Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'lose'

English Word: lose

Key Russian Translations:

• потерять /pɐˈtʲerʲɪtʲ/ - [Formal, used for losing objects or abstract things]
• терять /ˈtʲerʲɪtʲ/ - [Informal, imperfective aspect for ongoing loss]
• проиграть /prəɪˈɡratʲ/ - [Informal, specifically for losing in games, competitions, or bets]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday conversations, literature, and media, but not as ubiquitous as basic verbs like "to be" or "to go")

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb aspects and basic conjugations. For 'потерять' and 'терять', it's straightforward for learners at this level, but 'проиграть' may vary based on context.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

потерять: /pɐˈtʲerʲɪtʲ/

терять: /ˈtʲerʲɪtʲ/

проиграть: /prəɪˈɡratʲ/

Note on потерять: The soft 'тʲ' sound can be challenging for English speakers; it's similar to the 't' in "nature" but softer. Pronounce it with a palatalized emphasis.

Note on проиграть: The initial 'пр' cluster is pronounced with a rolled 'р', common in Russian; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To lose something (e.g., an object or possession)

Translation(s) & Context:

• потерять - Used in formal or everyday contexts for completed actions, such as misplacing items.
• терять - Used for ongoing or repeated actions, like gradually losing something over time.

Usage Examples:

• Я потерял свой телефон в парке. (Ya poteryal svoy telefon v parke.)

  I lost my phone in the park. (This shows a simple, completed action in a casual setting.)

• Она теряет терпение, когда дети шумят. (Ona teryat terpeniye, kogda deti shumyat.)

  She is losing her patience when the children are noisy. (Illustrates ongoing loss in an emotional context.)

• Мы часто теряем ключи из-за спешки. (My chasto teryaem klyuchi iz-za speshki.)

  We often lose our keys because of rushing. (Demonstrates habitual action in daily life.)

• Потеряв документы, он обратился в полицию. (Poteryav dokumenty, on obratilsya v politsiyu.)

  Having lost his documents, he went to the police. (Shows use in a formal, narrative context.)

To lose in a competition or game

Translation(s) & Context:

• проиграть - Primarily used in sports, games, or metaphorical contexts for defeat.

Usage Examples:

• Команда проиграла матч из-за ошибки вратаря. (Komanda proigrala match iz-za oshibki vrataraya.)

  The team lost the game due to the goalkeeper's mistake. (Context: Sports, emphasizing defeat.)

• Он проиграл в карты и потерял все деньги. (On proigral v karty i poteryal vse den'gi.)

  He lost at cards and lost all his money. (Combines with other meanings for a compound sentence.)

• Мы проиграли дебаты, но набрались опыта. (My proigrali debaty, no nbralis' opyta.)

  We lost the debate but gained experience. (Informal, intellectual context.)

• Проиграв соревнование, она не расстроилась. (Proigray sorevnovaniye, ona ne rasstroilas'.)

  Having lost the competition, she didn't get upset. (Narrative style, showing emotional resilience.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations are verbs, which in Russian follow conjugation patterns based on aspect (perfective vs. imperfective). 'Потерять' is perfective, while 'терять' is imperfective. 'Проиграть' is also perfective.

For 'терять' (imperfective):

For 'потерять' and 'проиграть' (perfective, no present tense forms):

These verbs do not change in future tense forms beyond standard auxiliaries. They are regular in most aspects but follow gender agreement in the past tense.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • утратить (utratit') - Similar to 'потерять', but more formal, implying permanent loss.
  • провалить (provatit') - For 'проиграть', meaning to fail in a task.
• Antonyms:
  • найти (naiti) - To find.
  • выиграть (výigrat') - To win, opposite of 'проиграть'.

Related Phrases:

• Потерять из виду - To lose sight of; used metaphorically for forgetting someone.
• Проиграть по очкам - To lose on points; common in sports contexts.
• Терять время - To waste time; implies ongoing loss in productivity.

Usage Notes:

Russian verbs like 'потерять' and 'терять' correspond closely to the English 'lose' in terms of losing objects, but always consider the aspect: use perfective for completed actions and imperfective for ongoing ones. 'Проиграть' is more specific to competitive scenarios and isn't interchangeable with the others. In formal writing, opt for 'утратить' for a more elegant tone. Be mindful of gender agreement in past tense conjugations, as Russian verbs change based on the subject's gender.

Common Errors:

• Confusing aspects: English learners often use 'терять' when 'потерять' is needed for a completed action. Error: "Я терял ключи вчера" (incorrect for a one-time event). Correct: "Я потерял ключи вчера." Explanation: 'Терять' implies ongoing loss, which doesn't fit here.

• Misusing in competitions: Saying 'потерять' for a game loss. Error: "Мы потеряли матч." Correct: "Мы проиграли матч." Explanation: 'Потерять' suggests misplacement, not defeat.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like 'терять лицо' (to lose face) reflect influences from Eastern traditions, emphasizing social status and honor. This isn't a direct translation of 'lose', but it's a common idiom in interpersonal contexts, highlighting how loss can extend to emotional or social dimensions in Russian communication.

Related Concepts:

• найти (to find)
• выиграть (to win)
• утратить (to forfeit or lose permanently)