Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'hearken'

English Word: hearken

Key Russian Translations:

• внимать [vnímat'] - [Formal, Literary]
• прислушиваться [prislúšivatsya] - [Informal, Often used in everyday contexts requiring careful attention]

Frequency: Low (This word and its translations are not commonly used in daily conversation; they appear more in formal, literary, or archaic contexts.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for both translations, as they involve understanding verb conjugations and nuanced usage in Russian; learners should be familiar with imperfective aspects and formal registers.

Pronunciation (Russian):

внимать: [vnímat']

Note on внимать: The stress falls on the first syllable ("vní-"), and the verb has a soft consonant sound in "мать." This word is often pronounced with a deliberate, emphatic tone in formal speech.

Audio: []

прислушиваться: [prislúšivatsya]

Note on прислушиваться: The stress is on the second syllable ("slúš-"), and it involves a reflexive ending ("-sya"), which can be tricky for beginners as it indicates an inward focus. Pronunciation may vary slightly in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To listen attentively or pay close attention

Translation(s) & Context:

• внимать - Used in formal, literary, or poetic contexts to convey deep, focused listening, often implying intellectual or emotional engagement. Context: Formal speeches or historical texts.
• прислушиваться - Employed in informal or everyday situations for actively tuning in, such as eavesdropping or concentrating on sounds. Context: Daily conversations or narratives involving caution.

Usage Examples:

• Он внимательно внимал словам мудреца, чтобы понять скрытый смысл.

  He hearkened to the wise man's words to grasp the hidden meaning.

• В тишине ночи она прислушивалась к шорохам в саду.

  In the quiet of the night, she hearkened to the rustles in the garden.

• Дети учились внимать учителю, чтобы не пропустить важные детали урока.

  The children learned to hearken to the teacher so as not to miss important lesson details.

• Во время встречи, он прислушивался к каждому тону в голосе собеседника.

  During the meeting, he hearkened to every tone in his interlocutor's voice.

• Писатель заставлял читателей внимать описаниям природы в своем романе.

  The writer made readers hearken to the descriptions of nature in his novel.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "внимать" and "прислушиваться" are imperfective verbs in Russian, which means they describe ongoing or repeated actions. Russian verbs change based on tense, aspect, person, number, and gender. Below are tables for their key inflections. Note that "внимать" is less commonly used and follows standard conjugation patterns, while "прислушиваться" is reflexive and includes the "-sya" particle.

For "внимать" (Imperfective, 1st conjugation):

Note: This verb is somewhat archaic and does not have perfective counterparts in common use.

For "прислушиваться" (Imperfective, reflexive):

This verb is more flexible and commonly used; the reflexive particle "-sya" remains constant across forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • слушать (slushat' ) - More general, everyday listening; less formal than внимать.
  • вслушиваться (vslushivat'sya) - Implies deep concentration, similar to прислушиваться but with a focus on sounds.
• Antonyms:
  • игнорировать (ignorírovat') - Means to ignore completely.
  • не замечать (ne zaméčat') - Means to not notice or overlook.

Related Phrases:

• внимательно слушать - Literally "to listen attentively"; used for careful hearing in educational or professional settings. (English: Equivalent to "to pay close attention.")
• прислушиваться к голосу разума - Literally "to hearken to the voice of reason"; an idiomatic phrase for considering logical advice. (English: To listen to one's better judgment.)
• внимать предупреждениям - Literally "to hearken to warnings"; common in safety or advisory contexts. (English: To take heed of cautions.)

Usage Notes:

"Hearken" corresponds most closely to "внимать" in formal or literary Russian, where a sense of archaic or poetic attention is needed, much like in English literature. Use "прислушиваться" for more practical, everyday scenarios. Be mindful of register: "внимать" is rarely used in spoken language and may sound overly dramatic, while "прислушиваться" fits informal dialogues. Grammatically, both are imperfective verbs, so they pair well with ongoing actions; for completed actions, consider perfective alternatives like "послушать" (poslushat'). When choosing between translations, opt for "внимать" in written or elevated speech and "прислушиваться" in narrative descriptions.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "внимать" with "слушать": Learners often use "слушать" (to listen) interchangeably, but it lacks the attentive connotation. Error: "Он слушал речь" (implying casual listening). Correct: "Он внимал речи" (for focused attention). Explanation: "Слушать" is neutral; add adverbs like "внимательно" to approximate "hearken."
• Omitting the reflexive particle in "прислушиваться": Non-native speakers might say "прислушивать" (incorrect form). Error: "Я прислюшивать к шуму." Correct: "Я прислушиваюсь к шуму." Explanation: The "-sya" is essential for reflexivity, indicating self-directed action.
• Overusing in informal contexts: Mistakenly using "внимать" in casual speech, e.g., "Я внимал другу" instead of "Я прислушивался к другу." Explanation: This sounds unnatural; stick to "прислушиваться" for everyday use to avoid sounding pretentious.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "внимать" evoke a sense of historical and literary tradition, often found in classic works by authors like Pushkin or Tolstoy, where attentive listening symbolizes wisdom or introspection. "Прислушиваться" might appear in folklore or modern stories involving caution, such as in fairy tales where characters must "hearken" to warnings from nature or elders, reflecting Russia's emphasis on communal and environmental awareness.

Related Concepts:

• слух (slukh) - Hearing or rumor.
• воспринимать (vosprinyát') - To perceive.
• наблюдательность (nabljudátel'nost') - Observance or attentiveness.