Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'mute'

English Word: mute

Key Russian Translations:

• Немой [ˈnʲeməj] - [Formal; often used for physical inability to speak]
• Молчаливый [məlʲt͡ɕɐˈlʲivɨj] - [Informal; implies voluntary silence or quietness]
• Заглушить [zəˈɡluʂʲɪtʲ] - [Formal; as a verb, meaning to silence or mute sound]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in everyday language, literature, and technical contexts like audio engineering)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of basic Russian adjectives and verbs, but nuances may vary by context)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Немой: [ˈnʲeməj]

Молчаливый: [məlʲt͡ɕɐˈlʲivɨj]

Заглушить: [zəˈɡluʂʲɪtʲ]

Note on Немой: The stress is on the first syllable; be careful with the palatalized 'н' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers.

Note on Молчаливый: The 'ч' is pronounced as a soft 'ch' sound; this word has a rolling rhythm that can vary in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Silent or not speaking (as an adjective, referring to a person or thing that does not produce sound)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Немой - Used in formal or medical contexts to describe someone who is physically unable to speak, such as due to a disability.
• Молчаливый - Applied in everyday situations for someone who is quiet or reserved by choice, often in social or emotional contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Он родился немым и научился общаться с помощью жестов.

  He was born mute and learned to communicate through gestures.

• В библиотеке все молчаливые посетители сосредоточенно читают книги.

  In the library, all the mute visitors are focused on reading books.

• Дети иногда становятся молчаливыми, когда чувствуют страх.

  Children sometimes become mute when they feel afraid.

• Его немой взгляд выражал глубокую грусть.

  His mute gaze expressed deep sadness.

Meaning 2: To silence or make quiet (as a verb, often in technical or metaphorical contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Заглушить - Commonly used in contexts like audio equipment, music, or figuratively to suppress something, such as emotions.

Usage Examples:

• Он быстро заглушил звук на телефоне, чтобы не беспокоить других.

  He quickly muted the sound on his phone to not disturb others.

• В фильме режиссер заглушил музыку, чтобы подчеркнуть напряжение сцены.

  In the film, the director muted the music to emphasize the tension of the scene.

• Правительство попыталось заглушить протесты, но они только усилились.

  The government tried to mute the protests, but they only intensified.

• Инженер заглушил двигатель, чтобы проверить его на наличие дефектов.

  The engineer muted the engine to check it for defects.

• Она заглушила свои страхи, сосредоточившись на работе.

  She muted her fears by focusing on her work.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "Немой" (an adjective), it follows standard Russian adjective declension patterns. It is a first-declension adjective and changes based on gender, number, and case.

For "Молчаливый" (another adjective), it follows similar patterns as above.

For "Заглушить" (a verb), it is a perfective verb and conjugates irregularly in some forms. Base form: Заглушить. Example: Present tense - Я заглушу (I will mute), but full conjugation is: Заглушить, Заглушишь, etc.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: Безмолвный (completely silent, often poetic), Тихий (quiet, calm; subtle difference in that it's less intense than Немой)
• Antonyms: Громкий (loud), Разговорчивый (talkative; specifically for the adjective sense)

Related Phrases:

• Немой свидетель - A silent witness (used in legal or metaphorical contexts to describe evidence or a person who observes without speaking)
• Заглушить звук - To mute the sound (common in technology and media)
• Молчаливый протест - A silent protest (implies a quiet form of demonstration)

Usage Notes:

"Немой" is the most direct translation for the adjective form of "mute" in English, but it often carries a connotation of permanent inability to speak, such as in medical contexts. Use "Молчаливый" for temporary or voluntary silence to better match everyday English usage. For the verb form, "Заглушить" is ideal for technical scenarios like muting audio, but in metaphorical senses, ensure the context aligns with Russian idioms. Always consider the formality level: "Немой" is more formal, while "Молчаливый" fits informal conversations. When choosing between translations, opt for "Заглушить" if the action is active and deliberate.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "Немой" with "Молчать" (to be silent). English learners might use "Немой" as a verb, but it's an adjective. Correct usage: Say "Он молчит" (He is silent) instead of incorrectly conjugating "Немой".

• Error: Overusing "Заглушить" in non-technical contexts. For example, saying "Я заглушил свой гнев" might sound awkward; better to use "Я подавил свой гнев" (I suppressed my anger) for emotional suppression.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and literature, "Немой" often appears in metaphorical contexts, such as in works by authors like Tolstoy, where it symbolizes unspoken emotions or societal silence. This reflects a broader cultural emphasis on introspection and the power of non-verbal communication, contrasting with more expressive Western norms.

Related Concepts:

• Глухой (deaf)
• Тихий (quiet)
• Подавить (to suppress)