Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'guzzle'

English Word: guzzle

Key Russian Translations:

• хлебать [xlʲɪˈbatʲ] - [Informal, often used for messy or greedy consumption]
• проглатывать [prəɡləˈtɨvətʲ] - [Formal, implies quick swallowing]

Frequency: Low (This verb is not commonly used in everyday conversation but appears in descriptive or literary contexts.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, as it involves understanding verb conjugations and contextual nuances; for 'хлебать', it's straightforward, but 'проглатывать' may require more practice with perfective aspects.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

хлебать: [xlʲɪˈbatʲ]

проглатывать: [prəɡləˈtɨvətʲ]

Note on хлебать: The initial 'х' sound is a voiceless velar fricative, similar to the 'ch' in Scottish "loch," and the stress falls on the second syllable, which can be challenging for beginners.

Note on проглатывать: This word has a soft 'л' sound, and the perfective aspect might affect pronunciation speed in natural speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To drink something greedily or in large quantities

Translation(s) & Context:

• хлебать - Used in informal, everyday contexts, such as describing someone eating or drinking messily at a meal or party.
• проглатывать - Applied in more formal or neutral contexts, like in literature or when emphasizing rapid consumption without savoring.

Usage Examples:

• Он хлебал пиво из большой кружки, не отрываясь от разговора.

  He guzzled beer from a large mug without pausing the conversation.

• Дети проглатывали сок, чтобы поскорее вернуться к игре.

  The children guzzled the juice to quickly get back to playing.

• На пикнике она хлебала суп прямо из миски, не используя ложку.

  At the picnic, she guzzled the soup straight from the bowl without using a spoon.

• Он проглатывал воду после пробежки, чтобы утолить жажду.

  He guzzled water after the run to quench his thirst.

• В жару туристы хлебали лимонад, не замечая окружающих.

  In the heat, the tourists guzzled lemonade, oblivious to their surroundings.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'хлебать' and 'проглатывать' are verbs, so they follow Russian verb conjugation patterns. 'Хлебать' is an imperfective verb, while 'проглатывать' is imperfective (from the perfective 'проглотить'). Russian verbs change based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Below is a table for key inflections:

Note: These verbs do not have irregular forms but follow standard patterns for first-conjugation verbs. 'Проглатывать' can pair with its perfective counterpart 'проглотить' for completed actions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: глотать (to swallow quickly), пить жадно (to drink greedily) - 'Глотать' is more neutral and can be used in formal contexts.
• Antonyms: пить медленно (to drink slowly) - Implies a deliberate, savoring pace, often in refined settings.

Related Phrases:

• Хлебать пиво - A common phrase meaning "to guzzle beer," often used in informal social contexts like parties; implies excessive or hasty drinking.
• Проглатывать еду - Means "to guzzle food," typically describing eating without chewing properly; used to highlight bad manners.
• Жадно хлебать напитки - Translates to "to greedily guzzle drinks," emphasizing thirst or urgency in consumption.

Usage Notes:

'Гuzzle' corresponds most closely to 'хлебать' in informal English-Russian translation, as both convey a sense of greediness or haste, but 'проглатывать' is better for neutral or formal descriptions. Use 'хлебать' in everyday, colloquial speech to avoid sounding overly literary, and be aware of its negative connotations (e.g., implying rudeness). In Russian, these verbs often appear in imperfective aspects for ongoing actions. When choosing between translations, opt for 'хлебать' in spoken language and 'проглатывать' in written or formal contexts.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing 'хлебать' with eating verbs like 'есть' (to eat), leading to incorrect usage in drinking contexts. For example, a learner might say "Он хлебал еду" when meaning "He guzzled food," but this is fine; however, they might misuse it as "хлебать воду" incorrectly if not understanding the greedy connotation.

  Correct: "Он хлебал суп" (He guzzled soup) - This properly captures the verb's meaning.

  Explanation: 'Хлебать' specifically implies liquid consumption with greed, so ensure the context involves drinks or soups to avoid semantic errors.

• Error: Forgetting aspect distinctions, such as using 'проглатывать' when a perfective verb like 'проглотить' is needed for completed actions. Example: Saying "Я проглатывал весь день" instead of "Я проглотил за раз."

  Correct: "Я проглотил стакан воды" (I guzzled a glass of water at once).

  Explanation: Russian verbs require attention to aspect; imperfective for ongoing processes and perfective for results.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, verbs like 'хлебать' often appear in depictions of rustic or informal gatherings, such as family picnics or festivals, where hasty eating and drinking signify enjoyment or abundance. However, it can carry a negative undertone in urban settings, reflecting poor etiquette, which contrasts with the more refined ideals in Russian literature.

Related Concepts:

• Пить
• Глотать
• Жадно есть