Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'mow'

English Word: mow

Key Russian Translations:

• косить /kɐˈsʲitʲ/ - [Informal, commonly used in everyday contexts for cutting grass or fields]
• скашивать /skɐˈʂɨvətʲ/ - [Formal, often used in agricultural or professional settings]

Frequency: Medium (The verb is used regularly in contexts involving agriculture or gardening but not in daily casual conversation.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, as it involves understanding verb conjugations and context-specific usage; for 'косить', it's straightforward, but 'скашивать' may require more nuance.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

косить: /kɐˈsʲitʲ/ (The stress is on the second syllable; note the palatalized 's' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers.)

Note on косить: This word has a soft 's' sound due to palatalization, similar to the 's' in 'measure' in English. Variations in regional accents may soften it further.

скашивать: /skɐˈʂɨvətʲ/ (Pronounce the 'sh' sound as in 'sheep', with a rolled 'r' in some dialects.)

Note on скашивать: The infinitive ending '-вать' is common in Russian verbs, but pay attention to the initial 's' cluster, which might be aspirated.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To cut or trim grass or crops using a tool like a scythe or mower

Translation(s) & Context:

• косить - Used in informal, everyday scenarios, such as gardening or casual farming.
• скашивать - Applied in more formal or technical contexts, like large-scale agriculture.

Usage Examples:

• Я косил траву в саду весь день, чтобы подготовить участок для пикника.

  I mowed the grass in the garden all day to prepare the area for a picnic.

• Фермеры часто скашивают поля летом, чтобы собрать урожай вовремя.

  Farmers often mow the fields in the summer to harvest the crops on time.

• Если не косить луг регулярно, трава вырастет слишком высокой и закроет вид.

  If you don't mow the meadow regularly, the grass will grow too high and block the view.

• Мой отец учит меня скашивать газон с помощью новой косилки.

  My father is teaching me to mow the lawn with the new mower.

• В жару лучше косить рано утром, чтобы избежать перегрева.

  In the heat, it's better to mow early in the morning to avoid overheating.

To metaphorically cut down or reduce something (less common extension)

Translation(s) & Context:

• косить - In figurative speech, e.g., in literature to mean 'to cut through' obstacles.

Usage Examples:

• Его речь косила наповал аудиторию, заставляя всех задуматься о проблеме.

  His speech mowed down the audience, making everyone think about the issue.

• Война косит жизни молодых людей, как трава под косой.

  War mows down the lives of young people like grass under a scythe.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'косить' and 'скашивать' are verbs of the first conjugation in Russian, which means they follow regular patterns but have variations based on tense, aspect, and person. 'Косить' is imperfective, indicating ongoing actions, while 'скашивать' can be used similarly but often implies a more complete action.

Note: These verbs do not have irregular forms, but aspect changes (e.g., perfective counterparts like 'скосить') are common in Russian to indicate completion.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • стричь (for smaller-scale cutting, like hair or lawns; less common for fields)
  • скашивать (as an alternative to косить, with a slight emphasis on sweeping motion)
• Antonyms:
  • расти (to grow, as it opposes the idea of cutting down)
  • сажать (to plant, implying the opposite action)

Related Phrases:

• косить траву - To mow the grass; commonly used in gardening contexts.
• скашивать поле - To mow the field; refers to agricultural work, often implying large areas.
• косить под корень - To mow down to the root; a figurative phrase meaning to eradicate completely.

Usage Notes:

The English word 'mow' directly corresponds to 'косить' in most casual contexts, but 'скашивать' is preferred for formal or professional scenarios. Be mindful of the imperfective aspect in Russian, which emphasizes the process rather than the result—use perfective forms like 'скосить' for completed actions. In spoken Russian, 'косить' might carry regional connotations, such as rural life, so it's ideal for descriptive narratives. When choosing between translations, opt for 'косить' in everyday English-to-Russian conversions unless the context demands precision.

Common Errors:

• Confusing aspect: English learners often use 'косить' when a perfective verb like 'скосить' is needed. For example, incorrect: "Я косить траву" (implies ongoing action without completion). Correct: "Я скосил траву" for a finished task. Explanation: Russian verbs require aspect agreement to convey tense accurately.

• Mispronouncing palatalization: Learners might say /kɐˈsit/ instead of /kɐˈsʲitʲ/, making it sound like a different word. Explanation: The soft 's' is essential; practice with native audio to avoid confusion with words like 'косить' vs. 'косить' in other contexts.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'косить' is often associated with traditional rural life and folklore, such as in stories or songs about peasants using a scythe (коса). It symbolizes hard labor and the cycles of nature, reflecting historical agricultural practices in Russia, which were central to pre-industrial society.

Related Concepts:

• трава (grass)
• поля (fields)
• урожай (harvest)