Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'inhale'

English Word: inhale

Key Russian Translations:

• вдыхать [v'dɨxətʲ] - [Informal, Common verb for breathing in]
• втягивать [v'tjɐɡʲɪvətʲ] - [Formal or specific contexts, e.g., inhaling through the nose]

Frequency: Medium - This verb is commonly used in everyday conversations, literature, and health-related contexts, but it's not among the most basic vocabulary items.

Difficulty: B1 - Intermediate level according to CEFR, as it involves understanding verb conjugations and pronunciation challenges for English speakers. For 'втягивать', it may be slightly more advanced at B2 due to its nuanced usage.

Pronunciation (Russian):

вдыхать: [v'dɨxətʲ]

втягивать: [v'tjɐɡʲɪvətʲ]

Note on вдыхать: The initial 'в' is pronounced as a voiced labiodental fricative, and the 'ы' sound can be tricky for English speakers as it's a back vowel not found in English. Pay attention to stress on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To breathe air or a substance into the lungs.

Translation(s) & Context:

• вдыхать - Used in casual, everyday situations like describing breathing exercises or fresh air intake.
• втягивать - Applied in more formal or medical contexts, such as inhaling scents or gases deliberately.

Usage Examples:

• Я вдыхаю свежий воздух у моря. (Ya vdýkhavu svyezhiy vozdukh u morya.)

  I am inhaling fresh air by the sea. (This example shows the verb in a simple present tense for a daily activity.)

• Во время йоги важно глубоко вдыхать и выдыхать. (Vo vryemya yógi vazhno glubóko vdýkhavat' i vydýkhavat'.)

  During yoga, it's important to inhale and exhale deeply. (Illustrates the verb in an infinitive form within a health-related context.)

• Дети вдыхают пар от ингалятора при простуде. (Dyeti vdýkhavut par ot ingalyatora pri prostude.)

  Children inhale steam from an inhaler when they have a cold. (Demonstrates plural subject and medical usage.)

• Он втягивает аромат кофе каждое утро. (On v'tyagivayet aromat kofye kazhdoe utro.)

  He inhales the aroma of coffee every morning. (Shows 'втягивать' in a habitual action, emphasizing sensory experience.)

• Не вдыхайте токсичные газы без защиты! (Ne vdýkhavtye toksichnyye gazy bez zashchity!)

  Do not inhale toxic gases without protection! (Highlights imperative form for warnings.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'вдыхать' and 'втягивать' are first-conjugation verbs in Russian, which means they follow regular patterns but have specific infinitive endings. Russian verbs change based on tense, aspect, person, and number. 'Вдыхать' is imperfective, indicating ongoing actions, while a perfective counterpart could be 'вдохнуть' (to inhale once).

Note: These verbs are regular but require attention to stem changes and aspect. 'Вдыхать' does not have irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • вдохнуть (vdokhnut') - More perfective, for a single action.
  • втянуть (vtyanut') - Similar to втягивать, with slight emphasis on pulling in.
• Antonyms:
  • выдыхать (vydykhat') - To exhale.
  • выдохнуть (vydokhnut') - To breathe out completely.

Synonyms like 'вдохнуть' are often interchangeable but differ in aspect; 'втянуть' might imply a more forceful action.

Related Phrases:

• Глубоко вдыхать - Deeply inhale; used in relaxation techniques. (Meaning: A method to calm oneself.)
• Вдыхать свежий воздух - To inhale fresh air; common in outdoor contexts. (Meaning: Emphasizes health benefits.)
• Втягивать пар - To inhale steam; often in medical or spa settings. (Meaning: For therapeutic purposes.)

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'вдыхать' directly corresponds to the English 'inhale' in most contexts, but it's important to choose the correct aspect: use the imperfective for ongoing actions and perfective ('вдохнуть') for completed ones. 'Втягивать' is less common and might be preferred in formal or descriptive writing. Be mindful of context; for example, in medical scenarios, pair it with nouns like 'воздух' (air) or 'пар' (steam). English speakers often confuse verb aspects, so practice conjugations to avoid errors in tense.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'вдыхать' incorrectly in perfective contexts, e.g., saying "Я вдыхал весь воздух" instead of "Я вдохнул весь воздух" for a one-time action. Correct: Я вдохнул весь воздух. (Explanation: Russian requires aspect agreement; 'вдохнул' is perfective for completion.)
• Mistake: Pronouncing 'вдыхать' as [v'diːhæt] like English, leading to incomprehensibility. Correct: Use [v'dɨxətʲ] with proper Russian vowel sounds. (Explanation: English speakers may substitute familiar sounds, but this alters the word's meaning.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, inhaling is often linked to health and wellness practices, such as deep breathing in yoga or forest bathing ('лесная терапия'), which draws from Slavic traditions of connecting with nature. This reflects a broader emphasis on respiratory health in cold climates, where fresh air intake is seen as vital for well-being.

Related Concepts:

• выдыхать (exhale)
• дыхание (breathing)
• воздух (air)
• ингаляция (inhalation, as a noun)