Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'hobble'

English Word: hobble

Key Russian Translations:

• ковылять [kɐˈvɨlʲɪtʲ] - [Verb, Informal, often used in everyday contexts]
• хомут [ˈxomʊt] - [Noun, Formal, refers to a restraining device]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature and conversation, but not everyday basics)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and noun declensions for accurate use)

Pronunciation (Russian):

ковылять: [kɐˈvɨlʲɪtʲ]

хомут: [ˈxomʊt]

Note on ковылять: The stress is on the second syllable; be careful with the soft 'л' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers.

Note on хомут: Pronounced with a guttural 'х' at the beginning, similar to the Scottish 'ch' in "loch".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To walk unsteadily or with a limp (Verb)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ковылять - Used in informal settings to describe someone moving with difficulty, such as after an injury.

Usage Examples:

• Он ковыляет по улице после падения.

  He is hobbling down the street after the fall.

• Старик ковыляет в парк каждое утро.

  The old man hobbles to the park every morning.

• После операции она ковыляет, опираясь на палку.

  After the surgery, she is hobbling, leaning on a cane.

• Дети ковыляют, подражая хромому животному.

  The children are hobbling, imitating a lame animal.

Meaning 2: A device to restrain an animal's legs (Noun)

Translation(s) & Context:

• хомут - Used in formal or agricultural contexts to refer to a harness or restraint for animals.

Usage Examples:

• Крестьянин использовал хомут, чтобы лошадь не убегала.

  The farmer used a hobble to keep the horse from running away.

• В музее выставлен старинный хомут для скота.

  In the museum, there is an old hobble for livestock on display.

• Хомут на ногах лошади предотвращает внезапные движения.

  The hobble on the horse's legs prevents sudden movements.

• В походе они использовали хомут для верблюда.

  On the expedition, they used a hobble for the camel.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For ковылять (verb, imperfective): This is a first-conjugation verb with regular inflections. It changes based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Below is a basic conjugation table for present tense:

It has an imperfective aspect; the perfective form is "ковылять" in some contexts, but often paired with prefixes like "по-".

For хомут (noun, masculine, inanimate): This is a third-declension noun with regular declensions. It changes by case and number as follows:

This noun does not have irregular forms, making it straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • хромать (khromat') - Similar to ковылять but often implies a more permanent limp; used in medical contexts.
  • шататься (shatatsya) - For unsteady walking, but less specific to limping.
• Antonyms:
  • бежать (bежать) - To run smoothly.
  • идти ровно (idti rvno) - To walk steadily.

Related Phrases:

• ковылять домой - [To hobble home; used for describing someone returning unsteadily after fatigue or injury.]
• надеть хомут - [To put on a hobble; refers to restraining an animal, often in rural or equestrian contexts.]
• хомут на ногах - [Hobble on the legs; a phrase for animal control in traditional farming.]

Usage Notes:

кoвылять is the most direct translation for the verb "to hobble" and is commonly used in informal Russian to describe impaired movement, similar to English. However, it carries a connotation of effort or pain, so use it in contexts involving injury or exhaustion. For the noun, хомут specifically relates to animal restraints and is more formal, often in agricultural settings. English speakers should note that Russian verbs like ковылять require aspect consideration (imperfective here), and choose based on whether the action is ongoing. When multiple translations exist, opt for ковылять in everyday scenarios and хомут for literal devices.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Confusing ковылять with хромать and using it interchangeably without context. Correct: Use ковылять for general limping; хромать for a chronic condition. Example: Incorrect: "Он хромает после прогулки" (if it's temporary); Correct: "Он ковыляет после прогулки".
• Mistake: Forgetting to conjugate ковылять properly in sentences. Correct: Always match the verb to the subject, e.g., "Я ковыляю" instead of "Я ковылять".

Cultural Notes:

хомут has historical roots in Russian rural life, often associated with traditional farming and horse-drawn transport in pre-industrial Russia. It symbolizes restraint and control, sometimes metaphorically used in literature to represent oppression, as seen in works by Tolstoy, reflecting themes of serfdom and agrarian society.

Related Concepts:

• хромота (khromota) - Lameness
• узда (uzda) - Bridle or restraint
• ковыляние (kovylyanie) - The act of hobbling