Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'hydrate'

English Word: hydrate

Key Russian Translations:

• гидратировать [ɡɪdrə'tɪrəvətʲ] - [Formal, Scientific]
• увлажнять [ʊvlaʐ'ɲatʲ] - [Informal, Everyday]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in scientific and health contexts, but less frequent in casual conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and context-specific vocabulary)

Pronunciation (Russian):

гидратировать: [ɡɪdrə'tɪrəvətʲ]

увлажнять: [ʊvlaʐ'ɲatʲ]

Note on гидратировать: The stress falls on the third syllable ('ti'), which is a common challenge for English speakers due to the Russian palatalization.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To add water to something, especially in a chemical or scientific context (e.g., forming a hydrate compound)

Translation(s) & Context:

• гидратировать - Used in formal, technical settings like chemistry or biology; implies a precise chemical process.

Usage Examples:

• В лаборатории мы гидратируем соли для получения стабильных соединений.

  In the laboratory, we hydrate the salts to obtain stable compounds.

• Химик гидратировал образец, чтобы предотвратить его разрушение.

  The chemist hydrated the sample to prevent its degradation.

• Для эксперимента необходимо гидратировать кристаллы в контролируемой среде.

  For the experiment, it is necessary to hydrate the crystals in a controlled environment.

• Гидратировать вещества – ключевой шаг в процессе синтеза.

  Hydrating substances is a key step in the synthesis process.

Meaning 2: To moisturize or add moisture, in a general or everyday context (e.g., for skin or air)

Translation(s) & Context:

• увлажнять - Used in informal, daily situations like personal care or environmental contexts; more accessible and less technical.

Usage Examples:

• Каждое утро я увлажняю кожу кремом, чтобы она оставалась мягкой.

  Every morning, I hydrate my skin with cream to keep it soft.

• В сухом климате полезно увлажнять воздух с помощью увлажнителя.

  In a dry climate, it's useful to hydrate the air using a humidifier.

• После тренировки всегда увлажняйте тело, чтобы избежать обезвоживания.

  After a workout, always hydrate your body to avoid dehydration.

• Увлажнять растения – важная часть ухода за садом в жару.

  Hydrating plants is an essential part of garden care in the heat.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are verbs, so they follow Russian verb conjugation patterns. "Гидратировать" is a first-conjugation verb (infinitive ends in -овать), while "увлажнять" is also first-conjugation (ends in -ять). They exhibit regular patterns but can have irregularities in aspects and tenses.

Note: These verbs do not change based on gender or number in the infinitive form but conjugate fully in tenses. If used in perfective form, "гидратировать" might pair with an imperfective like "увлажнять" for ongoing actions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: увлажнить (a perfective form of увлажнять, used for completed actions), мочить (more literal, for wetting)
• увлажнять can be synonymous with орошать in agricultural contexts, implying a slight difference in intensity.
• Antonyms: обезвоживать (to dehydrate), высыхать (to dry out)

Related Phrases:

• Гидратированный комплекс - A hydrated complex; refers to chemical compounds in scientific contexts.
• Увлажнять кожу - To hydrate the skin; common in beauty and health routines, often implying daily care.
• Гидратировать организм - To hydrate the body; used in fitness or medical advice to mean drinking water.

Usage Notes:

Choose "гидратировать" for precise, scientific scenarios where the process involves chemical bonding, as it directly mirrors the English term in technical fields. "Увлажнять" is more versatile for everyday use, such as in personal care, and is less formal. Be mindful of aspect in Russian: use imperfective forms like "увлажнять" for ongoing actions and perfective forms for completed ones. In general conversation, "увлажнять" aligns better with informal English usage of "hydrate," while "гидратировать" is reserved for academic or professional settings.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "гидратировать" in everyday contexts, e.g., saying "Я гидратирую кожу" instead of "Я увлажняю кожу." Correct: "увлажняю" is more natural for non-technical hydration; explanation: "гидратировать" sounds overly scientific and may confuse listeners.
• Mistake: Forgetting verb aspects, e.g., using "гидратировать" without specifying if it's ongoing or completed, leading to "Я гидратирую воду" (incorrect structure). Correct: Pair with appropriate tense, like "Я увлажняю воздух"; explanation: Russian verbs require aspect agreement for clarity.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, hydration concepts like "увлажнять" are prominent in health and wellness discussions, especially in the context of harsh winters where skin and air moisture is vital. Terms like "гидратировать" reflect Russia's strong emphasis on scientific education, stemming from its history in chemistry and space exploration, where hydration plays a role in experiments and daily life.

Related Concepts:

• Дегидратация
• Орошение
• Влажность