Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'halve'

English Word: halve

Key Russian Translations:

• разделить пополам [rəzɐˈdʲelʲɪtʲ pəpɐˈlam] - [Formal, Used in mathematical or everyday contexts]
• сократить вдвое [sɐˈkratʲɪtʲ vdvaˈje] - [Informal, Often in business or quantitative discussions]

Frequency: Medium (Common in specific contexts like cooking, math, or economics, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; requires basic understanding of verb conjugations and prepositions; for 'разделить пополам', it's straightforward, but 'сократить вдвое' may vary slightly in nuance)

Pronunciation (Russian):

разделить пополам: [rəzɐˈdʲelʲɪtʲ pəpɐˈlam]

сократить вдвое: [sɐˈkratʲɪtʲ vdvaˈje]

Note on разделить пополам: The stress falls on the third syllable of 'разделить' [dʲelʲɪtʲ], which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalized 'л' sound; variations in informal speech may soften the pronunciation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary meaning: To divide something into two equal parts.

Translation(s) & Context:

• разделить пополам - Used in precise, literal contexts, such as splitting objects or quantities evenly; common in educational or scientific settings.
• сократить вдвое - Applied when reducing something by half, often in abstract or figurative senses, like costs or time; suitable for informal or professional discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Я разделил пополам яблоко, чтобы поделиться с другом.

  I halved the apple to share it with my friend. (Demonstrates basic transitive use in everyday scenarios.)

• Чтобы сэкономить, мы сократили вдвое количество ингредиентов в рецепте.

  To save money, we halved the amount of ingredients in the recipe. (Shows application in a practical, quantitative context.)

• В эксперименте ученые разделили пополам образцы для сравнения.

  In the experiment, scientists halved the samples for comparison. (Illustrates formal, scientific usage with precise division.)

• Компания сократила вдвое бюджет на маркетинг из-за кризиса.

  The company halved the marketing budget due to the crisis. (Highlights figurative use in business contexts.)

• Он разделил пополам пирог и раздал гостям.

  He halved the pie and distributed it to the guests. (Exhibits social or hospitality-related usage.)

Secondary meaning: To reduce by half (e.g., in value or quantity).

Translation(s) & Context:

• сократить вдвое - Preferred for reductions in scale, such as prices or efforts; informal and versatile.
• разделить пополам - Less common here, but used if emphasizing equal parts in reduction.

Usage Examples:

• Правительство сократило вдвое налоги для малого бизнеса.

  The government halved taxes for small businesses. (Focuses on policy or economic reduction.)

• Я сократил вдвое время тренировки, чтобы не переутомиться.

  I halved my workout time to avoid overexertion. (Shows personal health or daily life application.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'Разделить' and 'сократить' are both verbs, so they follow standard Russian verb conjugation patterns. 'Разделить' is a perfective verb (from 'разделять'), while 'сократить' is also perfective. Russian verbs inflect based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Below is a table for key inflections:

Note: These verbs do not have irregular inflections but require attention to gender and number in past tense. If used in phrases like 'пополам', it remains invariant.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: надвое [nɐdvaˈje] (simply 'in two'), урезать пополам [urʲɪˈzatʲ pəpɐˈlam] (to cut down by half; often informal)
• Синонимы: сократить наполовину [sɐˈkratʲɪtʲ nɐpɐˈlavanʲu] (to reduce by half; more emphatic)
• Antonyms: удвоить [udvaˈjɪtʲ] (to double), увеличить [uˈvəlʲɪtʲɪtʲ] (to increase)

Related Phrases:

• Разделить пополам - This phrase is often used in: "Разделить пополам круг" (To halve a circle; meaning: in geometry or division contexts).
• Сократить вдвое - Common in: "Сократить вдвое расходы" (To halve expenses; meaning: a financial strategy to reduce costs effectively).
• Поделить на две части - (To divide into two parts; meaning: similar to halve, but more general for splitting objects).

Usage Notes:

'Halve' corresponds closely to 'разделить пополам' in literal division scenarios, but 'сократить вдвое' is better for reductions in quantity or value. In Russian, always consider the context: use formal structures in written or professional settings, and be mindful of verb aspect (perfective for completed actions). When choosing between translations, opt for 'разделить пополам' for physical splitting and 'сократить вдвое' for abstract halving. Prepositions like 'пополам' add precision but are optional in some cases.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'разделить' without specifying 'пополам' when meaning 'halve', e.g., saying "Я разделил" instead of "Я разделил пополам". Correct: Always include 'пополам' for clarity in halving. Explanation: This can imply general division, not necessarily into equal parts.

• Error: Confusing with 'уменьшить' (to decrease), e.g., "Я уменьшил вдвое" thinking it's the same as 'halve'. Correct: Use 'сократить вдвое' for precise halving. Explanation: 'Уменьшить' means general reduction, which might not be exactly half.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like 'разделить пополам' often appear in contexts of fairness and sharing, such as in folktales or proverbs (e.g., dividing inheritance), reflecting a cultural emphasis on equity in social interactions. However, 'сократить вдвое' is more modern, tied to economic discussions in post-Soviet Russia, symbolizing adaptation to resource scarcity.

Related Concepts:

• удвоить
• разделение
• сокращение