Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'hunker'

English Word: hunker

Key Russian Translations:

• присесть /prʲɪˈsʲetʲ/ - [Informal, often used for squatting or crouching in everyday contexts]
• пригнуться /prʲɪɡˈnutʲsʲə/ - [Informal, specifically for ducking down or hunching for protection]

Frequency: Low (Not commonly used in everyday Russian conversation, but appears in descriptive narratives or outdoor scenarios)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and perfective aspects, but straightforward for learners familiar with basic motion verbs)

Pronunciation (Russian):

присесть: /prʲɪˈsʲetʲ/ (The 'р' is rolled, and the stress is on the second syllable; common in casual speech)

пригнуться: /prʲɪɡˈnutʲsʲə/ (Soft 'г' sound; stress on the second syllable, with a quick reflexive ending)

Note on приседать (imperfective form of приседать): This verb has palatalization in the initial consonant, which can be tricky for English speakers; practice the 'с' sound as soft.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary meaning: To squat down low, often for hiding, resting, or waiting.

Translation(s) & Context:

• присесть - Used in informal, everyday situations, such as outdoors or in action scenes, to describe lowering oneself quickly.
• пригнуться - Applied in contexts involving sudden movement for safety, like in stories or games, emphasizing protection from danger.

Usage Examples:

• Он присел за деревом, чтобы спрятаться от дождя.

  He hunkered down behind the tree to hide from the rain.

• Дети присели в саду, наблюдая за птицами.

  The children hunkered down in the garden, watching the birds.

• Она присела у костра, грея руки в холодную ночь.

  She hunkered down by the fire, warming her hands on a cold night.

• Пригнувшись, он пробрался через кусты.

  Hunkering down, he made his way through the bushes.

• Ветер был сильным, так что все пригнулись, чтобы не упасть.

  The wind was strong, so everyone hunkered down to avoid falling.

Secondary meaning: To hunker down metaphorically, meaning to settle in or endure (e.g., during a storm or hardship).

Translation(s) & Context:

• присесть - In figurative use, for enduring patiently in informal settings.
• затаиться - A related term for metaphorical hiding or waiting out a situation.

Usage Examples:

• Во время бури семья присела в доме, ожидая улучшения погоды.

  During the storm, the family hunkered down at home, waiting for the weather to improve.

• Затаившись, солдаты переждали опасность.

  Hunkering down, the soldiers waited out the danger.

• Он присел за работой, игнорируя отвлечения.

  He hunkered down on his work, ignoring distractions.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'присесть' and 'пригнуться' are perfective verbs in Russian, meaning they describe completed actions. They have imperfective counterparts: 'приседать' for 'присесть' and 'пригибаться' for 'пригнуться'. Russian verbs inflect based on tense, aspect, person, and number.

For 'присесть' (perfective):

For 'пригнуться', it follows a similar pattern but is less regular due to its reflexive ending; it remains unchanged in infinitive form but conjugates like other verbs.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • сесть на корточки (to sit on one's haunches; more literal and descriptive)
  • скорчиться (to curl up; used for tighter, more compact positioning)
  • пригнуться (as above, but with a protective connotation; slight difference in implying speed)
• Antonyms:
  • встать (to stand up; direct opposite, implying rising from a crouched position)
  • выпрямиться (to straighten up; emphasizes returning to an upright posture)

Related Phrases:

• Присесть в укрытие - To hunker down in shelter; used in survival or military contexts, meaning to take cover quickly.
• Затаиться и ждать - To hunker down and wait; a phrase for patiently enduring a situation, often in storytelling.
• Пригнуться от удара - To duck or hunker from a blow; implies evading physical threat.

Usage Notes:

Hunker corresponds most closely to 'присесть' in Russian for physical squatting, but choose 'пригнуться' if the context involves protection or sudden movement. These verbs are informal and common in spoken language, but avoid them in formal writing. Note the perfective aspect: use for completed actions (e.g., "he hunkered down" vs. ongoing with imperfective). When translating, consider the scenario—outdoors or metaphorical—to select the best fit.

• Grammar tip: Always pair with appropriate prepositions, like "за" (behind) for hiding.
• Context guidance: In Russian, these words often appear in narratives or instructions, differing from English's more casual use.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse the perfective and imperfective forms, e.g., using 'присесть' for ongoing actions instead of 'приседать'. Incorrect: "Я присел целый час" (implies a completed action, but should be 'приседал' for duration). Correct: "Я приседал целый час" – This means "I was squatting for an hour." Another error is mispronouncing the soft consonants, like hardening the 'с' in 'присесть', which can make it sound unnatural; practice with native audio to soften it.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like 'присесть' or 'пригнуться' often appear in literature and folklore, such as in stories by Tolstoy, where characters hunker down during harsh winters or battles. This reflects Russia's historical context of endurance against natural elements, emphasizing resilience and practicality in everyday life.

Related Concepts:

• затаиться
• укрыться
• скорчиться