Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'inebriate'

English Word: inebriate

Key Russian Translations:

• опьянеть [ɐˈpʲjanʲɪtʲ] - [Formal; Imperfective verb, used in literary or standard contexts]
• напиться [nɐˈpʲitʲsə] - [Informal; Perfective verb, common in everyday spoken language]

Frequency: Medium (The word and its translations appear regularly in conversations about alcohol, literature, or health, but are not as common as basic vocabulary like "eat" or "drink").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; Involves understanding verb aspects and inflections, which can be challenging for learners at A1-A2 levels. For 'опьянеть', it's B1; for 'напиться', it's also B1 due to informal usage nuances.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

опьянеть: [ɐˈpʲjanʲɪtʲ]

напиться: [nɐˈpʲitʲsə]

Note on опьянеть: This is an imperfective verb, so the stress falls on the second syllable. Pronunciation can vary slightly in fast speech, with the 'ь' softening the preceding consonant. For learners, focus on the palatalized 'н' sound.

Note on напиться: The 'и' in the middle is pronounced as a short [i], and the word ends with a soft sign 'ь', which affects the preceding 's'. Common in regional dialects.

Audio: []

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To make someone drunk or intoxicated (as a verb)

Translation(s) & Context:

• опьянеть - Used in formal or descriptive contexts, such as literature or medical discussions, to describe the process of becoming intoxicated over time.
• напиться - Applied in informal, everyday situations, like casual conversations about partying, emphasizing the act of drinking to excess.

Usage Examples:

• Он опьянел от вина на празднике. (He became inebriated from the wine at the party.)

  English: He became inebriated from the wine at the party. (This example shows the verb in a social context, highlighting gradual intoxication.)

• Друзья напились на вечеринке и не смогли вести машину. (The friends got inebriated at the party and couldn't drive.)

  English: The friends got inebriated at the party and couldn't drive. (Illustrates informal usage in a risky scenario, common in youth culture.)

• После нескольких стаканов она опьянела и начала петь. (After a few glasses, she became inebriated and started singing.)

  English: After a few glasses, she became inebriated and started singing. (Demonstrates the verb with emotional or behavioral effects.)

• Не стоит напиваться перед важной встречей. (Don't get inebriated before an important meeting.)

  English: Don't get inebriated before an important meeting. (Shows advisory context, emphasizing consequences.)

• Он часто опьянел от дешевого пива. (He often became inebriated from cheap beer.)

  English: He often became inebriated from cheap beer. (Highlights habitual use in a negative connotation.)

Meaning 2: As a noun or adjective, referring to a person who is drunk (less common)

Translation(s) & Context:

• пьяница [ˈpʲjanʲɪtsə] - Used informally to describe a habitual drunkard, often with a negative connotation in social or familial contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Этот пьяница всегда вызывает проблемы. (This inebriate always causes trouble.)

  English: This inebriate always causes trouble. (Example in a judgmental context, common in everyday Russian speech.)

• В парке сидел пьяница, бормоча под нос. (In the park sat an inebriate, mumbling to himself.)

  English: In the park sat an inebriate, mumbling to himself. (Illustrates descriptive usage in public settings.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For verbs like 'опьянеть' (imperfective) and 'напиться' (perfective), Russian verbs inflect based on tense, aspect, person, and number. These are first-conjugation verbs with irregularities in aspect pairing.

For nouns like 'пьяница' (feminine noun, 1st declension), it inflects as follows:

Note: These verbs do not have irregular inflections beyond standard patterns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • захмелеть [zɐxmʲɪˈlʲetʲ] - Similar to 'опьянеть' but implies a lighter intoxication; often used for mild effects.
  • спиться [spʲɪˈtʲsə] - More severe, implying chronic alcoholism.
• Antonyms:
  • протрезветь [prətrʲɪˈzvʲetʲ] - To sober up, directly opposite in context of recovery.
  • воздержаться [vəzdrʲɪˈʐatʲsə] - To abstain, used in health or moral contexts.

Related Phrases:

• Напиться до бесчувствия - To get inebriated to the point of unconsciousness; often used in warnings about excessive drinking.
• Опьянеть от успеха - To become inebriated by success; a metaphorical phrase implying euphoria from achievements.
• Пьяница на работе - An inebriate at work; refers to workplace issues related to alcohol.

Usage Notes:

'Иnebriate' corresponds closely to 'опьянеть' in formal English-Russian translation, but 'напиться' is preferred in casual speech for its perfective aspect, which emphasizes completion. Be cautious with context: 'опьянеть' suits literary or medical descriptions, while 'напиться' is for everyday scenarios. In Russian, verb aspects are crucial—imperfective for ongoing actions and perfective for results. For learners, choose based on the situation to avoid sounding unnatural.

• Grammar note: Always pair with appropriate prepositions, e.g., 'от вина' (from wine).
• Multiple translations: Use 'пьяница' for the noun form, but it's pejorative, so opt for neutral alternatives in polite conversation.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse verb aspects, e.g., using 'опьянеть' when 'напиться' is needed for a completed action. Incorrect: "Я опьянюсь сегодня" (wrong aspect). Correct: "Я напьюсь сегодня" to mean "I will get inebriated today." Another error is mispronouncing the soft signs, like saying [ɐpʲjanet] without palatalization, which can make the word sound distorted. Explanation: Russian phonetics require attention to consonant softening for clarity and natural flow.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words related to inebriation like 'напиться' often tie into historical and social contexts, such as the prevalence of vodka in traditions. However, due to increasing awareness of alcohol's harms, these terms can carry stigma, especially in urban settings. For instance, 'пьяница' might evoke stereotypes from literature like Chekhov's works, reflecting societal attitudes toward excess.

Related Concepts:

• алкоголь [ɐlʲkəˈɡolʲ] - Alcohol
• трезвость [trʲɛzvəsʲtʲ] - Sobriety
• наркотики [nɐrkəˈtʲikʲi] - Narcotics (broader substance-related theme)