Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'garner'

English Word: garner

Key Russian Translations:

• собирать [sɐˈbʲirətʲ] - [Verb, Informal, Used in everyday contexts for collecting or gathering]
• набирать [nɐˈbʲirətʲ] - [Verb, Formal, Used when implying gradual accumulation, such as gaining support]

Frequency: Medium (Common in written and spoken Russian, especially in professional or educational contexts, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "делать").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of verb conjugations and contexts. For "набирать", it may be slightly more advanced at B2 due to nuanced usages.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

собирать: [sɐˈbʲirətʲ]

набирать: [nɐˈbʲirətʲ]

Note on собирать: The stress falls on the second syllable; be mindful of the soft sign (ь) which softens the preceding consonant, a common challenge for English speakers.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To collect or gather information, resources, or support (most common translation of 'garner').

Translation(s) & Context:

• собирать - Used in informal settings for everyday gathering, such as collecting data or opinions.
• набирать - Used in more formal or professional contexts, implying a process of accumulation over time.

Usage Examples:

• Он собирает информацию для своего отчета. (He is gathering information for his report.)

  Translation: He is gathering information for his report. (This example shows "собирать" in a simple present tense context for data collection.)

• Компания набрала новых сотрудников за последний месяц. (The company has garnered new employees over the last month.)

  Translation: The company has garnered new employees over the last month. (Illustrates "набирать" in a past tense for accumulating resources.)

• Она собирает подписи для петиции. (She is garnering signatures for the petition.)

  Translation: She is garnering signatures for the petition. (Demonstrates "собирать" in an active, goal-oriented context.)

• Политик набрал поддержку среди молодежи. (The politician has garnered support among the youth.)

  Translation: The politician has garnered support among the youth. (Shows "набирать" in a figurative sense for gaining abstract support.)

• Мы собираем силы перед важным проектом. (We are garnering strength before an important project.)

  Translation: We are garnering strength before an important project. (Highlights "собирать" in a metaphorical context involving intangible elements.)

Meaning 2: To earn or acquire something, often abstract like rewards or achievements.

Translation(s) & Context:

• набирать - Preferred in contexts of gradual earning, such as accumulating points or experience.
• собирать - Less common here, but used informally for quick acquisition.

Usage Examples:

• Он набрал опыт в этой области за годы работы. (He has garnered experience in this field over years of work.)

  Translation: He has garnered experience in this field over years of work. (Example of "набирать" for long-term accumulation.)

• Команда собрала награды на соревновании. (The team has garnered awards at the competition.)

  Translation: The team has garnered awards at the competition. (Shows "собирать" for immediate earning.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "собирать" and "набирать" are first-conjugation verbs in Russian, which means they follow regular patterns but have variations based on tense, aspect, and person. "Собирать" is imperfective, indicating ongoing actions, while "набирать" can be used in both imperfective and perfective forms (e.g., "набрать" as perfective).

Note: These verbs do not change based on gender in the infinitive form but adjust in past tense for gender, number, and case.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • собирать (for "собирать" itself, but more precisely: накапливать - implies gradual buildup)
  • набирать (synonymous with itself, but: аккумулировать - for formal accumulation, with a nuance of storing energy or resources)
• Antonyms:
  • терять (to lose)
  • расходовать (to spend or dissipate)

Related Phrases:

• Собирать урожай (to harvest crops) - A common phrase for gathering agricultural yields, often used metaphorically.
• Набирать обороты (to gain momentum) - Refers to something accelerating, like a project or engine.
• Собирать информацию (to gather information) - Standard for data collection in professional settings.

Usage Notes:

"Собирать" directly corresponds to the general sense of 'garner' as collecting, but it's more versatile in informal speech. Use "набирать" for contexts involving gradual acquisition, like in business or personal development, as it aligns with 'garner' in achievement-oriented scenarios. Be cautious with aspect: Russian verbs have perfective and imperfective forms, so choose based on whether the action is completed (e.g., "набрать" for finished gathering). In formal writing, "набирать" might be preferred to sound more polished.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Confusing the imperfective "собирать" with the perfective "собрать" and using them interchangeably. Incorrect: "Я собрать информацию вчера" (grammatically wrong). Correct: "Я собрал информацию вчера" (for completed action). Explanation: English speakers often overlook aspect, so always pair with the right context—imperfective for ongoing, perfective for finished.
• Mistake: Overusing "набирать" in casual speech. Incorrect: "Я набрал еду в магазине" (sounds odd; better use "купил"). Correct: "Я набрал силы" (for abstract gathering). Explanation: Reserve "набирать" for non-physical accumulation to avoid sounding unnatural.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like "собирать урожай" (gathering the harvest) often carry historical connotations from rural traditions, symbolizing hard work and seasonal cycles. This reflects Russia's agrarian past, where such activities were central to community life, adding a layer of resilience and collectivism to the word's usage in modern contexts.

Related Concepts:

• накапливать (to accumulate)
• собирание (gathering, as a noun)
• аккумуляция (accumulation in a scientific sense)