Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'melt'

English Word: melt

Key Russian Translations:

• таять [ˈta.jɪtʲ] - [Intransitive, Imperfective aspect, used for natural melting like ice or snow]
• плавить [ˈpla.vʲɪtʲ] - [Transitive, Imperfective aspect, used for causing something to melt, e.g., metal in a furnace]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday contexts related to weather, cooking, and science, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "идти")

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; involves understanding Russian verb aspects and transitivity, which can be challenging for learners)

Pronunciation (Russian):

таять: [ˈta.jɪtʲ]

Note on таять: The pronunciation emphasizes the soft 'т' sound, which is common in Russian verbs. Be mindful of the palatalization in spoken Russian.

плавить: [ˈpla.vʲɪtʲ]

Note on плавить: The 'вʲ' indicates a soft 'в' sound, which may vary slightly in different dialects; practice with native speakers for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To change from a solid to a liquid state due to heat (Intransitive)

Translation(s) & Context:

• таять - Used in natural or passive contexts, such as describing ice melting in spring; common in informal and formal settings.

Usage Examples:

• Лёд тает на солнце.

  The ice is melting in the sun.

• Снег начинает таять весной.

  The snow starts melting in the spring.

• Шоколад тает в руках ребёнка.

  The chocolate is melting in the child's hands.

• Металл тает при высокой температуре.

  The metal melts at high temperatures.

Meaning 2: To cause something to change from a solid to a liquid state (Transitive)

Translation(s) & Context:

• плавить - Used when an external force or action causes melting, such as in industrial or cooking scenarios; appropriate in technical or everyday formal contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Кузнец плавит железо в печи.

  The blacksmith is melting iron in the furnace.

• Она плавит масло на сковороде.

  She is melting butter in the pan.

• В лаборатории они плавят сплавы для эксперимента.

  In the lab, they are melting alloys for the experiment.

• Дети плавят воск, чтобы сделать свечи.

  The children are melting wax to make candles.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "таять" and "плавить" are imperfective verbs in Russian, which means they describe ongoing or repeated actions. Russian verbs undergo conjugation based on tense, person, number, and gender. Below is a table for their present tense conjugations as examples; they follow standard first-conjugation patterns with some irregularities.

Note: These verbs have perfective counterparts ("растаять" for таять and "растопить" for плавить) for completed actions, which do not inflect in the same way. They are invariable in terms of gender but change with aspect and tense.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Растапливать (for плавить; similar but often implies starting the process)
  • Топить (for плавить in the context of heating, e.g., melting snow)
• Antonyms:
  • Замерзать (to freeze)
  • Твердеть (to harden)

Related Phrases:

• Тающий снег - Melting snow; used in weather descriptions.
• Плавить металл - To melt metal; common in industrial contexts.
• Тающий лёд - Melting ice; often in poetic or environmental discussions.

Usage Notes:

The English word "melt" corresponds closely to Russian verbs like "таять" for natural processes and "плавить" for intentional actions. Choose "таять" for intransitive uses and "плавить" for transitive ones to match aspect accurately. Be aware of Russian's aspect system: use imperfective for ongoing actions and perfective (e.g., "растаять") for completed ones. In formal writing, these verbs are neutral, but in spoken language, context dictates usage to avoid ambiguity.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Confusing "таять" with "плавить" and using them interchangeably. Incorrect: "Я плавлю снег" (implies actively causing snow to melt, which is unnatural). Correct: "Снег тает" (snow is melting naturally). Explanation: Russian requires matching transitivity; this error stems from English's less strict verb distinctions.
• Mistake: Forgetting verb aspects, e.g., using "таять" for a completed action. Incorrect: "Лёд тает вчера" (grammatically wrong; should use perfective). Correct: "Лёд растаял вчера." Explanation: Learners often overlook that Russian verbs need the right aspect for tense accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, melting imagery like "тающий снег" is often used in literature and poetry to symbolize change or ephemerality, as seen in works by Pushkin. It reflects Russia's harsh winters, where the first melt of spring signifies renewal and is celebrated in festivals.

Related Concepts:

• Замерзать (to freeze)
• Топить (to heat or melt down)
• Лёд (ice)