Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'moisturise'

English Word: moisturise

Key Russian Translations:

• увлажнять [ʊvlɐʐˈnʲætʲ] - [Informal, Verb, Imperfective aspect, Used in ongoing or habitual actions]
• увлажнить [ʊvlɐʐˈnʲitʲ] - [Informal, Verb, Perfective aspect, Used for completed actions]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday contexts like skincare and health discussions, but not as frequent as basic verbs like 'eat' or 'go').

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; involves understanding verb aspects and basic inflections, which can be challenging for beginners due to the distinction between imperfective and perfective forms).

Pronunciation (Russian):

увлажнять: [ʊvlɐʐˈnʲætʲ]

увлажнить: [ʊvlɐʐˈnʲitʲ]

Note on увлажнять: The stress falls on the third syllable ('nʲætʲ'), and the 'zh' sound ([ʐ]) is a voiced fricative, similar to the 's' in 'measure'. Be careful with palatalization in spoken Russian.

Note on увлажнить: Similar to увлажнять, but the ending changes to indicate perfective aspect; pronounce it with a quick, crisp 'itʲ' sound.

Audio: []

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To add moisture to something, especially skin (Primary meaning)

Translation(s) & Context:

• увлажнять - Used in contexts involving ongoing skincare routines or general maintenance, such as daily beauty regimens.
• увлажнить - Used for a one-time action, like applying a moisturizer immediately after washing.

Usage Examples:

• Я ежедневно увлажняю кожу лица кремом, чтобы предотвратить сухость. (I moisturize my face with cream every day to prevent dryness.)

  Translation: I moisturize my face with cream every day to prevent dryness.

• В холодную погоду нужно увлажнять воздух в помещении, иначе он становится слишком сухим. (In cold weather, you need to moisturize the air in the room, otherwise it becomes too dry.)

  Translation: In cold weather, you need to moisturize the air in the room, otherwise it becomes too dry.

• Она увлажнила волосы маслом перед укладкой, чтобы они выглядели здоровыми. (She moisturized her hair with oil before styling it to make it look healthy.)

  Translation: She moisturized her hair with oil before styling it to make it look healthy.

• Доктор посоветовал увлажнить горло теплым чаем, если оно пересыхает. (The doctor advised moisturizing the throat with warm tea if it gets dry.)

  Translation: The doctor advised moisturizing the throat with warm tea if it gets dry.

• Чтобы растение не вяло, регулярно увлажняйте почву. (To keep the plant from wilting, regularly moisturize the soil.)

  Translation: To keep the plant from wilting, regularly moisturize the soil.

To restore moisture in a broader sense (e.g., environmental or material contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• увлажнить - Often used in scientific or practical contexts, like humidifying a room.

Usage Examples:

• Увлажни воздух в комнате, включив увлажнитель. (Moisturize the air in the room by turning on the humidifier.)

  Translation: Moisturize the air in the room by turning on the humidifier.

• В лаборатории они увлажняют образцы, чтобы проверить их реакцию на влагу. (In the lab, they moisturize samples to test their reaction to moisture.)

  Translation: In the lab, they moisturize samples to test their reaction to moisture.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'увлажнять' (imperfective) and 'увлажнить' (perfective) are verbs, which undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Russian verbs have regular patterns, but these follow standard first-conjugation rules with some irregularities in prefixes.

For 'увлажнять' (imperfective):

For 'увлажнить' (perfective):

Note: These verbs do not change for gender in the infinitive form but do in the past tense.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • гидратировать [ɡʲɪdrɐˈtʲirəvɐtʲ] - More formal, often used in scientific or professional contexts, implying deep hydration.
  • смачивать [smɐˈtɕɪtʲ] - Less specific, used for any light moistening, e.g., with water.
• Antonyms:
  • обезвоживать [ɐbʲɪzˈvoʐɨvətʲ] - To dehydrate or dry out, commonly used in health or environmental discussions.
  • высушивать [vɨˈsʊʂɨvətʲ] - To dry completely, often in the context of removing moisture intentionally.

Related Phrases:

• увлажнять кожу - To moisturize the skin; commonly used in beauty and daily care routines.
• увлажнитель воздуха - Air humidifier; refers to devices that add moisture to indoor air.
• крем для увлажнения - Moisturizing cream; a fixed phrase in skincare product descriptions.

Usage Notes:

Choose 'увлажнять' for ongoing actions (e.g., a daily routine) and 'увлажнить' for one-off events, as Russian verbs require aspect distinction. This mirrors English progressive vs. simple tenses but is more rigid. In formal contexts, pair with nouns like 'кожу' (skin) for specificity. Avoid direct word-for-word translation; 'moisturise' often aligns with 'увлажнять' in casual speech but may need 'гидратировать' in technical settings like cosmetics.

Common Errors:

• Mistaking aspect: English learners often use 'увлажнять' when 'увлажнить' is needed, e.g., saying "Я увлажняю лицо" for a completed action instead of "Я увлажнил лицо". Correct: Use 'увлажнить' for finished tasks to avoid implying ongoing action.
• Incorrect inflection: Forgetting gender agreement in past tense, e.g., "Я увлажнил" (for a female speaker) should be "Я увлажнила". Explanation: Russian past tense verbs agree with the subject's gender, unlike English.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'увлажнять' is frequently associated with skincare routines, especially in harsh winter climates where dry air is common. This reflects a broader emphasis on self-care and environmental adaptation, as seen in traditional practices like using natural oils or modern humidifiers to maintain moisture balance.

Related Concepts:

• крем (cream)
• гидратация (hydration)
• воздух (air, in the context of humidifying)