Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'nudge'

English Word: nudge

Key Russian Translations:

• толкнуть [tɐlʲˈkunʲtʲ] - [Informal, Everyday use for a gentle push]
• подтолкнуть [pədtɐlʲˈkunʲtʲ] - [Formal or slightly more emphatic, used in contexts requiring a bit more force or politeness]
• толчок [ˈtoltɕək] - [Noun form, Informal, for the act or object of a nudge]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday conversations and literature, but not as ubiquitous as basic verbs like "сказать").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and context, as per CEFR standards. For 'толкнуть' and 'подтолкнуть', it's B1; for 'толчок' as a noun, it's A2 due to simpler declension.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

толкнуть: [tɐlʲˈkunʲtʲ] (Stress on the second syllable; the 'л' is palatalized, which can be tricky for beginners.)

подтолкнуть: [pədtɐlʲˈkunʲtʲ] (Similar to 'толкнуть', but with a prefixed 'под-', affecting the initial pronunciation; note the soft 'д' sound.)

толчок: [ˈtoltɕək] (Stress on the first syllable; the 'ч' is a soft palatal fricative, common in Russian nouns.)

Note on толкнуть: This verb often has a reduced vowel in casual speech, sounding like [tɐlʲkʊntʲ] in fast contexts, which can lead to mispronunciation by learners.

Note on подтолкнуть: Pay attention to the prefix 'под-', which softens the action; it's pronounced with a light aspiration.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Verb: To push someone or something gently, often to attract attention or prompt action.

Translation(s) & Context:

• толкнуть - Used in informal, everyday situations, such as in social interactions or casual reminders.
• подтолкнуть - Applied in more formal or deliberate contexts, like encouraging someone without being abrupt.

Usage Examples:

• Он толкнул меня локтем, чтобы привлечь внимание. (On tolknul menya loktem, chtoby privlech' vnimanie.)

  He nudged me with his elbow to get my attention. (This shows 'толкнуть' in a physical, informal context.)

• Подруга подтолкнула меня в сторону двери, сигнализируя уход. (Podруга podtolknula menya v storonu dveri, signaliziruya ukhod.)

  My friend nudged me toward the door, signaling it was time to leave. (Illustrates 'подтолкнуть' in a subtle, guiding context.)

• В толпе кто-то толкнул меня, и я чуть не упал. (V tolpe kto-to tolknul menya, i ya chut' ne upal.)

  In the crowd, someone nudged me, and I almost fell. (Demonstrates 'толкнуть' in a crowded, accidental scenario.)

• Я подтолкнула ребенка, чтобы он быстрее шел. (Ya podtolknula rebenka, chtoby on bystree shel.)

  I nudged the child to make him walk faster. (Shows 'подтолкнуть' with a nurturing or urgent tone.)

• Толчок в спину заставил меня оглянуться. (Tolkok v spinu zastavil menya ogljanut'sya.)

  The nudge in the back made me turn around. (Uses 'толчок' as a noun in a reflexive context.)

Noun: A gentle push or prod, often metaphorical for a hint or reminder.

Translation(s) & Context:

• толчок - Common for physical or figurative nudges, in both informal and neutral contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Его толчок был сигналом к началу разговора. (Ego tolok byl signalom k nachalu razgovora.)

  His nudge was a signal to start the conversation. (Figurative use of 'толчок' for prompting.)

• В письме был легкий толчок, намекающий на проблему. (V pis'me byl legkiy tolok, namekayushchiy na problemu.)

  The letter contained a gentle nudge hinting at the issue. (Metaphorical application in written communication.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'толкнуть' and 'подтолкнуть' (verbs, perfective aspect), these are imperfective-perfective pairs. 'Толкнуть' is perfective, meaning it describes a completed action, while its imperfective counterpart is 'толкать'. Similarly, 'подтолкнуть' is perfective, with 'подталкивать' as imperfective.

Verb conjugations for 'толкнуть' (as an example; irregular in some aspects):

For 'толчок' (noun, masculine, 2nd declension), it inflects regularly:

• Singular: Nominative - толчок; Genitive - толчка; Dative - толчку; etc.
• Plural: Nominative - толчки; Genitive - толчков; etc.

Note: These verbs do not have irregular forms beyond standard Russian patterns, making them moderately predictable.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • пихнуть (pikhnyt') - More forceful than 'толкнуть', often used for a quick shove.
  • подтолкнуть (already listed as key translation, but as a synonym here for nuance).
• Antonyms:
  • оттолкнуть (ottolknut') - To push away, implying separation or rejection.

Related Phrases:

• Толкнуть в бок (Tolknyt' v bok) - To nudge in the side; used for discreet signals in social settings.
• Подтолкнуть к действию (Podtolknut' k deystviyu) - To give a nudge toward action; a motivational phrase.
• Легкий толчок (Legkiy tolok) - A gentle nudge; often in contexts of encouragement or playfulness.

Usage Notes:

'Толкнуть' is the most direct equivalent to the English 'nudge' in informal contexts, while 'подтолкнуть' adds a sense of direction or encouragement, making it suitable for more polite or metaphorical uses. Be mindful of context: in Russian, these words often imply physical contact, unlike English 'nudge' which can be purely figurative. For grammar, always conjugate based on aspect (perfective for completed actions). When choosing between translations, opt for 'подтолкнуть' in formal writing or when emphasizing intent.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'толкнуть' in formal contexts where 'подтолкнуть' is more appropriate, e.g., saying "Я толкнул начальника" instead of "Я подтолкнул начальника" for a gentle office reminder. Correct: The latter conveys politeness without aggression.
• Mistake: Forgetting verb aspect; learners might use the imperfective 'толкать' when a perfective is needed, e.g., "Я толкаю тебя" (ongoing) vs. "Я толкнул тебя" (completed). Explanation: Russian requires precise aspect to indicate action completion, which English 'nudge' doesn't always specify.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, a physical 'nudge' like 'толкнуть' is common in crowded public spaces, such as metros or markets, as a non-verbal way to navigate without offense. However, it can carry subtle social implications, like impatience or familiarity, so overuse might be seen as rude in formal settings, reflecting Russia's emphasis on personal space in interpersonal dynamics.

Related Concepts:

• удар (udar) - Hit or strike.
• сигнал (signal) - Signal, often related to non-verbal communication.
• подсказка (podskazka) - Hint or prompt, for metaphorical nudges.