Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'linger'

English Word: linger

Key Russian Translations:

• задерживаться [zədʲɪrˈʐɨvət͡sə] - [Informal, Verb]
• мешкать [mʲɪˈʂkatʲ] - [Informal, Verb, Used in contexts of hesitation or delay]
• затягиваться [zətʲɪˈɡʲat͡sə] - [Formal, Verb, Often for prolonged activities]

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

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and aspect in Russian, which can be challenging for beginners, but manageable with practice).

Pronunciation (Russian):

задерживаться: [zədʲɪrˈʐɨvət͡sə]

мешкать: [mʲɪˈʂkatʲ]

затягиваться: [zətʲɪˈɡʲat͡sə]

Note on задерживаться: This verb has a soft 'ж' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers; it's pronounced with a palatalized 'dʲ' and a retroflex 'ʐ'. Stress falls on the third syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To remain in a place longer than necessary or expected (e.g., to linger around).

Translation(s) & Context:

• задерживаться - Used in informal contexts for personal actions, such as waiting or staying behind in social or daily situations.
• мешкать - Applied when there's an element of hesitation or delay in movement.

Usage Examples:

• Я задержался на вечеринке, потому что разговор был интересным.

  I lingered at the party because the conversation was interesting.

• Не мешкай у двери, заходи скорее!

  Don't linger at the door, come in quickly!

• Он задерживается в кафе каждый вечер после работы.

  He lingers in the cafe every evening after work.

• Дети мешкают на улице, не желая идти домой.

  The children are lingering on the street, not wanting to go home.

• Затягиваясь в парке, она наслаждалась осенним воздухом.

  Lingering in the park, she enjoyed the autumn air. (Shows a more formal, reflective use.)

Meaning 2: To persist or continue longer than expected (e.g., a feeling or effect that lingers).

Translation(s) & Context:

• затягиваться - Used for processes that extend in time, often in formal or narrative contexts.
• задерживаться - Less common here, but can imply emotional or sensory persistence.

Usage Examples:

• Аромат кофе затягивается в воздухе всю утро.

  The aroma of coffee lingers in the air all morning.

• Воспоминания о поездке задерживаются в её мыслях неделями.

  Memories of the trip linger in her thoughts for weeks.

• Этот разговор затягивается, и я не могу сосредоточиться.

  This conversation is lingering, and I can't focus. (Illustrates interruption in daily life.)

• Боль в ноге мешкает после пробежки.

  The pain in my leg lingers after the run. (Shows physical persistence.)

• Эффект лекарства затягивается дольше, чем ожидалось.

  The effect of the medicine lingers longer than expected.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations are verbs, which in Russian are conjugated based on aspect (imperfective or perfective), tense, person, and number. These are imperfective verbs, meaning they describe ongoing actions.

For задерживаться (imperfective):

Similar patterns apply to мешкать and затягиваться, with slight phonetic changes. These verbs are irregular in aspect but follow standard conjugation rules.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • задержать (more perfective, implying a completed action)
  • трудиться (in contexts of lingering effort, with a nuance of labor)
  • протягиваться (for spatial or temporal extension)
• Antonyms:
  • уходить (to leave quickly)
  • спешить (to hurry)
  • прекращаться (to end or cease)

Related Phrases:

• Задерживаться на полпути - To linger halfway (used for incomplete actions or decisions).
• Мешкать с ответом - To hesitate in replying (common in communication contexts).
• Затягиваться до поздней ночи - To drag on until late at night (for events or conversations).

Usage Notes:

Russian verbs like "задерживаться" closely mirror "linger" in implying an ongoing state, but they often require attention to aspect: use imperfective for descriptions and perfective (e.g., "задержать") for completed actions. In formal contexts, opt for "затягиваться" to sound more polished. Be mindful of gender and number in conjugations, as Russian verbs agree with the subject. When choosing between translations, "мешкать" is best for hesitation, while "задерживаться" suits casual lingering.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "задерживаться" in perfective contexts, e.g., saying "Я задержусь" when meaning a quick delay, but actually implying ongoing action.

  Correct: Use "задержу" (from perfective "задержать") for a one-time event. Explanation: Russian aspect distinguishes between processes and results, so mixing them can confuse native speakers.

• Error: Neglecting subject-verb agreement, e.g., saying "Я задерживаешься" instead of "задерживаешься" for "you."

  Correct: Always match the verb ending to the subject's person and number. Explanation: This is a common mistake for English speakers used to less inflection.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, lingering (e.g., "задерживаться" in social settings) often reflects a value for deep conversations and relationships, as seen in traditional gatherings like "chai-pitiye" (tea-drinking), where extending time together is a sign of hospitality and warmth.

Related Concepts:

• терпение (patience)
• время (time)
• ожидание (waiting)