Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'osculate'

English Word: osculate

Key Russian Translations:

• поцеловать [pət͡sɨləˈvatʲ] - [Verb, Informal; used in everyday contexts for kissing]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature, romantic contexts, and casual speech, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "to say")

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; involves verb conjugation and phonetic challenges for English speakers)

Pronunciation (Russian):

поцеловать: [pət͡sɨləˈvatʲ]

Note on поцеловать: The stress falls on the third syllable (-va-), and the "ц" sound is a voiceless alveolar affricate, which may be challenging for English speakers to distinguish from "ts". Pronunciation can vary slightly in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To kiss someone or something (the primary meaning of "osculate").

Translation(s) & Context:

• поцеловать - Used in informal or affectionate contexts, such as romantic encounters or farewells; equivalent to "to kiss" in English but often implies a more deliberate action.

Usage Examples:

• Он поцеловал её на прощание.

  He kissed her goodbye. (Shows the verb in a farewell context with direct object.)

• Дети поцеловали бабушку перед сном.

  The children kissed their grandmother before bed. (Illustrates use with plural subjects and familial affection.)

• Она нежно поцеловала цветок, как в сказке.

  She gently kissed the flower, as in a fairy tale. (Demonstrates metaphorical or poetic usage.)

• В фильме герой поцеловал актрису под дождем.

  In the movie, the hero kissed the actress in the rain. (Example in a narrative or cinematic context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Поцеловать" is a perfective verb in Russian, meaning it expresses a completed action. It follows the first conjugation pattern and has regular inflections, but like many Russian verbs, it changes based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Below is a conjugation table for the present tense of its imperfective counterpart "целовать" (to kiss, ongoing action), as "поцеловать" is often used in past contexts.

For "поцеловать" in the past tense: Я поцеловал (I kissed, masculine); Я поцеловала (I kissed, feminine). It is invariable in the infinitive form and does not change for gender in the future tense when used with auxiliary verbs.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • целовать (tselovat') - Similar but imperfective, implying ongoing kissing; often used interchangeably in casual speech.
  • поцелуй (potseluy) - Noun form, meaning "kiss," for nominal contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • ударить (udarit') - To hit or strike, contrasting with affectionate actions.
  • оттолкнуть (ottolknut') - To push away, implying rejection.

Related Phrases:

• Поцелуй смерти (Potseluy smerti) - Kiss of death; a phrase used metaphorically for something that leads to ruin.
• Поцелуй мира (Potseluy mira) - Kiss of peace; often in historical or religious contexts, meaning a gesture of reconciliation.
• Целуй меня (Tseluy menya) - Kiss me; a direct, informal command in romantic dialogues.

Usage Notes:

"Поцеловать" directly corresponds to the English "osculate" in its literal sense of kissing, but it's more commonly used in Russian for physical or emotional expressions of affection. Note that Russian verbs have aspects: "поцеловать" is perfective (completed action), while "целовать" is imperfective (ongoing). Use "поцеловать" for one-time events. Be mindful of gender agreement in past tense conjugations. In formal settings, opt for more neutral phrases to avoid cultural missteps, as public displays of affection vary by region.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "поцеловать" without proper gender agreement in the past tense, e.g., saying "Я поцеловала" for a male speaker. Correct: "Я поцеловал" for males. Explanation: Russian past tense verbs agree with the subject's gender, unlike English, which can lead to confusion for learners.

• Error: Confusing it with "целовать" in contexts requiring a completed action, e.g., saying "Я целую её" to mean "I kissed her." Correct: "Я поцеловал её." Explanation: Aspect is crucial in Russian; using the wrong one changes the implied timeline.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, kissing on the cheek is a common greeting among friends and family, especially in Slavic regions, but it can vary by context and relationship. "Поцеловать" might carry romantic connotations in literature or media, as seen in works by authors like Tolstoy, where kisses symbolize deeper emotional bonds. However, in everyday life, it's often lighthearted and not as formal as in some Western cultures.

Related Concepts:

• обнять (obnyat') - To hug
• ласкать (laskat') - To caress
• прощание (proshchanie) - Farewell