Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'gorge'

English Word: gorge

Key Russian Translations:

• ущелье [uˈʃʲelʲjə] - [Formal, Noun; used for geographical features]
• объедаться [ɐbʲjɪˈdatʲsə] - [Informal, Verb; used in everyday contexts for excessive eating]
• пожирать [pɐˈʐɨratʲ] - [Neutral, Verb; more literary or formal for devouring]

Frequency: Medium - The word 'gorge' as a noun is moderately common in contexts like geography or travel, while as a verb, it's less frequent in everyday Russian speech.

Difficulty: B1 for 'ущелье' (Intermediate, as it involves basic noun inflections); B2 for 'объедаться' and 'пожирать' (Upper-Intermediate, due to reflexive verb forms and nuances in usage).

Pronunciation (Russian):

ущелье: [uˈʃʲelʲjə]

объедаться: [ɐbʲjɪˈdatʲsə]

пожирать: [pɐˈʐɨratʲ]

Note on ущелье: The initial 'у' is pronounced as a short vowel, and the 'щ' sound is a soft, palatalized 'sh' which can be tricky for English speakers; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Note on объедаться: This is a reflexive verb; the '-ся' ending affects pronunciation, making it [sə] at the end—common in informal speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A deep narrow valley with steep sides (Noun)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ущелье - Used in formal or descriptive contexts, such as geography, literature, or travel descriptions in Russian.

Usage Examples:

• Мы спустились в ущелье, где река шумела среди скал.

  We descended into the gorge where the river roared among the rocks.

• Ущелье в горах Кавказа привлекает туристов своей красотой.

  The gorge in the Caucasus Mountains attracts tourists with its beauty.

• Путешественники пересекли ущелье пешком, наслаждаясь видами.

  The travelers crossed the gorge on foot, enjoying the views.

• В этом ущелье скрываются древние руины, о которых мало кто знает.

  In this gorge, ancient ruins are hidden that few people know about.

• Летом ущелье превращается в популярное место для пикников.

  In the summer, the gorge turns into a popular spot for picnics.

Meaning 2: To eat greedily or in large quantities (Verb)

Translation(s) & Context:

• объедаться - Informal, everyday context for overeating, often with a humorous or negative connotation.
• пожирать - More neutral or formal, used in literary or emphatic descriptions of eating voraciously.

Usage Examples:

• На празднике дети объедались сладостями и потом жаловались на живот.

  At the party, the children gorged on sweets and then complained about their stomachs.

• Он всегда пожирает еду, не замечая, что вокруг происходит.

  He always gorges on food, oblivious to what's happening around him.

• После голодного дня она объедалась фруктами, чтобы утолить голод.

  After a hungry day, she gorged on fruits to satisfy her hunger.

• В ресторане гости пожирали блюда, как будто не ели неделю.

  In the restaurant, the guests gorged on the dishes as if they hadn't eaten for a week.

• Не объедайся шоколадом, иначе испортишь аппетит к ужину.

  Don't gorge on chocolate, or you'll ruin your appetite for dinner.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'ущелье' (neuter noun, 2nd declension):

For 'объедаться' (reflexive imperfective verb):

It conjugates regularly as a reflexive verb. Example in present tense: я объедаюсь, ты объедаешься, он/она объедается. Past tense: я объедался (masc.), я объедалась (fem.).

For 'пожирать' (imperfective verb):

Conjugates as: я пожираю, ты пожираешь, он пожирает. Past: я пожирал (masc.), я пожирала (fem.). No irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • ущелье: пропасть (propast' – abyss, similar in depth but more dramatic)
  • объедаться: наедаться (naedat'sya – to eat one's fill, less intense)
  • пожирать: заглатывать (zaglatyvat' – to swallow greedily, with a focus on speed)
• Antonyms:
  • ущелье: равнина (ravnina – plain, opposite in topography)
  • объедаться: голодать (golodat' – to starve)
  • пожирать: есть умеренно (est' umerenno – to eat moderately, though not a single word)

Related Phrases:

• Гrand Canyon ущелье – The Grand Canyon gorge; refers to famous natural sites.
• Объедаться до отвала – To gorge until full; an idiomatic phrase for overeating at feasts.
• Пожирать глазами – To devour with one's eyes; means to look at something greedily or lustfully.

Usage Notes:

'Ущелье' directly corresponds to the geographical meaning of 'gorge' and is preferred in formal Russian, such as in scientific or travel contexts. For the verb form, 'объедаться' is more colloquial and implies excess, while 'пожирать' can be used metaphorically. English learners should note that Russian verbs often require perfective/imperfective pairs (e.g., 'объесться' as perfective), and context dictates choice. Use 'ущелье' in singular for emphasis on a specific feature, and be cautious with reflexive endings like '-ся' in verbs.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'ущелье' without proper case agreement, e.g., saying "в ущелье" incorrectly as "в ущель" (wrong declension).
  Correct: Always decline based on case, e.g., "в ущелье" (prepositional). Explanation: Russian nouns must agree with prepositions and sentence structure.
• Mistake: Confusing 'объедаться' with 'пожирать' in formal writing, using the informal one.
  Correct: Opt for 'пожирать' in literary contexts; e.g., avoid "он объедался едой" in a poem—use "он пожирал еду". Explanation: 'Объедаться' sounds too casual for elevated language.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'ущелье' often evokes romantic or adventurous imagery, as seen in literature like Tolstoy's works, where gorges symbolize isolation or natural beauty. 'Объедаться' reflects the Russian tradition of generous feasts (e.g., during holidays like Maslenitsa), highlighting a cultural appreciation for hearty eating, though it can carry a warning about excess.

Related Concepts:

• Каньон (kan'on – canyon)
• Голод (golod – hunger)
• Еда (eda – food)