Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'implore'

English Word: implore

Key Russian Translations:

• умолять [ʊmɐˈlʲatʲ] - [Formal, often used in emotional or literary contexts]
• просить [prɐˈsʲitʲ] - [Informal, less intense than умолять, used in everyday requests]

Frequency: Medium (commonly appears in literature, formal writing, and emotional dialogues, but not in casual everyday speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, as it involves understanding verb conjugations and contextual nuances; for просить, it's A2 for basic forms, but B1 for full mastery)

Pronunciation (Russian):

умолять: [ʊmɐˈlʲatʲ]

просить: [prɐˈsʲitʲ]

Note on умолять: The stress is on the second syllable; be careful with the soft 'л' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To beg someone earnestly or desperately to do something

Translation(s) & Context:

• умолять - Used in formal, emotional, or persuasive contexts, such as pleading in a crisis or literature.
• просить - Applied in informal settings for general requests, but can imply earnestness if context demands.

Usage Examples:

• Она умоляла его не уходить, слезы текли по её щекам.

  She implored him not to leave, tears streaming down her cheeks.

• Дети умоляли родителей купить им новую игрушку в магазине.

  The children implored their parents to buy them a new toy in the store.

• В письме он просил (умолял) друзей помочь в трудную минуту.

  In the letter, he implored his friends to help in a difficult time.

• Судья умолял присяжных принять правильное решение.

  The judge implored the jurors to make the right decision.

• Она просила (с оттенком умоляния) дать ей вторую возможность.

  She implored for a second chance, with a tone of desperation.

To make a desperate appeal or request

Translation(s) & Context:

• умолять - In contexts involving high emotion, such as in negotiations or personal crises.

Usage Examples:

• Во время войны солдаты умоляли о мире.

  During the war, the soldiers implored for peace.

• Он умолял небо о дожде в засушливый сезон.

  He implored the heavens for rain in the dry season.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are verbs, so they follow Russian verb conjugation patterns. "Умолять" is an imperfective verb, while "просить" can be both imperfective and perfective (with "попросить" as its perfective counterpart). Russian verbs conjugate based on tense, aspect, person, and number.

Note: These verbs are regular in most aspects but require attention to gender agreement in the past tense. "Просить" has a perfective form "попросить," which is used for completed actions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: молить (to pray or beg), заклинать (to beseech, more poetic), взмолиться (to implore desperately, often reflexive)
• Antonyms: отказывать (to refuse), игнорировать (to ignore, in the context of not responding to a plea)

Related Phrases:

• Умолять на коленях - To implore on one's knees (used for extreme desperation in dramatic contexts).
• Просить пощады - To beg for mercy (common in stories or conflicts, implying a plea for forgiveness).
• Взмолиться к богу - To implore God (often in religious or spiritual settings, with a sense of divine appeal).

Usage Notes:

"Implore" translates most accurately to "умолять" in formal or emotional contexts, emphasizing desperation, while "просить" is better for everyday requests but can be intensified to match "implore" with adverbs like "настойчиво" (insistently). Be mindful of the aspect: use imperfective for ongoing actions and perfective for completed ones. In Russian, word choice depends on register—use "умолять" in literature or serious discussions, but it might sound overly dramatic in casual speech. When selecting between translations, consider the intensity: "просить" is neutral, while "умолять" conveys urgency.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "умолять" in casual contexts where "просить" is sufficient, e.g., saying "Я умоляю тебя дать мне карандаш" instead of "Я прошу тебя дать мне карандаш." Correct: Reserve "умолять" for emotional pleas to avoid sounding melodramatic. Explanation: This over-intensifies the request, making it seem insincere in everyday interactions.
• Mistake: Forgetting verb conjugation, e.g., saying "Он умолять" instead of "Он умоляет." Correct: "Он умоляет." Explanation: Russian verbs must agree with the subject in person and number, which English learners often overlook.
• Mistake: Confusing with "попросить" (perfective), e.g., using it for ongoing actions. Correct: Use "просить" for continuous requests. Explanation: Aspect is crucial in Russian; misuse can alter the meaning entirely.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "умолять" often appear in literature (e.g., Dostoevsky's works) to depict deep emotional turmoil or moral dilemmas, reflecting the cultural emphasis on suffering and redemption. It's less common in modern casual speech, where directness is preferred, but it carries a dramatic, almost theatrical connotation from historical and literary traditions.

Related Concepts:

• просьба (request)
• мольба (plea or supplication)
• заклинание (incantation or beseeching)