Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'grovel'

English Word: grovel

Key Russian Translations:

• унижаться [ʊˈnʲiʐətʲsə] - [Informal, Reflexive Verb, Used in everyday contexts of submission]
• ползать на коленях [pɐlˈzatʲ nə kɐˈlʲenʲəx] - [Formal or Literary, Idiomatic Expression, Used for extreme physical or metaphorical groveling]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literature and conversational Russian, but not everyday vocabulary)

Difficulty: B1 Intermediate (Requires understanding of reflexive verbs for 'унижаться'; 'ползать на коленях' is B2 due to its idiomatic nature)

Pronunciation (Russian):

унижаться: [ʊˈnʲiʐətʲsə]

Note on унижаться: This is a reflexive verb with stress on the second syllable; the 'ж' is pronounced as a soft 'zh' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers. Pay attention to the particle 'ся' for reflexivity.

ползать на коленях: [pɐlˈzatʲ nə kɐˈlʲenʲəx]

Note on ползать на коленях: The phrase has varying stress; 'ползать' stresses the first syllable, and it's often spoken quickly in narrative contexts.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To behave in a servile or obsequious manner, often seeking favor.

Translation(s) & Context:

• унижаться - Used in informal or emotional contexts, such as pleading or begging for mercy in personal relationships.
• ползать на коленях - Employed in more dramatic or literary settings, like historical narratives or exaggerated expressions of desperation.

Usage Examples:

• Он унижается перед боссом, чтобы сохранить свою работу.

  He grovels before the boss to keep his job. (Shows submission in a professional context.)

• В фильме герой унижается, моля о прощении.

  In the movie, the hero grovels, begging for forgiveness. (Illustrates emotional vulnerability in storytelling.)

• Она никогда не унижается перед кем-либо, даже в трудные времена.

  She never grovels before anyone, even in tough times. (Demonstrates refusal in a grammatical negative structure.)

• Ползать на коленях перед королем было обычным делом в средневековых сказках.

  Groveling on one's knees before the king was common in medieval tales. (Historical or literary usage.)

• Иногда люди ползать на коленях метафорически, чтобы добиться успеха.

  Sometimes people grovel metaphorically to achieve success. (Abstract, idiomatic application in modern contexts.)

Meaning 2: To lie or crawl on the ground in a humiliating way.

Translation(s) & Context:

• ползать на коленях - Best for literal physical actions, such as in defeat or worship scenarios.

Usage Examples:

• Войны заставляют солдат ползать на коленях в плену.

  Wars force soldiers to grovel on their knees in captivity. (Military or historical context.)

• Дети иногда ползать на коленях во время игр, но это не унижение.

  Children sometimes grovel on their knees during play, but it's not humiliating. (Contrastive, everyday vs. negative connotation.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'Унижаться' is a reflexive verb (from 'унижать', to humiliate) and follows the standard conjugation patterns for Russian imperfective verbs. It is conjugated based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Below is a table for its present tense forms:

'Ползать на коленях' is a phrase where 'ползать' is an imperfective verb and inflects regularly: e.g., present: ползаю, ползаешь; past: ползал. It does not change as a fixed expression but follows the verb's rules. No irregular inflections.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • унижать себя (to humble oneself) - More direct and less emotional.
  • молить о пощаде (to beg for mercy) - Used in pleading contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • гордиться (to be proud) - Implies self-respect and opposition to submission.
  • стоять на своем (to stand one's ground) - Focuses on defiance.

Related Phrases:

• Унижаться перед кем-то - To grovel before someone; used for hierarchical power dynamics.
• Ползать в пыли - To grovel in the dust; implies extreme humiliation in literary or poetic contexts.
• Молить на коленях - To beg on one's knees; a common phrase for desperate pleas, with English explanation: Often appears in religious or dramatic scenarios.

Usage Notes:

'Унижаться' directly corresponds to the English 'grovel' in figurative senses, emphasizing self-degradation, but it's more commonly used in Russian for emotional or psychological contexts rather than physical ones. 'Ползать на коленях' is better for literal actions. Be cautious with formality: 'унижаться' is informal and can sound harsh in writing, while 'ползать на коленях' suits narratives. In grammar, always include the reflexive particle 'ся' for 'унижаться' to maintain accuracy. When choosing between translations, opt for 'унижаться' in modern conversations and 'ползать на коленях' for historical or idiomatic expressions.

Common Errors:

• Error: Omitting the reflexive particle, e.g., saying 'унижать' instead of 'унижаться'.

  Correct: 'Унижаться' means to grovel oneself; 'унижать' means to humiliate others. Explanation: This changes the meaning entirely, as Russian reflexive verbs require 'ся' for self-actions.

• Error: Using 'ползать' alone without 'на коленях' for metaphorical groveling.

  Correct: Phrase it as 'ползать на коленях' to convey humiliation; otherwise, 'ползать' just means 'to crawl'. Explanation: Learners often miss the idiomatic extension, leading to literal interpretations.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressions like 'унижаться' or 'ползать на коленях' often evoke themes from literature (e.g., Dostoevsky's works), where groveling symbolizes social inequality or personal despair. Historically, such actions were associated with serfdom or authoritarian regimes, adding a layer of cultural weight that makes these words more emotive than their English counterparts.

Related Concepts:

• Гордость (pride)
• Подчинение (subordination)
• Милосердие (mercy)