Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'lengthen'

English Word: lengthen

Key Russian Translations:

• удлинять [ʊdlʲɪˈnʲatʲ] - [General use, Imperfective aspect]
• продлевать [prɐdˈlʲevatʲ] - [Used for extending time or duration, Imperfective aspect]

Frequency: Medium - This verb is commonly encountered in descriptive, technical, or everyday contexts but not as frequent as basic verbs.

Difficulty: B1 - Intermediate level, as it requires understanding of Russian verb aspects and conjugations; for продлевать, it may vary slightly based on context but remains B1 overall.

Pronunciation (Russian):

удлинять: [ʊdlʲɪˈnʲatʲ]

Note on удлинять: The stress is on the third syllable; be mindful of the soft 'л' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers. This is an imperfective verb, often paired with perfective counterparts.

продлевать: [prɐdˈlʲevatʲ]

Note on продлевать: Stress on the second syllable; the 'дл' combination requires a smooth transition, and it's commonly used in time-related expressions.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: To make something physically or metaphorically longer.

Translation(s) & Context:

• удлинять - Used in contexts involving physical extension, such as objects or structures (e.g., in engineering or daily life).
• продлевать - Applied to abstract extensions, like time periods or contracts.

Usage Examples:

• Мы решили удлинить шнур, чтобы он доставал до розетки. (We decided to lengthen the cord so it would reach the outlet.)

  Translation: We decided to lengthen the cord so it would reach the outlet. (This example shows the verb in a practical, everyday context with direct object.)

• Инженеры удлиняют мост для увеличения пропускной способности. (Engineers are lengthening the bridge to increase its capacity.)

  Translation: Engineers are lengthening the bridge to increase its capacity. (Illustrates use in a professional setting with imperfective aspect for ongoing action.)

• Продлевать отпуск – это мечта многих работников. (Extending vacation is a dream for many workers.)

  Translation: Extending vacation is a dream for many workers. (Demonstrates metaphorical use in informal or personal contexts.)

• Врач посоветовал продлевать лечение для полного выздоровления. (The doctor advised extending the treatment for full recovery.)

  Translation: The doctor advised extending the treatment for full recovery. (Shows application in medical or time-based scenarios.)

• Чтобы удлинить путь, мы свернули на объездную дорогу. (To lengthen the route, we turned onto the bypass road.)

  Translation: To lengthen the route, we turned onto the bypass road. (Highlights use in navigation or spatial contexts.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "удлинять" and "продлевать" are imperfective verbs in Russian, which means they describe ongoing or repeated actions. Russian verbs undergo conjugation based on tense, person, number, and aspect. Below is a conjugation table for "удлинять" in the present tense; "продлевать" follows similar patterns but with its own root variations.

For "продлевать", the present tense includes: я продлеваю, ты продлеваешь, etc. These verbs are regular in conjugation but require attention to aspect pairs (e.g., удлинить as the perfective form). If the verb is used in other tenses, it follows standard Russian patterns without irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • продолжать (prodolzhat') - Similar to продлевать, but more general for continuing actions.
  • растягивать (rastjagivat') - Implies stretching or extending physically.
• Antonyms:
  • укорачивать (ukorachivat') - To shorten or abbreviate.
  • сокращать (sokraschat') - To reduce or cut down.

Related Phrases:

• удлинить срок - To extend the deadline (often used in professional or legal contexts).
• продлевать контракт - To renew or extend a contract (common in business settings).
• удлинять волосы - To lengthen hair (informal, e.g., in beauty or personal care discussions).

Usage Notes:

Choose "удлинять" for physical lengthening, such as objects or structures, while "продлевать" is better for abstract concepts like time or periods. In Russian, verb aspect is crucial: use imperfective for ongoing actions and perfective (e.g., удлинить) for completed ones. Be aware of context; for example, in formal writing, pair these with appropriate prepositions like "до" (to) for extensions. English speakers might confuse this with simple continuation, so focus on the idea of making something longer rather than just maintaining it.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using the wrong aspect, e.g., saying "Я удлиняю дорогу" when meaning a completed action. Correct: "Я удлинил дорогу" (I have lengthened the road). Explanation: Russian requires perfective aspect for finished actions to avoid ambiguity.
• Mistake: Confusing "удлинять" and "продлевать" in time contexts, e.g., incorrectly using "удлинять отпуск" instead of "продлевать отпуск". Correct: "продлевать отпуск". Explanation: "Продлевать" specifically implies extension in duration, while "удлинять" is more spatial.

Cultural Notes:

Words like "продлевать" are often used in Russian bureaucratic contexts, such as extending visas or contracts, reflecting Russia's emphasis on formal documentation. This can highlight cultural values around planning and longevity, but "lengthen" itself doesn't carry deep historical connotations.

Related Concepts:

• сокращать (sokraschat') - To shorten.
• растягивать (rastjagivat') - To stretch.
• продолжать (prodolzhat') - To continue.