Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'hurtle'

English Word: hurtle

Key Russian Translations:

• мчаться [mʧætsʲjə] - [Informal, used for rapid, uncontrolled movement]
• лететь [lʲetʲetʲ] - [Informal, often implies speed like flying or rushing through air]
• ринуться [rʲinutʲsʲjə] - [Formal, suggests a sudden, forceful dash]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday language, especially in descriptive narratives or news, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "идти").

Difficulty: B2 (Upper-Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugation and context-specific usage; variations in intensity make it challenging for learners).

Pronunciation (Russian):

мчаться: [mʧætsʲjə]

лететь: [lʲetʲetʲ]

ринуться: [rʲinutʲsʲjə]

Note on мчаться: The initial "мч" sound is a soft, palatalized cluster; be careful with the "ч" which is like the "ch" in "church," and it often softens in rapid speech.

Note on лететь: Stress on the first syllable; the "е" can vary slightly in informal speech, sounding more like "yeh."

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: To move or rush rapidly and often uncontrollably.

Translation(s) & Context:

• мчаться - Used in informal contexts for everyday rapid movement, such as vehicles or people in action scenes.
• лететь - Applied when the movement feels airborne or extremely fast, like in sports or accidents.
• ринуться - Employed in more formal or dramatic contexts, implying a sudden charge or attack.

Usage Examples:

• Машина мчалась по шоссе, не соблюдая скоростной режим.

  The car hurtled down the highway, ignoring the speed limit.

• Он летел к цели, не замечая препятствий на пути.

  He hurtled toward the goal, oblivious to the obstacles in his way.

• Толпа ринулась вперед, когда открылись двери стадиона.

  The crowd hurtled forward when the stadium doors opened.

• Ветер мчался через поле, срывая листья с деревьев.

  The wind hurtled across the field, tearing leaves from the trees.

• Самолет летел над горами, оставляя след в небе.

  The plane hurtled over the mountains, leaving a trail in the sky.

Secondary Meaning: To collide or crash with force (less common, metaphorical use).

Translation(s) & Context:

• ринуться - In contexts involving impact or sudden force, often in literary or news descriptions.
• мчаться - If implying a lead-up to collision, in informal storytelling.

Usage Examples:

• Мяч ринулся в ворота с огромной скоростью.

  The ball hurtled into the goal with tremendous speed.

• Автомобиль мчался прямо в стену, вызывая аварию.

  The car hurtled straight into the wall, causing an accident.

• Волна ринулась на берег, разбиваясь о скалы.

  The wave hurtled onto the shore, crashing against the rocks.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily verbs, which in Russian undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. "Мчаться" and "лететь" are imperfective verbs, while "ринуться" is perfective. Russian verbs have imperfective and perfective aspects, and they inflect irregularly in some cases.

Note: These verbs are invariable in terms of gender for infinitive forms but change in past tense based on the subject. For example, "мчаться" is irregular in its consonant clusters.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Неситься (implies steady, fast movement; less intense than мчаться)
  • Бежать (to run quickly; more general for human movement)
  • Промчаться (perfective form of мчаться; for completed action)
• Antonyms:
  • Ползти (to crawl slowly)
  • Стоять (to stand still)

Related Phrases:

• Мчаться сломя голову - Literally: To hurtle headlong; English equivalent: To rush headfirst without thinking; Used for reckless speed.
• Лететь как ветер - Literally: To fly like the wind; English equivalent: To move at lightning speed; Often in poetic or descriptive contexts.
• Ринуться в бой - Literally: To hurtle into battle; English equivalent: To charge into combat; Common in military or metaphorical scenarios.

Usage Notes:

"Hurtle" corresponds most closely to "мчаться" in Russian for everyday rapid movement, but choose based on context: use "лететь" for aerial or fluid motion, and "ринуться" for sudden, forceful actions. These verbs are aspect-sensitive; pair with perfective forms (e.g., "промчаться") for completed actions. Be mindful of formality: "ринуться" suits formal writing, while "мчаться" is conversational. In sentences, they often require prepositions like "по" (along) or "к" (towards) for direction.

• Avoid direct word-for-word translation; adapt to Russian syntax for natural flow.
• When learning, focus on aspect differences to avoid confusion with English's simpler tense system.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse aspect: for example, saying "Я мчусь вчера" (incorrect, as "мчаться" is imperfective and needs proper tense), instead of the correct "Я мчался вчера" (I was hurtling yesterday). Error: Using "лететь" for ground-based movement, e.g., "Я лечу по улице" (implies flying, which is wrong); Correct: "Я мчусь по улице." Explanation: Russian verbs have specific connotations, so match the context to avoid literal misinterpretations.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian literature and media, verbs like "мчаться" often evoke themes of urgency or chaos, as seen in works by Tolstoy or in modern action films. They reflect Russia's vast landscapes and historical emphasis on rapid travel, such as in train journeys across Siberia, symbolizing both adventure and peril.

Related Concepts:

• Бежать
• Полет
• Скорость