Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'meld'

English Word: meld

Key Russian Translations:

• сливать /slʲi'vatʲ/ - [Verb, Informal, Used in contexts like merging liquids or data]
• соединять /sɐˈɡʲinʲitʲ/ - [Verb, Formal, Used for combining objects or ideas in professional or general contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in technical or everyday language, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "делать")

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; requires understanding of verb conjugations and context; for 'сливать', it may be A2 if in simple forms, but 'соединять' leans toward B1 due to formal usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

сливать: /slʲi'vatʲ/

Note on сливать: The 'л' is palatalized, which can be tricky for English speakers; it sounds like a soft 'l' as in 'luxury'. Stress is on the first syllable.

Audio: []

соединять: /sɐˈɡʲinʲitʲ/

Note on соединять: The 'гʲ' is a soft 'g' followed by a palatalized 'й', often pronounced quickly; stress is on the third syllable, common in longer Russian verbs.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To merge or combine (primary meaning of 'meld' in English, e.g., in card games or general fusion)

Translation(s) & Context:

• сливать - Typically used for merging fluids, data, or streams; context: informal or technical, e.g., in computing or everyday tasks.
• соединять - Used for joining physical or abstract elements; context: formal or descriptive, e.g., in writing, engineering, or discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Я сливаю два файла в один для экономии места. (Ya slivayu dva fayla v odin dlya ekonomii mesta.)

  I am merging two files into one to save space. (Shows 'meld' in a digital context with verb in present tense.)

• В игре мы должны соединять карты, чтобы выиграть. (V igre my dolzhny soedinyat' karty, chtoby vyigrat'.)

  In the game, we have to combine cards to win. (Illustrates 'meld' in a card game scenario, using infinitive form for instruction.)

• Он сливает краски, чтобы создать новый оттенок. (On slivaet kraski, chtoby sozdat' novyy ottenok.)

  He is mixing paints to create a new shade. (Demonstrates 'meld' in an artistic context, with verb in present tense.)

• Инженеры соединяют детали для сборки машины. (Inzhenery soedinyayut detali dlya sborki mashiny.)

  Engineers are joining parts for assembling the machine. (Highlights formal usage in a professional setting, with verb conjugated for plural subject.)

• Давайте слить наши идеи в один план проекта. (Davayte slivit' nashi idei v odin plan proyekta.)

  Let's merge our ideas into one project plan. (Shows collaborative context, using imperative form for suggestion.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'сливать' and 'соединять' are Russian verbs of the first conjugation, which typically follow regular patterns but have irregularities in stems. They are imperfective verbs, meaning they describe ongoing or repeated actions.

For 'сливать' (to merge):

Note: This verb does not change in the infinitive or past tense for gender.

For 'соединять' (to combine):

This verb is regular but may have stem changes in perfective forms (e.g., соединить). It remains unchanged in infinitive form.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: смешивать (smeshivat' - more for mixing substances), объединять (ob''edinyat' - for uniting groups; differs from соединять by implying broader integration)
• Antonyms: разделять (razdelat' - to divide or separate; used in contexts of splitting entities)

Related Phrases:

• Сливать воду - Merging water (e.g., in plumbing or natural processes)
• Соединять усилия - Combining efforts (common in team or collaborative contexts; implies working together for a goal)
• Выливать и сливать - Pouring and merging (a phrase in fluid dynamics; used metaphorically in problem-solving)

Usage Notes:

'Meld' in English often implies a seamless fusion, which aligns closely with 'сливать' for informal, fluid contexts and 'соединять' for structured ones. Choose 'сливать' for everyday or technical merging (e.g., files or liquids) due to its connotations of flow, while 'соединять' is better for formal or physical joining to avoid ambiguity. Be mindful of aspect in Russian: use imperfective forms like these for ongoing actions, and pair with perfective counterparts (e.g., слить for completed merging) based on context. In spoken Russian, these verbs are versatile but may vary by region, with 'сливать' being more common in casual speech.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'сливать' in formal writing when 'соединять' is more appropriate. For example, an English learner might say "Я сливаю документы" instead of "Я соединяю документы" in a business report. Correct: "Я соединяю документы" – Explanation: 'Сливать' sounds too casual or technical for professional contexts.
• Error: Forgetting palatalization in pronunciation, e.g., pronouncing 'сливать' as /sliva't/ instead of /slʲi'vatʲ/. Correct pronunciation: Focus on the soft 'л' to sound natural. Explanation: This can make the word harder to understand for native speakers.
• Error: Confusing with similar verbs like 'смешивать', leading to misuse in contexts. For example, "Я смешиваю файлы" when meaning 'meld'. Correct: "Я сливаю файлы" – Explanation: 'Смешивать' implies thorough mixing, not just merging.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'сливать' and 'соединять' often appear in contexts of unity and collectivism, reflecting historical emphasis on community in Soviet-era literature or modern teamwork narratives. For instance, 'соединять усилия' echoes themes in Russian proverbs about strength in unity, helping non-native speakers appreciate the cultural value placed on collaboration over individualism.

Related Concepts:

• объединять
• разделять
• смешивать