Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'overcome'

English Word: overcome

Key Russian Translations:

• преодолеть [prʲɪɐdɐˈlʲetʲ] - [Formal, used for overcoming obstacles or challenges]
• справиться [ˈspravʲɪt͡sə] - [Informal, used in everyday contexts for managing or coping with difficulties]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in literature, motivational contexts, and everyday conversation, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "to be" or "to go")

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and contextual usage; "преодолеть" may be slightly more challenging due to its formal tone, while "справиться" is more accessible for B1 learners)

Pronunciation (Russian):

преодолеть: [prʲɪɐdɐˈlʲetʲ]

справиться: [ˈspravʲɪt͡sə]

Note on преодолеть: The stress is on the third syllable ("lʲetʲ"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalized consonants; practice with native speakers for accurate pronunciation.

Note on справиться: This verb often involves reflexive forms, so the "sya" ending affects pronunciation; it's pronounced more fluidly in casual speech.

Audio: []

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To successfully deal with or surmount a problem, obstacle, or difficulty (e.g., physical, emotional, or metaphorical)

Translation(s) & Context:

• преодолеть - Used in formal or literary contexts, such as overcoming fears or challenges in a determined manner.
• справиться - Applied in informal, everyday situations, like coping with daily stresses or tasks.

Usage Examples:

• Он смог преодолеть все препятствия на пути к успеху. (He was able to overcome all obstacles on the path to success.)

  English Translation: He managed to overcome all obstacles on the path to success.

• Ей пришлось справиться с эмоциональными проблемами после потери работы. (She had to overcome emotional issues after losing her job.)

  English Translation: She had to overcome emotional issues after losing her job.

• Команда преодолела трудности и выиграла соревнование. (The team overcame the difficulties and won the competition.)

  English Translation: The team overcame the difficulties and won the competition.

• Я не уверен, смогу ли я справиться с этим заданием в одиночку. (I'm not sure if I can overcome this task on my own.)

  English Translation: I'm not sure if I can overcome this task on my own.

• Преодолеть страх высоты помогло ей в путешествиях. (Overcoming her fear of heights helped her in her travels.)

  English Translation: Overcoming her fear of heights helped her in her travels.

Meaning 2: To defeat or get the better of something, such as an illness or emotion

Translation(s) & Context:

• преодолеть - Often used for more intense or heroic conquests, like overcoming illness.
• справиться - Common in personal development contexts, like managing emotions.

Usage Examples:

• Врач помог ему преодолеть болезнь. (The doctor helped him overcome the illness.)

  English Translation: The doctor helped him overcome the illness.

• Она научилась справиться с тревогой через медитацию. (She learned to overcome anxiety through meditation.)

  English Translation: She learned to overcome anxiety through meditation.

• Преодолеть лень - это первый шаг к продуктивности. (Overcoming laziness is the first step to productivity.)

  English Translation: Overcoming laziness is the first step to productivity.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "преодолеть" and "справиться" are verbs in Russian, which means they undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Russian verbs have imperfective and perfective aspects; "преодолеть" is perfective, indicating a completed action, while "справиться" is often used in its reflexive form.

For "преодолеть" (perfective verb):

For "справиться" (reflexive verb, often with -ся):

Note: These verbs follow regular conjugation patterns but pay attention to gender agreement in the past tense.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: победить (pobedit', to defeat; more intense, often for competitions), одолеть (odoleť, to overcome with effort)
• Antonyms: проиграть (proigrat', to lose), сдаться (sdat'sya, to give up; note that this is more about surrender in challenging situations)

Related Phrases:

• Преодолеть трудности - To overcome difficulties (used in motivational or problem-solving contexts).
• Справиться с проблемой - To handle a problem (common in everyday language for managing issues).
• Преодолеть себя - To overcome oneself (implies personal growth or self-improvement, often in psychological contexts).

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "overcome" is best translated based on context: use "преодолеть" for formal or epic scenarios (e.g., historical narratives), and "справиться" for informal, practical situations. Be mindful of the perfective aspect in "преодолеть," which emphasizes completion, versus the imperfective forms that show ongoing action. English speakers often err by directly translating without considering Russian's aspect system; choose the verb that matches the sentence's time frame. Additionally, "справиться" is reflexive, so always include the "-ся" ending.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "преодолеть" in informal contexts where "справиться" is more natural, e.g., saying "Я преодолел усталость" instead of "Я справился с усталостью." Correct: "справиться" fits better for daily coping. Explanation: "Преодолеть" sounds overly dramatic for minor issues, making the speech sound unnatural.

• Error: Forgetting the reflexive ending in "справиться," e.g., saying "Я справил проблему" instead of "Я справился с проблемой." Correct: Always use "справиться" with "-ся." Explanation: This changes the meaning entirely, as non-reflexive forms might not exist or could imply a different action.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "преодолеть" often carry connotations of resilience and endurance, reflecting historical themes of overcoming adversity in literature (e.g., in works by Tolstoy or modern self-help). This aligns with the cultural value of "сила воли" (willpower), where personal triumph over challenges is celebrated, such as in stories of wartime heroism.

Related Concepts:

• победа (pobeda, victory)
• трудности (trudnosti, difficulties)
• самоконтроль (samokontrol', self-control)