Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'impale'

English Word: impale

Key Russian Translations:

• проткнуть [prɐtʲ'knutʲ] - [Formal, often used in literary or violent contexts]
• насаживать [nəsɐ'ʐdatʲ] - [Informal, implies repeated action or historical punishment]

Frequency: Low (This word is not commonly used in everyday conversation; it's more prevalent in literature, history, or news about violence.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate, as it involves understanding verb conjugations and contextual nuances; for 'проткнуть', it's B2, while 'насаживать' might lean towards B1 due to its imperfective aspect.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

проткнуть: [prɐtʲ'knutʲ]

Note on проткнуть: The 'т' is palatalized, making it sound like 'tʲ', which can be tricky for English speakers; stress falls on the second syllable. This is a perfective verb form.

насаживать: [nəsɐ'ʐdatʲ]

Note on насаживать: The 'ж' sound is soft and voiced; this is an imperfective verb, indicating ongoing action. Pronunciation may vary slightly in regional dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To pierce or transfix with a pointed object (e.g., a stake or spear)

Translation(s) & Context:

• проткнуть - Used in contexts involving sudden, violent penetration, such as in battles or accidents; common in formal writing or historical descriptions.
• насаживать - Applied to repeated or ongoing actions, like in torture or historical executions; often informal and vivid in narrative.

Usage Examples:

• Врага проткнули копьем во время битвы. (The enemy was impaled with a spear during the battle.)

  The enemy was impaled with a spear during the battle. (Shows use in a historical or action context.)

• Охотник насадил рыбу на крючок. (The hunter impaled the fish on the hook.)

  The hunter impaled the fish on the hook. (Illustrates a practical, everyday scenario with an imperfective verb.)

• В древние времена преступников протыкали на виду у толпы. (In ancient times, criminals were impaled in front of the crowd.)

  In ancient times, criminals were impaled in front of the crowd. (Demonstrates historical usage with 'проткнуть' for a perfective action.)

• Солдаты насаджали штыки на ружья перед атакой. (The soldiers impaled bayonets on their rifles before the attack.)

  The soldiers impaled bayonets on their rifles before the attack. (Highlights military context with 'насаживать'.)

• Дитя случайно проткнуло палец шипом розы. (The child accidentally impaled their finger on a rose thorn.)

  The child accidentally impaled their finger on a rose thorn. (Shows accidental, everyday use of 'проткнуть'.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'проткнуть' and 'насаживать' are verbs, so they follow Russian conjugation patterns. 'Проткнуть' is a perfective verb (indicating completed action), while 'насаживать' is imperfective (indicating ongoing action). Russian verbs change based on tense, aspect, person, and number.

Note: These verbs do not have irregular inflections but follow standard patterns. 'Проткнуть' pairs with 'протыкать' for imperfective forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: протыкать (similar but imperfective, used for repeated actions), колоть (to stab or prick, with a focus on sharpness)
• Antonyms: исцелять (to heal, opposite in context of injury)

Related Phrases:

• насаживать на кол - To impale on a stake; This phrase refers to a historical method of execution, often in contexts of ancient punishments.
• протыкать насквозь - To pierce through; Used for describing complete penetration in dramatic or literal scenarios.

Usage Notes:

'Impale' translates most accurately to 'проткнуть' for one-time actions and 'насаживать' for ongoing ones, but choose based on aspect to match English intent. In Russian, these verbs are more formal and are rarely used in casual speech; prefer them in literary, historical, or descriptive contexts. Be mindful of the violent connotations, which may carry emotional weight in Russian culture. When conjugating, ensure the aspect aligns with the sentence's timeframe.

• Use 'проткнуть' for completed events, e.g., in narratives.
• Avoid overusing in polite conversation due to its graphic nature.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse 'проткнуть' with 'прокалывать' (to puncture), which implies a smaller hole without the depth of impaling. For example:

• Incorrect: Я проколол яблоко на шампур (meaning "I punctured the apple on a skewer," but implying a minor hole).
• Correct: Я проткнул яблоко на шампур (I impaled the apple on a skewer, indicating full penetration).
• Explanation: The error stems from not distinguishing verb aspects; 'прокалывать' is less intense, so use 'проткнуть' for 'impale's' severity.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian history, impaling was a brutal form of execution used in medieval times, notably associated with figures like Ivan the Terrible. Phrases like 'насаживать на кол' evoke dark historical events, symbolizing cruelty and power, which can add dramatic flair in literature but should be handled sensitively in modern contexts.

Related Concepts:

• казнь (execution)
• оружие (weapons)
• насилие (violence)