Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'ignite'

English Word: ignite

Key Russian Translations:

• зажечь [zɐˈʐɛtɕ] - [Formal, used for literal ignition like fire or engines]
• разжечь [rɐˈʐɛtɕ] - [Informal, often used for igniting emotions or larger fires]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday contexts like fire-starting or metaphorical expressions, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "to go")

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugation and context, as the verb form changes based on aspect and tense. For "зажечь", it's imperfective, while "разжечь" can be perfective.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

зажечь: [zɐˈʐɛtɕ]

Note on зажечь: The 'ж' sound is a voiced palatal fricative, similar to the 's' in "measure" in English, but more guttural. Stress falls on the second syllable, and the verb often undergoes palatalization in certain forms.

разжечь: [rɐˈʐɛtɕ]

Note on разжечь: Similar to "зажечь", with a rolled 'р' at the beginning. This is a perfective aspect, making it trickier for learners due to aspectual nuances.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To set fire to something or start a flame (literal usage).

Translation(s) & Context:

• зажечь - Used in everyday contexts like lighting a match or a campfire; formal and precise for ignition processes.
• разжечь - Applied to building up a fire or intensifying it; informal and dynamic, often in outdoor or survival scenarios.

Usage Examples:

• Он зажёг спичку, чтобы осветить тёмную комнату.

  He ignited the match to light up the dark room.

• Дети разожгли костёр на пикнике, чтобы приготовить еду.

  The children ignited a bonfire at the picnic to cook food.

• Ветер зажёг искры от костра, и они разлетелись по лесу.

  The wind ignited sparks from the fire, and they spread through the forest.

• Она зажгла газовую плиту для ужина.

  She ignited the gas stove for dinner.

Meaning 2: To spark or arouse interest, passion, or conflict (metaphorical usage).

Translation(s) & Context:

• разжечь - Common for igniting emotions, debates, or enthusiasm; used in figurative speech like in literature or speeches.
• зажечь - Less common here, but can imply starting something new, like igniting a movement.

Usage Examples:

• Его речь разожгла интерес к политике среди молодёжи.

  His speech ignited interest in politics among the youth.

• Книга зажгла в ней страсть к путешествиям.

  The book ignited a passion for travel in her.

• Спор разжёг конфликт между друзьями.

  The argument ignited a conflict between friends.

• Музыка зажгла толпу на концерте.

  The music ignited the crowd at the concert.

• Идея разожгла дебаты в зале.

  The idea ignited debates in the hall.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "зажечь" and "разжечь" are verbs in Russian, belonging to the first conjugation with imperfective and perfective aspects. "Зажечь" is imperfective (ongoing action), while "разжечь" is perfective (completed action). Russian verbs change based on tense, person, number, and aspect. Below is a table for key inflections:

These verbs are not completely irregular but follow standard patterns with palatalization (e.g., 'г' changes to 'ж'). If the verb is used with objects, it may require accusative case.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • воспламенить - More formal, used for chemical or intense ignition.
  • заставить загореться - Literal and descriptive, often for emotional contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • погасить - To extinguish or put out a fire.
  • остудить - To cool down, especially in metaphorical senses like calming emotions.

Related Phrases:

• зажечь огонь - To light a fire; used in camping or survival contexts.
• разжечь спор - To ignite an argument; common in social or political discussions.
• зажечь сердце - To ignite the heart (metaphorically, to inspire love or passion); a poetic expression.

Usage Notes:

Russian translations of "ignite" depend heavily on context: use "зажечь" for ongoing or literal fire-starting, and "разжечь" for completed or intensified actions. English speakers often confuse aspect (imperfective vs. perfective), so choose based on whether the action is habitual or one-time. In formal writing, prefer "воспламенить" for scientific contexts. Be mindful of gender agreement in past tense forms, as Russian verbs change based on the subject's gender.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "зажечь" in a perfective context, e.g., saying "Я зажёг огонь" when meaning a completed action. Correct: "Я разжёг огонь". Explanation: English speakers might overlook Russian's aspect system, leading to tense mismatches; always specify if the ignition is finished.

• Error: Forgetting palatalization, e.g., saying "зажег" instead of "зажёг" in past tense. Correct: "зажёг". Explanation: The 'е' after 'ж' indicates proper pronunciation and spelling changes, which can trip up learners from non-Slavic languages.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like "зажечь огонь" often evoke traditions such as lighting bonfires during festivals like Maslenitsa (Pancake Week), symbolizing the end of winter. Metaphorically, "igniting" ideas can reference revolutionary history, like the 1917 Revolution, where sparks of change led to major upheavals.

Related Concepts:

• огонь (fire)
• искра (spark)
• воспламенение (ignition, in a scientific sense)