Russian Translation(s) & Details for '{{gobble}}'

English Word: {{gobble}}

Key Russian Translations:

• пожирать [pɐˈʐɨrətʲ] - [Informal, Verb, Used in everyday contexts for rapid, greedy eating]
• глотать [ɡlɐˈtatʲ] - [Neutral, Verb, Used when emphasizing quick swallowing, less greedy connotation]

Frequency: Medium (Common in spoken Russian but not as frequent as basic verbs like "есть")

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations, suitable for learners with basic grammar knowledge)

Pronunciation (Russian):

пожирать: [pɐˈʐɨrətʲ]

Note on пожирать: The 'ж' sound is a voiced palatal fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers; it sounds like the 's' in "measure". Pronounce with emphasis on the second syllable.

Audio: []

глотать: [ɡlɐˈtatʲ]

Note on глотать: The 'г' is a voiced velar stop, similar to 'g' in "go", but ensure the stress on the second syllable to avoid confusion with related words.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: To eat or consume quickly and greedily (as in gobbling food)

Translation(s) & Context:

• пожирать - Used in informal settings, such as describing someone eating hastily at a meal; common in narrative or humorous contexts.
• глотать - Used for swallowing food or drinks quickly, often in neutral or everyday conversations, like during a busy meal.

Usage Examples:

• Он пожирал еду, не отрываясь от экрана. (He was gobbling his food without taking his eyes off the screen.)

  Translation: He devoured his food greedily, not pausing for a moment.

• Дети быстро глотали бутерброды, чтобы успеть на автобус. (The children were gobbling their sandwiches to catch the bus in time.)

  Translation: The kids quickly swallowed their sandwiches to make it to the bus on time.

• В ресторане он всегда пожирает десерт за считанные секунды. (In the restaurant, he always gobbles up dessert in a matter of seconds.)

  Translation: In the restaurant, he always devours dessert almost instantly, showing his impatience.

• Она глотала суп, чтобы не опоздать на встречу. (She was gobbling her soup to avoid being late for the meeting.)

  Translation: She quickly swallowed her soup in haste, prioritizing her schedule over enjoyment.

• Пожирая фрукты, он не заметил, как время пролетело. (While gobbling the fruits, he didn't notice how time flew by.)

  Translation: As he greedily ate the fruits, he lost track of time completely.

Secondary Meaning: To consume or absorb something rapidly (figurative, e.g., information or resources)

Translation(s) & Context:

• пожирать - In figurative contexts, like gobbling up knowledge or resources, often with a negative connotation of excess.

Usage Examples:

• Он пожирал книги одну за другой, не давая себе передышки. (He was gobbling up books one after another, without giving himself a break.)

  Translation: He devoured books relentlessly, absorbing information at a rapid pace.

• Компания пожирает ресурсы, не заботясь об экологии. (The company is gobbling up resources without regard for the environment.)

  Translation: The company is consuming resources greedily, ignoring ecological consequences.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "пожирать" and "глотать" are verbs, which follow imperfective aspect patterns in Russian. They are irregular in some conjugations due to their roots.

For "пожирать" (imperfective):

For "глотать" (imperfective), it has similar conjugation but is more regular:

These verbs do not change in perfective form without prefixes; for example, "проглотить" is the perfective of "глотать".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • проглатывать (more neutral for swallowing)
  • уничтожать (for devouring in a destructive sense, with a connotation of complete consumption)
• Antonyms:
  • жевать (to chew slowly)
  • откладывать (to set aside or delay consumption)

Related Phrases:

• Пожирать глазами - Literally "to gobble with eyes," meaning to stare greedily or devour with one's gaze; used for intense looking.
• Глотать комок в горле - "To gobble a lump in the throat," meaning to swallow hard due to emotion.

Usage Notes:

"Пожирать" directly corresponds to the greedy aspect of "gobble," making it ideal for informal, vivid descriptions, while "глотать" is more general and can be used in both literal and figurative contexts. Be cautious with formality; "пожирать" is informal and may sound exaggerated in professional settings. When choosing between translations, opt for "глотать" if the emphasis is on speed rather than greed. Grammatically, these verbs require agreement with the subject in person and number.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "пожирать" in formal writing, e.g., "Он пожирает еду на банкете" instead of "Он ест еду на банкете."
  Correct: "Он ест еду на банкете" or, if needed, "Он пожирает еду в неформальной обстановке."
  Explanation: "Пожирать" can come across as too casual or humorous, leading to a mismatch in tone.
• Mistake: Confusing conjugation, e.g., saying "Я пожирать" instead of "Я пожираю."
  Correct: Always conjugate properly, as in "Я пожираю."
  Explanation: Russian verbs must be conjugated based on subject, unlike English infinitives.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, verbs like "пожирать" often appear in literature or proverbs to depict excess or haste, reflecting historical themes of scarcity and feasting in Russian folklore, such as in fairy tales where characters gobble food during celebrations.

Related Concepts:

• проглатывать
• уничтожать
• жевать