Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'ogle'

English Word: ogle

Key Russian Translations:

• пялиться [pjəˈlʲitsə] - [Informal, often used in everyday conversations to describe staring intently or leering]
• любоваться [lʲʊboˈvatsə] - [Neutral, but can imply admiration; used when the staring is more appreciative than intrusive]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in informal spoken Russian, especially in literature or casual dialogue, but not as frequent in formal writing)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of imperfective verbs and context-dependent connotations, with variations based on translation—e.g., 'пялиться' is straightforward for intermediates, while nuances of 'любоваться' may approach B2)

Pronunciation (Russian):

пялиться: [pjəˈlʲitsə]

любоваться: [lʲʊboˈvatsə]

Note on пялиться: The 'п' is pronounced with a soft, aspirated sound, and the stress on the second syllable can be tricky for learners; variations in fast speech may soften the 'лʲ' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: To stare at someone with desire or admiration, often in a way that feels intrusive.

Translation(s) & Context:

• пялиться - Used in informal contexts, such as describing unwanted attention in social settings.
• любоваться - Applied in more positive or neutral scenarios, like admiring beauty without negative intent.

Usage Examples:

• Он пялился на неё через всю комнату, не скрывая своего интереса. (He was ogling her from across the room, not hiding his interest.)

  English Translation: He was ogling her from across the room, not hiding his interest.

• Девушка любовалась витриной магазина, но прохожий подумал, что она пялится на него. (The girl was admiring the store window, but the passerby thought she was ogling him.)

  English Translation: The girl was admiring the store window, but the passerby thought she was ogling him. (This example shows the contrast between neutral and intrusive staring.)

• В толпе он пялился на знаменитость, вызывая неловкость вокруг. (In the crowd, he was ogling the celebrity, causing awkwardness around him.)

  English Translation: In the crowd, he was ogling the celebrity, causing awkwardness around him. (Demonstrates use in a public, informal setting.)

• Она любовалась картиной в музее, но некоторые посетители ошибочно воспринимали это как пялиться. (She was admiring the painting in the museum, but some visitors mistakenly perceived it as ogling.)

  English Translation: She was admiring the painting in the museum, but some visitors mistakenly perceived it as ogling. (Highlights grammatical subtlety in verb aspect.)

• Молодой человек пялился на экран телефона, игнорируя разговор. (The young man was ogling his phone screen, ignoring the conversation.)

  English Translation: The young man was ogling his phone screen, ignoring the conversation. (Extends to metaphorical use in modern contexts.)

Secondary Meaning: To look at something with intense interest or scrutiny.

Translation(s) & Context:

• пялиться - In non-romantic contexts, like staring at an object curiously.

Usage Examples:

• Дети пялились на фейерверк, не моргая. (The children were ogling the fireworks, without blinking.)

  English Translation: The children were ogling the fireworks, without blinking.

• Он пялился на карту, пытаясь найти дорогу. (He was ogling the map, trying to find the way.)

  English Translation: He was ogling the map, trying to find the way. (Shows use in everyday problem-solving.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are verbs, which in Russian undergo conjugation based on aspect, tense, and person. 'Пялиться' is an imperfective verb, meaning it describes ongoing actions, while 'любоваться' is also imperfective but can be paired with perfective forms for completion.

Note: These verbs are reflexive (ending in -ся), so they always include the reflexive particle and follow standard conjugation patterns without irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • разглядывать (razglyadyvat') - More neutral, implies careful examination; often used interchangeably with 'пялиться' in non-intrusive contexts.
  • взирать (vzirat') - Formal synonym, with a slightly more elevated tone.
• Antonyms:
  • отводить взгляд (otvodit' vzglyad) - To look away or avert one's gaze.
  • игнорировать (ignorirovat') - To ignore completely.

Related Phrases:

• Пялиться как баран на новые ворота - Literally: To ogle like a sheep at new gates; meaning to stare blankly or foolishly at something unfamiliar. (Used to describe naive or excessive staring.)
• Любоваться красотой - To ogle/admire beauty; a common phrase in poetic or everyday contexts for appreciating aesthetics. (Implies positive connotation.)

Usage Notes:

'Ogle' in English often carries a negative or flirtatious undertone, which aligns closely with 'пялиться' in Russian informal speech. However, 'любоваться' is safer for neutral admiration to avoid offense. Be mindful of context: in formal Russian, these verbs are rare; opt for descriptive phrases instead. When choosing between translations, select 'пялиться' for intrusive staring and 'любоваться' for positive interest. Grammatically, both are imperfective, so they work well in continuous descriptions.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'пялиться' in formal contexts, e.g., saying "Я пялюсь на картину" instead of "Я разглядываю картину" in a professional setting. Correct: "Я разглядываю картину" – This is more polite and appropriate, as 'пялиться' can sound vulgar.
• Mistake: Confusing the reflexive form, e.g., forgetting the '-ся' ending, saying "пялить" instead of "пялиться". Correct: Always include '-ся' for reflexive action; otherwise, it changes the meaning entirely.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, staring or 'ogling' can be seen as rude or invasive, especially in public spaces, reflecting collectivist values where direct eye contact is minimized to avoid confrontation. Phrases like 'пялиться как баран' highlight a humorous take on naivety, often drawn from folk traditions.

Related Concepts:

• взгляд (vzglyad) - Gaze
• наблюдение (nabljudeniye) - Observation
• привлекательность (privlekatel'nost') - Attractiveness