Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'glide'

English Word: glide

Key Russian Translations:

• скользить [ˈskolʲzʲitʲ] - [Informal, Verb; used for smooth, effortless movement]
• планировать [plənʲɪˈravatʲ] - [Formal, Verb; used specifically in aviation or descending contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday language for physical movement, but less frequent in formal or technical contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate for скользить; A2 for планировать, as it involves basic verb conjugation, but requires context awareness)

Pronunciation (Russian):

скользить: [ˈskolʲzʲitʲ]

планировать: [plənʲɪˈravatʲ]

Note on скользить: The 'л' sound is palatalized, which can be tricky for English speakers; it sounds like a soft 'l' as in 'million'. Stress falls on the first syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To move smoothly and effortlessly over a surface (e.g., skating or sliding)

Translation(s) & Context:

• скользить - Used in informal, everyday contexts like sports or casual descriptions of motion.
• планировать - Less common here; typically for aerial gliding, but can metaphorically apply.

Usage Examples:

• Лыжник скользит по снегу с легкостью.

  The skier glides over the snow with ease.

• Ветер заставляет листья скользить по земле.

  The wind makes the leaves glide across the ground.

• Она любит скользить на коньках по замерзшему озеру.

  She loves to glide on skates across the frozen lake.

• Дети скользят на санках вниз по холму.

  The children glide down the hill on sleds.

Meaning 2: To descend gradually without power, as in aviation

Translation(s) & Context:

• планировать - Used in technical or formal contexts, such as flying or physics.
• скользить - Can be used informally for similar ideas, but less precise.

Usage Examples:

• Самолет начал планировать к земле из-за отказа двигателя.

  The plane started to glide towards the ground due to engine failure.

• Пилот научился планировать на дельтаплане над горами.

  The pilot learned to glide on a hang glider over the mountains.

• В экстренной ситуации вертолет может планировать на ближайшую площадку.

  In an emergency, the helicopter can glide to the nearest landing site.

• Птица планирует в воздухе, используя тепловые потоки.

  The bird glides through the air using thermal currents.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For скользить (an imperfective verb), it follows standard Russian verb conjugation patterns for motion verbs. It is irregular in some aspects due to its stem changes.

For планировать (a perfective verb), it is more regular and conjugates as a standard -овать verb. It does not have significant irregularities but changes based on aspect (e.g., for completed actions: запланировать).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • скатываться (to roll down; similar for downward motion, but implies rolling)
  • плавно двигаться (to move smoothly; more descriptive phrase)
• Antonyms:
  • падать (to fall; implies sudden descent)
  • остановиться (to stop; opposite of continuous motion)

Related Phrases:

• скользить по льду - Gliding on ice; commonly used in winter sports contexts.
• планировать в воздухе - Gliding in the air; refers to aviation or bird flight scenarios.
• бесшумно скользить - To glide silently; emphasizes quiet, stealthy movement.

Usage Notes:

While "glide" in English often implies smooth, effortless motion, Russian translations like скользить are more versatile and can apply to physical sliding (e.g., on ice) or metaphorical ease. Choose скользить for informal, everyday use and планировать for technical contexts like aviation. Be mindful of aspect in Russian verbs: скользить is imperfective (ongoing action), so pair it with ongoing descriptions. In formal writing, prefer full sentences to highlight context, as Russian grammar relies heavily on case and aspect for precision.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using скользить without proper conjugation, e.g., saying "я скользить" instead of "я скользю". Correct: Always conjugate based on subject (e.g., "я скользю" for "I glide"). This error stems from treating it as an infinitive.
• Mistake: Confusing скользить with планировать in non-aviation contexts, e.g., saying "птица планирует по снегу" (incorrect for snow). Correct: Use скользить for ground-based gliding, as планировать implies aerial descent. Explanation: Russian verbs are aspect-specific, so mismatched usage can alter the intended meaning.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like скользить often evoke winter activities, such as ice skating or skiing, which are deeply tied to Russia's cold climate and traditions. For instance, gliding on frozen rivers is a common pastime in places like Moscow, symbolizing resilience and joy in harsh weather, unlike in warmer English-speaking regions where such terms might relate more to aviation.

Related Concepts:

• скольжение
• планирование
• движение