Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'leap'

English Word: leap

Key Russian Translations:

• прыжок [ˈprɨʐək] - [Noun, Formal]
• прыгать [ˈprɨɡətʲ] - [Verb, Informal or Everyday Use]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday conversation, literature, and sports contexts, but not as ubiquitous as basic verbs like "идти" [to go]).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of basic noun and verb inflections, as per CEFR standards. For "прыжок" as a noun: B1; for "прыгать" as a verb: B2 due to conjugation patterns.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

прыжок: [ˈprɨʐək] (The "ж" sound is a voiced palatal fricative, similar to the "s" in "measure" but softer; stress on the first syllable.)

прыгать: [ˈprɨɡətʲ] (The "г" is a voiced velar fricative; the final "тʲ" is palatalized, common in verbs. Stress on the first syllable.)

Note on прыжок: Be cautious with the "ы" vowel, which is a central vowel not directly equivalent to English sounds; it may sound like a mix of "i" and "u".

Note on прыгать: In fast speech, the "г" can soften, especially in informal contexts; practice with native speakers for fluidity.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A sudden or energetic jump (Noun form, referring to a physical or metaphorical leap)

Translation(s) & Context:

• прыжок - Used in physical, sports, or abstract contexts, such as a leap of faith; common in formal writing or descriptions (e.g., in literature or scientific texts).

Usage Examples:

• Атлет сделал мощный прыжок через барьер.

  The athlete made a powerful leap over the barrier.

• Её решение было настоящим прыжком в неизвестность.

  Her decision was a real leap into the unknown.

• Дети с радостью выполняют прыжки на уроке физкультуры.

  Children joyfully perform leaps in physical education class.

• Этот прыжок в технологиях изменил всю индустрию.

  This leap in technology changed the entire industry.

Meaning 2: To jump suddenly or energetically (Verb form, implying action)

Translation(s) & Context:

• прыгать - Used for ongoing or repeated actions, in informal or everyday situations; can be metaphorical, like leaping to a conclusion.

Usage Examples:

• Кот любит прыгать на стол за едой.

  The cat loves to leap onto the table for food.

• Она прыгает от радости, услышав хорошие новости.

  She leaps with joy upon hearing the good news.

• В парке дети прыгают через скакалку.

  In the park, children leap over the jump rope.

• Не прыгай к выводам без фактов!

  Don't leap to conclusions without facts!

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "прыжок" (a masculine noun, 2nd declension), it follows standard Russian noun patterns with variations by case and number. It is regular but requires attention to the "ж" sound in inflections.

For "прыгать" (a verb, imperfective aspect), it is conjugated based on person, number, and tense. It is a regular first-conjugation verb but has aspectual pairs (imperfective: прыгать; perfective: прыгнуть).

Note: This verb does not change in the infinitive form and is invariant in some aspects, making it straightforward for intermediates.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • скачок (skachok) - Similar to "leap" but often implies a quicker, more sudden movement; used in sports or metaphorical contexts.
  • прыг (pryg) - Informal variant, less formal than прыжок.
• Antonyms:
  • падение (padanie) - Fall or descent, contrasting with upward motion.
  • замирание (zamarinie) - Freezing or stopping, opposite of jumping action.

Related Phrases:

• Прыжок веры (pryzhok very) - Leap of faith; a common idiomatic expression used in philosophical or decision-making contexts.
• Прыгать через препятствия (prygat' cherez prepyatstviya) - To leap over obstacles; metaphorically means overcoming challenges, often in motivational speech.
• Большой прыжок (bol'shoy pryzhok) - Great leap; refers to significant advancements, like in technology or personal growth, with a brief explanation of its inspirational connotation.

Usage Notes:

"Leap" translates to "прыжок" as a noun and "прыгать" as a verb, but choose based on context: use "прыжок" for static or completed actions and "прыгать" for ongoing ones. In Russian, verbs often require aspect (imperfective for habitual, perfective for completed), so pair "прыгать" with "прыгнуть" for precision. Be mindful of formality— "прыгать" is casual, while "прыжок" suits written or formal English equivalents. Grammatically, ensure correct case agreement for nouns like "прыжок" in sentences.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Confusing the noun "прыжок" with the verb form, e.g., saying "Я прыжок" instead of "Я прыгаю".
  Correct: Use "прыгаю" for "I leap". Explanation: Russian verbs must be conjugated, unlike English nouns.
• Mistake: Forgetting inflections, e.g., using "прыжок" in the wrong case like "с прыжок" instead of "с прыжком".
  Correct: "С прыжком веры" (With a leap of faith). Explanation: Prepositions govern cases, so always check for genitive or instrumental as needed.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like "прыжок веры" often draw from literary works, such as those by Dostoevsky, symbolizing risk and faith in uncertain times. This reflects Russia's historical emphasis on resilience and dramatic life changes, as seen in revolutionary periods.

Related Concepts:

• скачок (skachok)
• прыг (pryg)
• падение (padanie)