitʲ] - [Informal, Verb; specifically for furrowing the brow, as in frowning]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in agricultural, literary, or descriptive contexts, but not in everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; requires understanding of noun declensions and verb conjugations; for 'хмурить', it may be A2 for beginners due to its emotional context)

Pronunciation (Russian):

борозда: [bɐˈroz.də]

бороздить: [bɐˈroz.dʲitʲ]

хмурить: [ˈxmu.rʲitʲ]

Note on борозда: The stress is on the second syllable; be careful with the soft 'd' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalization.

Note on бороздить: Pronounce the 'dʲ' as a soft, palatalized 'd', similar to 'dy' in "due"; common in verbs related to motion.

Note on хмурить: The initial 'kh' sound is guttural, like in "loch"; this verb often varies in informal speech with slight softening.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A long, narrow trench made in the ground by a plow (Noun form).

Translation(s) & Context:

• борозда - Used in agricultural or literal descriptions, often in formal or rural contexts to describe plowed land.

Usage Examples:

• Фермер провел глубокую борозду в поле для посадки семян.

  The farmer plowed a deep furrow in the field for planting seeds.

• После дождя борозды на дороге заполнились водой.

  After the rain, the furrows on the road filled with water.

• В старом саду виднелись забытые борозды от давно минувших работ.

  In the old garden, forgotten furrows from long-ago work were visible.

• Борозда, оставленная трактором, указывала путь к дому.

  The furrow left by the tractor pointed the way to the house.

2. To create a furrow, such as by plowing or navigating (Verb form).

Translation(s) & Context:

• бороздить - Used metaphorically for paths or journeys, e.g., in navigation, or literally for farming; formal and descriptive.

Usage Examples:

• Корабль бороздил волны океана, оставляя за собой пенную борозду.

  The ship furrowed the ocean waves, leaving a foamy wake behind.

• Трактор бороздит поле, готовя землю к посеву.

  The tractor is furrowing the field, preparing the soil for sowing.

• Ветер бороздит снежные сугробы, создавая причудливые узоры.

  The wind furrows the snowdrifts, creating whimsical patterns.

• Экспедиция бороздит неизведанные территории в поисках новых открытий.

  The expedition is furrowing unexplored territories in search of new discoveries.

3. To furrow one's brow, as in frowning (Verb form, emotional context).

Translation(s) & Context:

• хмурить - Informal, used in everyday expressions of emotion, often in personal or narrative contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Она хмурила брови, пытаясь понять сложную задачу.

  She furrowed her brow, trying to understand the difficult task.

• При виде плохих новостей он хмурит лицо, показывая беспокойство.

  Upon seeing the bad news, he furrowed his face, showing concern.

• Дети хмурят брови, когда им что-то не нравится.

  Children furrow their brows when they don't like something.

• В напряженный момент лектор хмурит лоб, подбирая слова.

  In a tense moment, the lecturer furrows his brow, searching for words.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'борозда' (feminine noun, first declension):

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	борозда	борозды
Genitive	борозды	борозд
Dative	борозде	бороздам
Accusative	борозду	борозды
Instrumental	бороздой	бороздами
Prepositional	борозде	бороздах

For 'бороздить' (verb, imperfective):

• Present tense: борожу (I furrow), борозишь (you furrow), борозит (he/she furrows), etc. – Follows standard first conjugation patterns.
• Past tense: бороздил (masc.), бороздила (fem.), бороздило (neut.), бороздили (plur.).
• It is irregular in some aspects due to its root, but generally follows common verb rules.

For 'хмурить' (verb, imperfective): Follows first conjugation; e.g., Present: хмурю, хмуришь; Past: хмурил, хмурила. No major irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • борозда: траншея (trancheya) – Similar but often deeper or man-made.
  • бороздить: прокладывать (prokladivat') – For creating paths.
  • хмурить: морщить (morshchit') – For wrinkling or frowning, with a focus on facial expressions.
• Antonyms:
  • борозда: холм (kholm) – A hill or raised area, opposite of a depression.
  • бороздить: заравнивать (zaravnivivat') – To level or smooth out.
  • хмурить: улыбаться (ulybat'sya) – To smile, the opposite emotional expression.

Related Phrases:

• Пахать борозду – To plow a furrow; used in farming contexts to mean preparing land.
• Борозды на лбу – Furrows on the forehead; refers to wrinkles from aging or worry.
• Хмурить брови – To furrow one's brows; an idiom for showing concentration or displeasure.

Usage Notes:

'Борозда' directly corresponds to the physical meaning of 'furrow' in English, especially in agriculture, and is neutral in tone. 'Бороздить' extends to metaphorical uses like exploration, similar to 'to navigate' in English. 'Хмурить' is more idiomatic for emotional expressions and is less formal, so use it in casual or narrative contexts. Be mindful of Russian's grammatical gender and cases; for example, 'борозда' requires feminine agreement. When choosing between translations, opt for 'бороздить' for actions and 'хмурить' for facial expressions to ensure precision.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing 'борозда' with 'борода' (beard) due to similar spelling. Correct: Use 'борозда' for grooves; e.g., Incorrect: "Фермер имеет бороду в поле" (The farmer has a beard in the field), Correct: "Фермер провел борозду в поле".
• Error: Incorrect verb conjugation, such as saying 'бороздить' as 'борожду' instead of 'борожу' in first person. Correct: Practice present tense forms to avoid this.
• Error: Overusing 'хмурить' in formal writing; it's informal, so in professional contexts, describe emotions more descriptively.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian literature, such as in Tolstoy's works, 'борозда' symbolizes the toil of rural life and the connection to the land, reflecting Russia's agrarian history. 'Хмурить брови' often appears in poetry to convey inner turmoil or deep thought, emphasizing emotional depth in Slavic culture.

Related Concepts:

• поле (pole) – Field
• траншея (trancheya) – Trench
• хмурый (khmu ry y) – Gloomy or frowning