Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'gambol'

English Word: gambol

Key Russian Translations:

• прыгать [ˈprɨɡətʲ] - [Informal, Verb, Used in everyday playful contexts]
• скакать [skɐˈkatʲ] - [Informal, Verb, Often implies more energetic or animal-like frolicking]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literature and casual descriptions of playful activities, but not in formal or everyday speech as frequently as basic verbs.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; involves understanding verb conjugations and contextual usage. For 'прыгать', it's straightforward; for 'скакать', slight nuances may require more practice.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

прыгать: [ˈprɨɡətʲ]

скакать: [skɐˈkatʲ]

Note on прыгать: The 'ы' sound ([ɨ]) can be challenging for English speakers, as it's similar to a tense 'i' in 'bit', but produced further back in the mouth. Stress on the first syllable.

Note on скакать: The 'а' in the second syllable is pronounced as a short, open vowel; avoid softening it. This verb has a rhythmic quality often used in poetry.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To engage in playful leaping or skipping, often in a joyful or carefree manner.

Translation(s) & Context:

• прыгать - Used in informal settings to describe children's play or animal movements, such as in parks or games.
• скакать - Applied in contexts involving more vigorous activity, like in folklore or describing wild animals.

Usage Examples:

• Дети прыгают в саду, полные радости. (The children are gamboling in the garden, full of joy.)

  Translation: The children are gamboling in the garden, full of joy. (This example shows the verb in an imperfective aspect, describing ongoing action in a casual, outdoor context.)

• Лошади скакали по полю, словно в танце. (The horses were gamboling across the field, as if in a dance.)

  Translation: The horses were gamboling across the field, as if in a dance. (Illustrates the verb with animals, emphasizing energy and freedom.)

• Он прыгает вокруг, как маленький ребёнок. (He is gamboling around like a little child.)

  Translation: He is gamboling around like a little child. (Demonstrates metaphorical use for human behavior in informal social settings.)

• Весной звери скакали в лесу без забот. (In spring, the animals were gamboling in the forest without a care.)

  Translation: In spring, the animals were gamboling in the forest without a care. (Shows seasonal or poetic context.)

• Девушка прыгает на пляже, наслаждаясь солнцем. (The girl is gamboling on the beach, enjoying the sun.)

  Translation: The girl is gamboling on the beach, enjoying the sun. (Highlights recreational and joyful usage.)

Meaning 2: A playful or frolicsome action, as a noun in English (e.g., "a gambol").

Translation(s) & Context:

• прыжок (pryzhok) - Noun form, used for a single leap in playful contexts, such as in sports or games.
• скачка (skachka) - Noun, implying a series of jumps, often in narrative or descriptive writing.

Usage Examples:

• Его прыжок был похож на детскую забаву. (His gambol was like a child's play.)

  Translation: His gambol was like a child's play. (Noun usage in a metaphorical sense.)

• Скачка лошади в поле привлекла внимание. (The gambol of the horse in the field caught attention.)

  Translation: The gambol of the horse in the field caught attention. (Descriptive noun in a natural setting.)

• В парке дети устраивают прыжки с радостью. (In the park, children engage in gambols with joy.)

  Translation: In the park, children engage in gambols with joy. (Plural noun context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations ('прыгать' and 'скакать') are imperfective verbs, which undergo regular conjugations based on tense, person, and number. They do not have irregular forms, making them relatively straightforward for learners.

For nouns like 'прыжок' (neuter, 2nd declension), it inflects as follows: Nominative - прыжок; Genitive - прыжка; Dative - прыжку; etc. 'Скачка' (feminine) is invariant in singular but changes in plural forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Бегать (bogat' - to run around playfully; less focused on jumping)
  • Играть (igrat' - to play; broader and more general)
  • Флиртовать (flirtovat' - to flirt playfully; used in social contexts with nuance)
• Antonyms:
  • Сидеть (sidet' - to sit; implies stillness)
  • Лежать (lezhit' - to lie down; opposite of active movement)

Related Phrases:

• Прыгать как кузнечик (Prygat' kak kuznechik) - To jump like a grasshopper; a phrase for very lively, bouncy behavior.
• Скакать галопом (Skakat' galopom) - To gallop; often used in equestrian or metaphorical contexts for fast, playful movement.
• Веселая прыжка (Veselaya pryzhka) - Joyful gambol; a common expression in children's literature for fun activities.

Usage Notes:

'Прыгать' directly corresponds to the playful aspect of 'gambol' and is preferred in informal, everyday English-Russian translations. Use it for human or animal subjects in dynamic scenes. 'Скакать' is better for more energetic or wild contexts, like in nature or stories, and may carry a slightly archaic or poetic tone. Be mindful of aspect: these are imperfective verbs, so they describe ongoing actions. In formal writing, opt for synonyms like 'играть' to avoid repetition. When choosing between translations, consider the intensity—'скакать' implies greater vigor.

Common Errors:

• Confusing aspect: Learners often use 'прыгать' in perfective contexts (e.g., saying "Я прыгнул" for a completed action, but incorrectly conjugating it). Correct: Use perfective 'прыгнуть' for completed jumps. Error example: "Я прыгаю вчера" (wrong); Correct: "Я прыгнул вчера".
• Mispronouncing vowels: English speakers might soften the 'г' in 'прыгать' to sound like English 'g'. Error: Pronouncing as [ˈprɪɡətʲ]; Correct: [ˈprɨɡətʲ], with a hard 'г'.
• Overusing in formal contexts: Mistakenly using 'скакать' in professional descriptions. Error: "В офисе он скакал" (implies inappropriate play); Correct: Use 'двигался энергично' for workplace scenarios.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'прыгать' and 'скакать' often appear in folk tales and children's stories, evoking themes of freedom and joy, as seen in tales by authors like Pushkin. They symbolize the Russian appreciation for nature and playful innocence, contrasting with more restrained urban life.

Related Concepts:

• Бег (beg - running)
• Игра (igra - play)
• Танец (tants - dance)