Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'hum'

English Word: hum

Key Russian Translations:

• гудеть [guˈdʲetʲ] - [Verb, Informal, Used for steady, low sounds like machines or engines]
• гул [guɫ] - [Noun, Singular, Used for a continuous, low humming sound]
• мурлыкать [muɾlɨˈkatʲ] - [Verb, Informal, Used specifically for humming a tune or purring like a cat]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday descriptions of sounds, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "say")

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian verb conjugations and noun declensions; for "гудеть" as a verb, it's B1, while "гул" as a noun is A2)

Pronunciation (Russian):

гудеть: [guˈdʲetʲ]

гул: [guɫ]

мурлыкать: [muɾlɨˈkatʲ]

Note on гудеть: The stress falls on the second syllable ("dʲetʲ"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft "d" sound; it often varies in informal speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To produce a steady, low-pitched sound, often like an engine or insect (Verb form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• гудеть - Used in contexts involving mechanical or natural sounds, such as engines or crowds; informal and common in daily conversation.
• мурлыкать - Used for softer, melodic humming, like singing a tune quietly; often in casual or affectionate settings.

Usage Examples:

• Мотор гудит, но не слишком громко.

  The engine hums, but not too loudly. (Shows "гудеть" in a mechanical context.)

• Пчела гудит над цветком в саду.

  The bee hums over the flower in the garden. (Illustrates use with insects, emphasizing ongoing action.)

• Она мурлыкает свою любимую мелодию, пока готовит ужин.

  She hums her favorite tune while preparing dinner. (Demonstrates "мурлыкать" in a personal, everyday scenario.)

• Ветер гудит в окнах ночью.

  The wind hums through the windows at night. (Highlights environmental use with "гудеть".)

Meaning 2: A continuous, low sound, like buzzing or droning (Noun form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• гул - Used for ambient or background noises, such as from crowds or machinery; neutral and descriptive in various contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Гул города не дает мне спать.

  The hum of the city keeps me from sleeping. (Shows "гул" in an urban setting, describing ongoing noise.)

• Я слышу гул пчел в улье.

  I hear the hum of bees in the hive. (Illustrates natural sound contexts.)

• Гул мотора успокаивает во время поездки.

  The hum of the engine is soothing during the trip. (Emphasizes mechanical association.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

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

For "гул" (noun, masculine, inanimate): This is a third-declension noun with regular declensions. It is invariable in plural for some cases but follows standard patterns:

For "мурлыкать" (verb): Similar to "гудеть," it is a first-conjugation verb with regular inflections; no major irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: жужжать (zhuzhzhat' - similar to buzzing, often for insects; more high-pitched than гудеть), мумить (mumit' - to mutter or hum quietly)
• Antonyms: молчать (molchat' - to be silent), замолкать (zamolkat' - to become quiet)

Related Phrases:

• Гудеть как улей - The hum of a beehive (Refers to a busy, noisy environment, often metaphorically for crowds.)
• Мурлыкать под нос - To hum under one's breath (Used for casual, introspective humming, like while working.)
• Гул толпы - The hum of the crowd (Describes the background noise in social gatherings.)

Usage Notes:

"Гудеть" is the most direct translation for "hum" as a verb in contexts involving mechanical or environmental sounds, but it doesn't perfectly match the melodic connotation of humming a tune—use "мурлыкать" for that. "Гул" as a noun is neutral and works well for ambient noises. Be mindful of context: in formal Russian, opt for more precise verbs, and remember that Russian verbs often require aspect (imperfective like гудеть vs. perfective like загудеть). When choosing between translations, select based on the sound's nature—e.g., "гудеть" for low drones and "мурлыкать" for tunes.

Common Errors:

• English speakers often misuse "гудеть" by applying it to melodic humming; instead, use "мурлыкать." Error example: *Она гудит песню* (incorrect, implies a mechanical sound). Correct: Она мурлыкает песню (She hums the song). Explanation: "Гудеть" lacks the musical nuance.

• Confusing declensions of "гул," such as using the wrong case in sentences. Error example: *Я слушаю гул* (if context requires genitive). Correct: Я слушаю гула (I am listening to the hum). Explanation: Always match the noun's case to the sentence structure.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "гул" often appears in literature to evoke the vastness of nature or urban life, as in works by Tolstoy, where it symbolizes the relentless flow of society. "Мурлыкать" can carry a cozy, domestic connotation, like a cat purring, reflecting Russia's affection for animals in folklore.

Related Concepts:

• шум (shum - noise)
• звук (zvuk - sound)
• жужжание (zhuzhzanie - buzzing)