Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'perforate'

English Word: perforate

Key Russian Translations:

• прокалывать (/prə.kɐˈlɨ.vətʲ/) - [Informal, Everyday use]
• перфорировать (/pʲɪr.fɐ.rʲɪˈrə.vətʲ/) - [Formal, Technical, Used in professional or scientific contexts]

Frequency: Medium (This verb is not extremely common in everyday conversation but appears in contexts like crafting, medicine, or manufacturing.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate, according to CEFR; requires understanding of verb conjugations and context-specific usage. For 'прокалывать', it's slightly easier; for 'перфорировать', it may reach B2 due to its technical nature.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

прокалывать: /prə.kɐˈlɨ.vətʲ/

перфорировать: /pʲɪr.fɐ.rʲɪˈrə.vətʲ/

Note on прокалывать: The stress falls on the third syllable ('lɨ'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft 'л' sound; pronounce it with a light, palatalized 'l'. For перфорировать, the initial 'пʲ' is a palatalized 'p', similar to 'py' in "pyramid".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To make a hole or series of holes in something (e.g., paper, material, or skin)

Translation(s) & Context:

• прокалывать - Used in informal settings, such as everyday tasks or descriptions (e.g., piercing with a needle).
• перфорировать - Applied in formal or technical contexts, like industrial processes or medical procedures.

Usage Examples:

• Я прокалываю бумагу, чтобы сделать дырочки для скрепки.

  I perforate the paper to make holes for the staple.

• Врачи иногда перфорируют кожу для введения лекарств.

  Doctors sometimes perforate the skin to administer medications.

• Она прокалывает ткань иголкой, создавая узор.

  She perforates the fabric with a needle to create a pattern.

• Фабрика перфорирует листы металла для вентиляции.

  The factory perforates metal sheets for ventilation.

• Дети любят прокалывать пузырьки в пластике.

  Children love to perforate bubbles in plastic.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'прокалывать' and 'перфорировать' are verbs, so they follow Russian imperfective conjugation patterns. 'Прокалывать' is imperfective, while 'перфорировать' can be used in both imperfective and perfective forms (though 'перфорировать' is often treated as imperfective in common usage). Russian verbs change based on tense, aspect, person, and number.

Note: These verbs do not have irregular forms, but pay attention to the stem changes in present tense conjugations.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • пробивать (to pierce through; similar to прокалывать but implies more force)
  • протыкать (to poke or stab; more casual and less precise)
• Antonyms:
  • запаивать (to seal or close up)
  • заделывать (to patch or fill in)

Related Phrases:

• прокалывать отверстия – Perforate holes (used in crafting or construction contexts).
• перфорировать лист – Perforate a sheet (common in office or industrial settings, e.g., for binding documents).
• прокалывать ухо – Perforate an ear (as in piercing for earrings, with a cultural connotation of jewelry).

Usage Notes:

'Perforate' corresponds closely to 'прокалывать' in informal English-Russian translation, especially for everyday actions, but 'перфорировать' is preferred for technical precision, such as in manufacturing or surgery. Be mindful of the aspect in Russian: use imperfective for ongoing actions and perfective (e.g., проколоть) for completed ones. In formal writing, opt for 'перфорировать' to match professional tone. English speakers often confuse it with simple piercing, so context is key—specify the material or tool involved for accuracy.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'прокалывать' in formal contexts, e.g., saying "Я прокалываю кожу в операции" instead of "Я перфорирую кожу в операции".
  Correct: "Перфорирую" for medical procedures, as it sounds more professional. Explanation: 'Прокалывать' may imply a casual or imprecise action, which can undermine the formality.
• Mistake: Forgetting verb conjugation, e.g., saying "Я прокалывать бумагу" instead of "Я прокалываю бумагу".
  Correct: Always conjugate based on subject (e.g., first person singular). Explanation: Russian verbs must agree with the subject in person and number, unlike English infinitives.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'прокалывать ухо' (perforating the ear) is a common rite for children or young adults getting their ears pierced, often associated with jewelry traditions. It symbolizes personal expression but can carry historical connotations from Soviet-era minimalism to modern fashion influences, highlighting Russia's blend of tradition and contemporary trends.

Related Concepts:

• пробивать
• протыкать
• запаивать