Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'impend'

English Word: impend

Key Russian Translations:

• надвигаться [nədʲvʲiˈɡat͡sə] - [Informal, often used for imminent events or threats]
• грозить [ˈɡrozʲitʲ] - [Formal, typically for threatening situations]
• предстоять [prʲɪdstɐˈvatʲ] - [Neutral, for events that are about to occur]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literary and news contexts, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and contextual nuances)

Pronunciation (Russian):

надвигаться: [nədʲvʲiˈɡat͡sə]

Note on надвигаться: This verb has stress on the third syllable; be cautious with the soft consonants, which can be tricky for English speakers.

грозить: [ˈɡrozʲitʲ]

Note on грозить: The initial 'г' is a voiced velar fricative; it may sound similar to 'g' in "go," but ensure it's not devoiced.

предстоять: [prʲɪdstɐˈvatʲ]

Note on предстоять: Stress falls on the third syllable; the 'р' is rolled, which is a common feature in Russian verbs.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To be about to happen, especially something threatening or imminent (e.g., a danger or crisis).

Translation(s) & Context:

• надвигаться - Used in contexts of physical or metaphorical approach, such as an impending storm or disaster.
• грозить - Applied when there's a sense of threat, like in legal or dramatic scenarios.

Usage Examples:

• Надвигается буря, и нам нужно подготовиться.

  A storm is impending, and we need to prepare.

• Экономический кризис грозит стране в ближайшие месяцы.

  An economic crisis is impending on the country in the coming months.

• Надвигающаяся опасность заставила всех принять меры предосторожности.

  The impending danger forced everyone to take precautionary measures.

• Грозящая война беспокоит жителей приграничных регионов.

  The impending war is worrying residents in border regions.

• Предстоит важное решение, которое изменит нашу жизнь.

  An important event is impending that will change our lives.

Meaning 2: To hang over or threaten in a more abstract sense (e.g., a deadline or obligation).

Translation(s) & Context:

• предстоять - Common in professional or everyday contexts for upcoming obligations.
• надвигаться - Less formal, for personal or emotional threats.

Usage Examples:

• Срок сдачи проекта надвигается, и команда работает допоздна.

  The deadline is impending, and the team is working late.

• Предстоит экзамен, который определит мою будущую карьеру.

  An exam is impending that will determine my future career.

• Грозящие финансовые проблемы вынуждают пересмотреть бюджет.

  The impending financial issues are forcing a budget review.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'надвигаться' (an imperfective verb), it follows standard Russian verb conjugation patterns. It is irregular in some aspects due to its reflexive form (-ся). Below is a conjugation table for the present tense:

For 'грозить' (a perfective verb), it conjugates regularly:

'Предстоять' is also a verb and remains largely invariable in some forms, but conjugates as: предстоять (infinitive), предстоя (past tense, etc.). It does not change drastically and is often used in impersonal constructions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: приближаться (to approach), угрожать (to threaten) - 'угрожать' is more intense and formal than 'грозить'.
• Antonyms: отступать (to retreat), исчезать (to disappear) - 'отступать' implies moving away from the threat.

Related Phrases:

• Надвигающаяся буря - Refers to an impending storm, often used metaphorically for crises.
• Грозящая опасность - Indicates a threatening danger, common in safety or emergency contexts.
• Предстоящее событие - Means an upcoming event, typically in planning or scheduling discussions.

Usage Notes:

'Impend' translates most accurately to 'надвигаться' when emphasizing inevitability, but 'грозить' is better for explicit threats. In Russian, these verbs are aspect-sensitive: use imperfective forms like 'надвигаться' for ongoing processes and perfective for completed actions. Be mindful of context—'предстоять' is neutral and works well in formal writing. English learners should note that Russian verbs often require aspect pairs, so pair 'надвигаться' with its perfective counterpart 'надвинуться' for precise usage.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing 'надвигаться' with 'наступать' (to advance). Incorrect: "Надвигаться время" (meaning "Time is impending"). Correct: "Надвигается время" with proper conjugation. Explanation: 'Надвигаться' is reflexive and requires the -ся ending; misuse can alter the meaning to something unintended.
• Error: Overusing 'грозить' in non-threatening contexts. Incorrect: "Грозит отпуск" (implying a vacation is threatening). Correct: "Предстоит отпуск" (A vacation is impending). Explanation: 'Грозить' implies negativity, so choose based on connotation to avoid sounding dramatic.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'надвигаться' often evoke themes from literature, such as in Tolstoy's works, where impending events symbolize fate or inevitability. This reflects a broader cultural emphasis on destiny and resilience in the face of threats, common in Russian historical narratives.

Related Concepts:

• угроза (threat)
• кризис (crisis)
• событие (event)