Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'kneel'

English Word: kneel

Key Russian Translations:

• преклонить колени [prʲɪkɫɐˈnʲitʲ kɐˈlʲenʲɪ] - [Formal, often used in religious or ceremonial contexts]
• опуститься на колени [ɐˈpustʲɪt͡sə na kɐˈlʲenʲɪ] - [Informal, everyday language for physical actions]

Frequency: Medium (This verb phrase is not extremely common in daily conversation but appears frequently in literature, religious texts, and formal descriptions.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of verb conjugations and prepositional phrases. For 'преклонить колени', it may be more challenging due to its formal tone, while 'опуститься на колени' is slightly easier for beginners.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

преклонить колени: [prʲɪkɫɐˈnʲitʲ kɐˈlʲenʲɪ]

опуститься на колени: [ɐˈpustʲɪt͡sə na kɐˈlʲenʲɪ]

Note on преклонить колени: The stress falls on the second syllable of 'преклонить' (pre-KLO-nʲitʲ), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft consonants; practice the 'л' sound for clarity.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To bend one's knees and lower oneself to the ground, often in worship, submission, or as a physical action.

Translation(s) & Context:

• преклонить колени - Used in formal, religious, or respectful contexts, such as in churches or ceremonies, to convey humility or devotion.
• опуститься на колени - Applied in everyday, informal situations, like proposing marriage or expressing emotion, emphasizing a physical rather than symbolic act.

Usage Examples:

• В церкви он преклонил колени перед иконой, молясь за семью.

  In the church, he knelt before the icon, praying for his family.

• Во время предложения руки и сердца, она опустилась на колени, чтобы удивить его.

  During the marriage proposal, she knelt down to surprise him.

• Протестующие преклонили колени на площади, требуя справедливости.

  The protesters knelt on the square, demanding justice.

• Ребёнок опустился на колени, чтобы поиграть с щенком в парке.

  The child knelt down to play with the puppy in the park.

• В историческом фильме актёр преклонил колени перед королём, показывая уважение.

  In the historical film, the actor knelt before the king, showing respect.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'преклонить колени' involves the verb 'преклонить' (to bow or kneel) and the noun 'колени' (knees, plural accusative). 'преклонить' is an imperfective verb that conjugates regularly, while 'колени' is the plural form of 'колено' (knee) and inflects as a neuter noun.

For 'преклонить' (verb, perfective aspect):

For 'колени' (noun, plural of 'колено', neuter):

'опуститься на колени' follows similar patterns; 'опуститься' is a reflexive verb with regular conjugations, and 'на колени' uses prepositional case.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • встать на колени (more literal, often used interchangeably in casual speech)
  • склониться (to bow down, with a slight nuance of bending the body)
• Antonyms:
  • встать (to stand up, directly opposite in physical action)
  • выпрямиться (to straighten up, implying returning to an upright position)

Related Phrases:

• преклонить колено - To kneel on one knee (often in proposals or chivalry); used in romantic or ceremonial contexts.
• опуститься на колени перед кем-то - To kneel before someone (implies submission or respect); common in hierarchical settings.
• молиться на коленях - To pray on one's knees (a phrase tied to religious practices, emphasizing devotion).

Usage Notes:

'преклонить колени' is more formal and poetic, often appearing in literary or religious texts, while 'опуститься на колени' is straightforward for everyday use. English speakers should note that Russian verbs like these require attention to aspect (perfective vs. imperfective) and case agreements. For example, choose 'преклонить' for a completed action in formal contexts, but use 'опуститься' in narratives. Be mindful of cultural nuances: kneeling is less common in casual Russian interactions compared to English.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'кланяться' (to bow) instead of 'преклонить колени', thinking they mean the same thing. Correct: 'преклонить колени' specifically involves the knees, while 'кланяться' is about bowing the head or body. Example: Incorrect - "Он кланялся в церкви" (implies bowing, not kneeling); Correct - "Он преклонил колени в церкви".
• Mistake: Forgetting case agreement, e.g., saying 'опуститься на колен' instead of 'опуститься на колени'. Correct: Always use the correct prepositional case for 'колени' in phrases like this to avoid grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, kneeling (e.g., 'преклонить колени') is often associated with deep respect, religious devotion, or historical traditions, such as in Orthodox Christianity where it symbolizes humility before God. It's less common in daily life compared to some Western cultures and can carry a formal or even dramatic connotation in literature or media.

Related Concepts:

• молитва (prayer)
• поклон (bow)
• почтение (respect)