Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'listen'

English Word: listen

Key Russian Translations:

• слушать [sluˈʂatʲ] - [Informal, Commonly used in everyday speech]
• внимательно слушать [vnʲɪˈmanʲɪtʲnə sluˈʂatʲ] - [Formal, Emphasizes attentive listening, e.g., in professional or educational contexts]

Frequency: High (This verb is one of the most commonly used in Russian for auditory attention, appearing frequently in daily conversations, media, and literature.)

Difficulty: A2 (Elementary level, as per CEFR; straightforward conjugation for beginners, though irregularities in aspect require intermediate practice. For "внимательно слушать," it remains A2 but may feel B1 in nuanced contexts.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

слушать: [sluˈʂatʲ]

внимательно слушать: [vnʲɪˈmanʲɪtʲnə sluˈʂatʲ]

Note on слушать: The "щ" sound in [ʂ] is a soft, hissing fricative unique to Russian; practice it like the "sh" in "sheep" but with more tongue tension. Variations may occur in dialects, but standard pronunciation is as above.

Audio: Play pronunciation of "слушать" [Here, insert an actual audio player or link placeholder for Russian pronunciation.]

Meanings and Usage:

To pay attention to sounds or speech

Translation(s) & Context:

• слушать - Used in informal settings for general listening, such as music or conversations.
• внимательно слушать - Applied in formal contexts requiring focus, like lectures or instructions.

Usage Examples:

• Я слушаю радио по утрам. (Ya slushayu radio po utram.)

  I listen to the radio in the mornings. (This shows "слушать" in a habitual daily context.)

• Пожалуйста, внимательно слушайте инструкции. (Pozhaluysta, vnimatel'no slushayte instruktsii.)

  Please listen carefully to the instructions. (Demonstrates formal usage with emphasis on attention.)

• Дети слушают сказки перед сном. (Deti slushayut skazki pered snom.)

  Children listen to fairy tales before bed. (Illustrates "слушать" in a familial, routine setting.)

• Он слушает музыку, чтобы расслабиться. (On slushayet muzyku, chtoby relaksirovat'sya.)

  He listens to music to relax. (Shows "слушать" with an infinitive phrase for purpose.)

• Внимательно слушайте, что говорит учитель. (Vnimatel'no slushayte, chto govorit uchitel'.)

  Listen carefully to what the teacher is saying. (Highlights imperative form in educational contexts.)

To heed or obey (in a figurative sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• слушать - Often used metaphorically for obeying advice or warnings.

Usage Examples:

• Ты должен слушать советы родителей. (Ty dolzhen slushat sovety roditeley.)

  You should listen to your parents' advice. (This example extends "слушать" to mean "heed" in familial advice.)

• Слушайте предупреждения о погоде. (Slushayte preduprezhdeniya o pogode.)

  Listen to the weather warnings. (Demonstrates imperative use for safety instructions.)

• Она не слушает моих слов. (Ona ne slushayet moikh slov.)

  She doesn't listen to my words. (Shows negative form in interpersonal communication.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"слушать" is an imperfective verb in Russian, which means it describes ongoing or repeated actions. It follows the first conjugation pattern with some irregularities in aspect. Below is a table of its key inflections:

For "внимательно слушать," it follows the same inflections as "слушать" since "внимательно" is an adverb and doesn't change. The verb is imperfective; its perfective counterpart is "послушать" (poslushat'), which implies completing the action of listening.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • слышать (slyshat') - More about perceiving sound passively; differs from "слушать" by implying less intentional focus.
  • воспринимать (vosprinimat') - Used in formal or abstract contexts for "perceive" aurally.
• Antonyms:
  • игнорировать (ignorirovat') - Means to ignore completely.
  • не замечать (ne zamachat') - Implies not noticing or overlooking sounds.

Related Phrases:

• слушать музыку (slushat' muzyku) - To listen to music; a common leisure activity phrase.
• внимательно слушать лекцию (vnimatel'no slushat' lektsiyu) - To listen carefully to a lecture; used in educational settings.
• слушать чужой разговор (slushat' chuzhoy razgovor) - To eavesdrop on someone else's conversation; implies secretive listening.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "слушать" directly corresponds to "listen" in English but emphasizes active attention, unlike "слышать" which is more about passive hearing. Use "слушать" for intentional acts, such as in conversations or media consumption. It's versatile across informal and formal domains but avoid it in very polite or official contexts where "внимательно слушать" might be preferred for emphasis. When choosing between translations, opt for "слушать" for simple actions and pair it with adverbs like "внимательно" for nuance. Grammatically, remember it's an imperfective verb, so it pairs well with ongoing descriptions.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "слушать" with "слышать": English learners often use "слушать" when "слышать" is correct for passive perception. For example, incorrect: "Я слушаю шум" (meaning "I hear the noise passively"); correct: "Я слышу шум" (I hear the noise). Explanation: "Слушать" implies intent, so use it only for deliberate listening.

• Overusing the imperative form: Beginners might say "Слушай меня!" too aggressively; in polite contexts, soften with "Пожалуйста, послушайте" to mean "Please listen." This avoids sounding rude.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "слушать" often ties to oral traditions like storytelling or folk music, reflecting the importance of auditory learning in a society with a rich history of poetry and balalaika performances. For instance, listening to "баяны" (folk tales) was a key social activity, emphasizing community and oral history.

Related Concepts:

• музыка (muzyka) - Music
• разговор (razgovor) - Conversation
• внимание (vniman'ye) - Attention