Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'give'

English Word: give

Key Russian Translations:

• дать [dátʲ] - [Formal/Informal, Perfective aspect for completed actions]
• давать [daˈvatʲ] - [Informal, Imperfective aspect for ongoing or repeated actions]

Frequency: High (One of the most common verbs in everyday Russian conversation and writing)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; involves understanding Russian verbal aspects, which can be challenging for learners beyond beginner level)

Pronunciation (Russian):

дать: [dátʲ] (The stress is on the first syllable; the 'тʲ' indicates a palatalized 't' sound, which is softer and common in Russian.)

давать: [daˈvatʲ] (Stress on the second syllable; note the vowel shift and palatalization for natural flow.)

Note on дать: Be careful with the palatalized 'тʲ' sound, as it's a common point of difficulty for English speakers who may pronounce it like a hard 't'.

Note on давать: This word often undergoes vowel reduction in unstressed syllables, e.g., [daˈvətʲ] in casual speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To transfer possession of something to someone

Translation(s) & Context:

• дать - Used in contexts involving a single, completed act of giving, such as handing over an object in formal or informal settings.
• давать - Used for ongoing or habitual giving, like providing something repeatedly in everyday interactions.

Usage Examples:

• Пожалуйста, дай мне книгу. (Pozhaluysta, dai mne knigu.)

  Please, give me the book. (This shows a polite request for a single action in a casual conversation.)

• Она всегда даёт советы своим друзьям. (Ona vsegda davayet sovety svoim druz'yam.)

  She always gives advice to her friends. (Illustrates ongoing habit in social contexts.)

• Доктор дал мне лекарство во время визита. (Doktor dal mne lekarstvo vo vremya vizita.)

  The doctor gave me medicine during the visit. (Demonstrates a completed action in a professional setting.)

• Я даю уроки русскому языку студентам. (Ya dayu uroki russkomu yazyku studentam.)

  I give Russian language lessons to students. (Shows repeated or professional giving in an educational context.)

• Не давай ему деньги, он не вернёт. (Ne dayu emu den'gi, on ne vernyot.)

  Don't give him money; he won't return it. (Used in a warning scenario with imperative form.)

To provide or offer something intangible

Translation(s) & Context:

• дать - For a one-time provision, like giving permission or an opportunity.
• давать - For continuous offering, such as giving support or information.

Usage Examples:

• Начальник дал мне шанс на повышение. (Nachal'nik dal mne shans na povysheniye.)

  The boss gave me a chance for promotion. (Highlights a single opportunity in a work environment.)

• Учитель даёт интересные примеры на уроках. (Uchitel' davayet interesnyye primery na urokakh.)

  The teacher gives interesting examples in classes. (Shows repeated action in an educational setting.)

• Дай мне твой номер телефона. (Dai mne tvoy nomer telefona.)

  Give me your phone number. (Informal request for information.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "дать" and "давать" are verbs, with "дать" being the perfective form and "давать" the imperfective. Russian verbs change based on tense, aspect, person, and number. "Дать" is irregular, while "давать" follows somewhat regular patterns but still requires attention to aspects.

Note: These verbs do not change for gender in the infinitive but do in the past tense. They are conjugated based on the subject.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • предоставлять (predostavljat' - to provide, often in formal contexts, with a sense of official granting)
  • вручать (vruchat' - to hand over, implying a more ceremonial act)
• Antonyms:
  • брать (brat' - to take, directly opposite in meaning for possession transfer)
  • удерживать (uderzhivat' - to withhold, emphasizing refusal to give)

Related Phrases:

• Дать совет (Dat' sovet) - To give advice (Used in everyday conversations for offering guidance.)
• Давать интервью (Davayat' intervyu) - To give an interview (Common in professional or media contexts.)
• Подарок от сердца (Podarok ot serdtsa) - A gift from the heart (Implies giving something with emotion, often in personal relationships.)

Usage Notes:

The choice between "дать" and "давать" depends on the aspect: use "дать" for completed actions and "давать" for ongoing ones, which is a key feature of Russian verbs. For English speakers, remember that "give" often maps to perfective in single events (e.g., "I gave him a book") and imperfective for habits. Be mindful of context; "дать" can be formal in official settings, while "давать" is versatile. Always consider the subject's gender and number for past tense conjugations.

• In phone conversations, "Алло, это [name]?" might lead to "Дайте мне [something]," but it's more common to use "Пожалуйста, дайте..." for politeness.
• When translating idioms, "give up" might not directly use these; instead, use "сдаться" (sdat'sya).

Common Errors:

One common mistake is confusing perfective and imperfective aspects. For example, English learners might say "Я даю книгу вчера" (incorrect), thinking it's like "I gave a book yesterday." The correct form is "Я дал книгу вчера" for a completed past action. Error: "Я даю книгу" (implies ongoing); Correct: "Я дал книгу" – This happens because English doesn't distinguish aspects as strictly as Russian.

Another error is forgetting palatalization: Pronouncing "дать" as [dat] instead of [dátʲ], which can make it sound unnatural. Always practice the soft 'тʲ' sound.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, giving gifts (e.g., using "дать подарок") is often tied to traditions like New Year's or birthdays, emphasizing reciprocity and personal connections. It's common to refuse a gift once before accepting, as a sign of modesty, which might confuse English speakers used to direct exchanges.

Related Concepts:

• получать (poluchat' - to receive)
• подарок (podarok - gift)
• обмен (obmen - exchange)