Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'pave'

English Word: pave

Key Russian Translations:

• мощить [mɐʂʲˈʂitʲ] - [Formal, used for paving with stones or bricks]
• асфальтировать [ɐsfɐlʲˈtʲirəvɐtʲ] - [Common, informal, typically for asphalt roads]

Frequency: Low (not an everyday word; more common in construction or technical contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of verb conjugations and specific vocabulary; for 'асфальтировать', it might be B2 due to its technical nature)

Pronunciation (Russian):

мощить: [mɐʂʲˈʂitʲ]

Note on мощить: The 'щ' sound is a voiceless palatal fricative, similar to the 'sh' in 'she' but more hissed; be careful with the stress on the second syllable.

асфальтировать: [ɐsfɐlʲˈtʲirəvɐtʲ]

Note on асфальтировать: This word has multiple syllables with stress on the third; the 'ф' is pronounced as 'f' in 'fun'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To cover a surface with material, especially for roads or paths.

Translation(s) & Context:

• мощить - Used in formal or historical contexts, such as paving with natural materials like stones; common in literature or architecture discussions.
• асфальтировать - Applied to modern road construction with asphalt; often in everyday or technical conversations about urban infrastructure.

Usage Examples:

• Рабочие мощат площадь гравием для фестиваля.

  Workers are paving the square with gravel for the festival.

• Городские власти планируют асфальтировать все улицы в районе.

  City authorities plan to pave all the streets in the district with asphalt.

• В старом городе мы видим, как мощат дороги камнем, сохраняя традиции.

  In the old town, we see roads being paved with stone to preserve traditions.

• Инженеры асфальтируют шоссе, чтобы улучшить трафик.

  Engineers are paving the highway to improve traffic flow.

• Если вы мощите тропинку в саду, используйте прочный материал.

  If you're paving a path in the garden, use durable materials.

To metaphorically prepare or smooth the way (less common usage).

Translation(s) & Context:

• мощить (figuratively) - In literary contexts, meaning to lay the groundwork; rare and formal.

Usage Examples:

• Его речь мощит путь для будущих реформ.

  His speech paves the way for future reforms.

• Эта книга мощит дорогу к пониманию русской истории.

  This book paves the road to understanding Russian history.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'мощить' and 'асфальтировать' are verbs, primarily imperfective. Russian verbs inflect based on tense, aspect, person, and number. 'Мощить' is an imperfective verb, while 'асфальтировать' follows standard first-conjugation patterns with some irregularities due to its compound nature.

For 'мощить' (imperfective):

For 'асфальтировать' (imperfective, follows regular patterns but with prefix variations):

These verbs do not change in gender or case directly, but their objects may require agreement in sentences.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: вымостить (to pave with stones, similar to мощить; more archaic), заасфальтировать (a prefixed variant of асфальтировать, emphasizing completion)
• Antonyms: разрушить (to destroy; implies the opposite action in construction contexts), размыть (to erode, for natural undoing of paving)

Related Phrases:

• Мощить дорогу - To pave the road; used metaphorically for preparing paths in life or projects; context: everyday and literary.
• Асфальтировать улицу - To asphalt the street; common in urban planning discussions; implies modern infrastructure.
• Вымостить площадь - To pave the square; often in historical or architectural contexts; emphasizes durability.

Usage Notes:

'Пave' corresponds closely to 'мощить' in formal or traditional settings, but 'асфальтировать' is more precise for modern contexts involving asphalt. Choose 'мощить' for poetic or historical language, and 'асфальтировать' for technical discussions. Be mindful of aspect: both are imperfective, so pair with perfective forms like 'замостить' or 'заасфальтировать' for completed actions. In Russian, these verbs often require a direct object in the accusative case, e.g., "мощить дорогу" (pave the road).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'мощить' interchangeably with 'асфальтировать' without context. Correct: 'Мощить' is for non-asphalt materials; e.g., Incorrect: "Они мощат шоссе асфальтом" (They are paving the highway with asphalt) – Better: "Они асфальтируют шоссе."
• Error: Forgetting verb conjugation; e.g., saying "Я мощить" instead of "Я мощу." Explanation: Russian verbs must agree with subject in person and number; practice with tables above to avoid this.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'мощить' often evokes historical imagery, such as the cobbled streets of old Russian cities like Moscow or St. Petersburg, symbolizing endurance and tradition. It contrasts with modern 'асфальтировать', which reflects Soviet-era industrialization and rapid urban development, highlighting Russia's evolution from agrarian to industrial society.

Related Concepts:

• дорога (road)
• строительство (construction)
• асфальт (asphalt)
• камни (stones, for traditional paving)