Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'overturn'

English Word: overturn

Key Russian Translations:

• перевернуть [pɪrʲɪˈvʲernutʲ] - [Informal, often used for physical flipping or turning over objects]
• опрокинуть [ɐprɐˈkʲinutʲ] - [Formal, commonly used for tipping over or overturning in a more metaphorical sense, such as in accidents or abstract contexts]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are encountered in everyday conversations, literature, and news, but not as common as basic verbs like "to go" or "to see").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; learners at this level can grasp the basic usage, but mastering inflections and contextual nuances requires practice. For 'перевернуть', it's B1; for 'опрокинуть', it's also B1 due to similar verb patterns).

Pronunciation (Russian):

перевернуть: [pɪrʲɪˈvʲernutʲ]

Note on перевернуть: The stress falls on the third syllable ('vʲernutʲ'). Be careful with the palatalized 'rʲ' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers. It can vary slightly in rapid speech.

опрокинуть: [ɐprɐˈkʲinutʲ]

Note on опрокинуть: Stress is on the third syllable ('kʲinutʲ'). The initial 'ɐ' is a reduced vowel, similar to a schwa, and the 'kʲ' is palatalized, which might sound like a soft 'k' to English ears.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To turn something upside down or flip it over (physical action).

Translation(s) & Context:

• перевернуть - Used in informal contexts for literal flipping, such as objects or vehicles. Context: Everyday situations, like accidents or games.
• опрокинуть - Used in more formal or descriptive contexts for tipping over, often implying force or unintended action. Context: Narratives, reports, or formal descriptions.

Usage Examples:

• Он перевернул стул во время игры. (He overturned the chair during the game.)

  Translation: He flipped the chair over during the game. (This example shows the verb in a casual, physical context with a direct object.)

• Водитель опрокинул машину на скользкой дороге. (The driver overturned the car on the slippery road.)

  Translation: The driver tipped the car over on the slippery road. (Illustrates use in an accidental scenario, emphasizing force.)

• Дети перевернули коробку с игрушками. (The children overturned the box of toys.)

  Translation: The children flipped the box of toys. (Demonstrates plural subject and everyday domestic use.)

• Сильный ветер опрокинул забор. (The strong wind overturned the fence.)

  Translation: The strong wind tipped the fence over. (Shows metaphorical force in natural contexts.)

Meaning 2: To reverse or overthrow something, such as a decision or government (abstract or metaphorical action).

Translation(s) & Context:

• опрокинуть - Used in formal or political contexts for overturning decisions or systems. Context: Legal, historical, or debate scenarios.
• перевернуть - Less common in abstract senses but can be used informally for radical changes. Context: Colloquial discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Суд опрокинул предыдущее решение. (The court overturned the previous decision.)

  Translation: The court reversed the previous decision. (This highlights formal, legal usage with a metaphorical sense.)

• Революция перевернула социальную структуру. (The revolution overturned the social structure.)

  Translation: The revolution flipped the social structure. (Shows application in historical or societal contexts.)

• Они опрокинули старый закон. (They overturned the old law.)

  Translation: They reversed the old law. (Illustrates use in reformative or political discourse.)

• Новые идеи перевернули мой взгляд на мир. (New ideas overturned my view of the world.)

  Translation: New ideas flipped my view of the world. (Demonstrates personal, introspective use.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'перевернуть' and 'опрокинуть' are verbs of the first conjugation in Russian, which means they follow regular patterns but have irregularities in some forms. They are perfective verbs, often used with aspects to indicate completion.

Note: These verbs do not change in gender or number in the infinitive form and follow standard aspectual pairings (e.g., imperfective counterparts are 'переворачивать' and 'опрокидывать').

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: опрокинуть (similar to overturn in force), свергнуть (for abstract overthrow, e.g., of a government) - 'свергнуть' is more intense and often used in political contexts.
• Antonyms: установить (to establish), сохранить (to preserve) - 'установить' implies setting up something stable, contrasting with disruption.

Related Phrases:

• перевернуть вверх дном - To turn upside down; often used figuratively for thorough searching or chaos. (e.g., They turned the room upside down looking for the keys.)
• опрокинуть стол - To tip over the table; a common phrase in descriptions of accidents or arguments. (e.g., In anger, he tipped over the table.)

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'перевернуть' is more casual and physical, while 'опрокинуть' can extend to metaphorical uses, similar to how 'overturn' works in English. Choose 'опрокинуть' for formal writing or legal contexts, and 'перевернуть' for everyday speech. Be mindful of aspect: use perfective for completed actions. English learners should note that Russian verbs require agreement in person, number, and gender in past tense, which has no direct equivalent in English.

• Avoid direct word-for-word translation; context dictates the best choice (e.g., physical vs. abstract).
• In spoken Russian, these verbs often pair with prepositions like 'вверх дном' for emphasis.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse the perfective and imperfective aspects. For example, incorrectly using 'перевернуть' (perfective) when describing an ongoing action: Error - "Я перевернул книгу" to mean "I am overturning the book" (wrong, as it implies completion). Correct: Use the imperfective "переворачиваю". Another error is misapplying gender in past tense: Error - "Она перевернул" (incorrect masculine form); Correct: "Она перевернула". This stems from English's lack of gender agreement, so always check the subject's gender.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like 'опрокинуть стол' can evoke scenes from literature or folklore, such as in stories by Tolstoy, where overturning objects symbolizes chaos or rebellion. This reflects a broader cultural emphasis on dramatic expressions of emotion, differing from more restrained English idioms.

Related Concepts:

• свергнуть
• переворачивать
• опрокидывать