Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'hang'

English Word: hang

Key Russian Translations:

• вешать [vʲɪˈʂatʲ] - [Informal, used for suspending objects or in everyday contexts]
• повесить [pɐˈvʲesʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, used for execution or permanent suspension]
• висеть [ˈvʲisʲɪtʲ] - [Neutral, describes the state of being suspended]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in daily conversations and literature, but not as ubiquitous as basic verbs)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and context, as per CEFR standards)

Pronunciation (Russian):

вешать: [vʲɪˈʂatʲ]

повесить: [pɐˈvʲesʲɪtʲ]

висеть: [ˈvʲisʲɪtʲ]

Note on вешать: The 'ш' sound ([ʂ]) can be challenging for English speakers; it's a voiceless retroflex fricative, similar to the 'sh' in 'she' but with the tongue curled back. Variations may occur in dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To suspend or attach something from above with no support from below (e.g., hanging a picture).

Translation(s) & Context:

• вешать - Used in informal settings, such as everyday home activities; common in spoken Russian.
• повесить - Used in more formal or permanent contexts, like hanging decorations or in idiomatic expressions.

Usage Examples:

• Я вешаю картину на стену. (Ya veshayu kartuenu na stenu.)

  I am hanging the picture on the wall. (This example shows the verb in a simple present tense for ongoing action.)

• Он повесил лампу в гостиной. (On povesil lampu v gostinoi.)

  He hung the lamp in the living room. (Illustrates past tense use in a completed action.)

• Дети вешают гирлянды на елку. (Deti veshayut girlyandy na elku.)

  The children are hanging garlands on the Christmas tree. (Demonstrates plural subject and festive context.)

• Не вешай одежду на стул, используй вешалку. (Ne veshay odezhdu na stul, ispol'zuy veshalku.)

  Don't hang the clothes on the chair; use the hanger. (Shows imperative form for giving instructions.)

Meaning 2: To execute by hanging or to be in a suspended state (e.g., metaphorical or literal death penalty).

Translation(s) & Context:

• повесить - Often used in historical or legal contexts; can be metaphorical for severe consequences.
• висеть - Refers to the state, e.g., in descriptions of objects or situations.

Usage Examples:

• В истории России повесили многих преступников. (V istorii Rossii povesili mnogikh prestupnikov.)

  In Russian history, many criminals were hanged. (This highlights historical usage in a past tense narrative.)

• Флаг висит на флагштоке. (Flag viset na flagshoke.)

  The flag is hanging on the flagpole. (Shows the static state in present tense.)

• Его повесили за измену. (Yego povesili za izmenu.)

  He was hanged for treason. (Illustrates a formal, historical context with direct object.)

• Не дай висеть этому делу слишком долго. (Ne dai viset' etomu delu sliʂkom dolgo.)

  Don't let this matter hang for too long. (Metaphorical use in imperative form.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily verbs, which undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number in Russian. Russian verbs have imperfective and perfective aspects; for example, 'вешать' is imperfective (ongoing action), while 'повесить' is perfective (completed action). 'висеть' is also imperfective and intransitive.

Note: These verbs are regular in most aspects but follow standard Russian conjugation patterns. 'висеть' does not change in the infinitive form and is intransitive, meaning it doesn't take a direct object.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Подвешивать (podveshivat') - Similar to вешать, but more formal for temporary suspension.
  • Зависеть (zaviset') - For digital or dependent hanging, like in computing contexts; slight nuance for reliance.
• Antonyms:
  • Снимать (snimat') - To remove or take down.
  • Откреплять (otkreplyat') - To detach or unfasten.

Related Phrases:

• Вешать нос (Veshat' nos) - To be downcast or depressed; literally "to hang one's nose." (Used in informal expressions for emotional states.)
• Повесить замок (Povesit' zamok) - To put a lock on something; literally "to hang a lock." (Common in security contexts.)
• Висеть на волоске (Viset' na voloske) - To hang by a thread; idiomatic for a precarious situation. (Often used in dramatic narratives.)

Usage Notes:

The English word "hang" corresponds closely to Russian verbs like вешать and повесить, but users should note the aspect system: use imperfective (e.g., вешать) for ongoing actions and perfective (e.g., повесить) for completed ones. In formal writing, повесить is preferred for execution contexts due to its precision. Be cautious with context—висеть is for states, not actions. When choosing between translations, consider the sentence's tense and formality to avoid awkwardness.

• In informal speech, вешать is versatile but can sound casual.
• Grammar tip: Always conjugate based on gender and number in past tense (e.g., вешал for masculine, вешала for feminine).

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse the aspects: for example, using вешать when повесить is needed for a completed action, resulting in "Я вешать картину" (incorrect) instead of "Я повесил картину" (correct). Another error is mispronouncing the 'ш' in вешать as a simple 's' sound, which can make it sound like "vesat'" instead of [vʲɪˈʂatʲ]. To fix this, practice the retroflex sound and remember to select the appropriate aspect based on context.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like "висеть на волоске" reflect a historical fatalism influenced by events such as wars and revolutions, where precarious situations were common. Additionally, вешать is often associated with everyday life in Russian households, emphasizing practicality in a culture that values resourcefulness.

Related Concepts:

• Крючок (kryuchok) - Hook
• Вешалка (veshalka) - Hanger
• Подвесной (podvesnoy) - Suspended