Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'memorize'

English Word: memorize

Key Russian Translations:

• запоминать [zə.pɐˈmʲi.nətʲ] - [Informal, Imperfective verb, Used in ongoing or habitual contexts]
• запомнить [zə.pɐˈmʲo.nʲitʲ] - [Formal or Informal, Perfective verb, Used for completed actions]

Frequency: Medium (Common in educational and everyday contexts, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "to know").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; requires understanding of aspectual pairs in Russian verbs. For 'запоминать': B1; for 'запомнить': B2 due to perfective aspect nuances).

Pronunciation (Russian):

запоминать: [zə.pɐˈmʲi.nətʲ] (Stress on the third syllable; the 'мʲ' indicates palatalization, which can be tricky for English speakers—sounds like a soft 'm' followed by a 'y' glide).

Note on запоминать: Be cautious with the soft sign (ь) affecting pronunciation; it softens the preceding consonant. Common regional variations in stress may occur in fast speech.

запомнить: [zə.pɐˈmʲo.nʲitʲ] (Stress on the third syllable; the 'нʲ' is palatalized, similar to a soft 'n' as in 'new').

Note on запомнить: The perfective form often ends with a harder consonant cluster; practice with native speakers to master the subtle vowel shifts.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: To commit something to memory, often through repetition.

Translation(s) & Context:

• запоминать - Used in contexts involving ongoing learning or habitual memorization, such as studying vocabulary (e.g., in language classes or daily practice).
• запомнить - Used for a completed act of memorization, such as remembering a fact after focused effort (e.g., in exams or important events).

Usage Examples:

• Я стараюсь запоминать новые слова каждый день. (I try to memorize new words every day.)

  Translation: This example shows the imperfective aspect in a habitual context, emphasizing the process over time.

• Ему удалось запомнить весь текст за одну ночь. (He managed to memorize the entire text in one night.)

  Translation: Here, the perfective aspect highlights a successful, completed action, common in achievement scenarios.

• Дети легко запоминали стихи на уроке. (The children easily memorized poems during the lesson.)

  Translation: Demonstrates use in educational settings, with the verb in plural subject agreement.

• Не запомнишь правила — не выиграешь игру. (If you don't memorize the rules, you won't win the game.)

  Translation: Illustrates conditional usage, showing how memorization leads to outcomes in practical situations.

• Я запоминал её номер телефона, но забыл. (I was memorizing her phone number, but I forgot it.)

  Translation: Contrasts imperfective with forgetting, highlighting real-life memory lapses.

Secondary Meaning: To retain information intentionally, often with emotional or associative ties.

Translation(s) & Context:

• запомнить - In emotional contexts, like remembering a significant event or person (e.g., in storytelling or personal narratives).

Usage Examples:

• Эта мелодия навсегда запомнилась мне из детства. (This melody is forever memorized from my childhood.)

  Translation: Emphasizes permanent retention, often with sentimental value.

• Запомни это лицо — оно может пригодиться. (Memorize this face — it might come in handy.)

  Translation: Used in advisory contexts, like detective work or daily caution.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'запоминать' and 'запомнить' are verbs, following Russian's aspectual system. 'Запоминать' is imperfective (ongoing), while 'запомнить' is perfective (completed). Russian verbs conjugate based on tense, person, number, and gender. Below is a conjugation table for each:

Note: These verbs do not have irregular inflections but follow standard patterns for first-conjugation verbs. In negative forms, add 'не' before the verb (e.g., не запоминать).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • усвоить (usvo-itʲ) - More formal, implying full absorption of knowledge.
  • выучить (vy-uch-itʲ) - Often used for learning by heart, with a nuance of study effort.
• Antonyms:
  • забыть (zə.by-tʲ) - To forget, directly opposite in meaning.
  • не помнить (ne po-mn-itʲ) - Not to remember, emphasizing lack of retention.

Related Phrases:

• Запомнить наизусть - To memorize by heart; used for learning texts verbatim, e.g., in theater or poetry.
• Легко запоминать - Easy to memorize; common in educational contexts to describe simple concepts.
• Не могу запомнить - I can't memorize; expresses frustration in learning scenarios.

Usage Notes:

Russian verbs like 'запоминать' and 'запомнить' correspond closely to 'memorize' but must account for the perfective-imperfective aspect pair, which English lacks. Use 'запоминать' for processes (e.g., ongoing study) and 'запомнить' for results (e.g., after an exam). In formal writing, prefer perfective forms for emphasis. Be mindful of subject-verb agreement and context; for instance, in phone conversations or casual speech, these verbs are common but may vary by region (e.g., more frequent in educational settings in Russia).

• When choosing between translations, opt for 'запомнить' if the action is complete; otherwise, use 'запоминать'.
• Grammar note: Always conjugate based on the subject's gender and number, which can be a common point of confusion for English speakers.

Common Errors:

English learners often mix up the aspectual pairs, e.g., using 'запоминать' when 'запомнить' is needed for a completed action: Incorrect: "Я запоминать текст" (wrong form and aspect). Correct: "Я запомнил текст" (for a finished task). Another error is forgetting palatalization in pronunciation, making it sound like [zə.pɐˈmi.nat] instead of [zə.pɐˈmʲi.nətʲ], which can alter meaning in fast speech. Always practice with native audio to avoid these.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, memorization (e.g., 'запомнить') is highly valued in education, stemming from the Soviet-era emphasis on rote learning. This can be seen in traditions like reciting poetry at school events, where phrases like 'запомнить наизусть' reflect a deeper cultural appreciation for oral tradition and historical preservation.

Related Concepts:

• память (memory)
• изучение (study)
• вспомнить (to recall)