Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'petrify'

English Word: petrify

Key Russian Translations:

• окаменеть [ɐ.kɐˈmʲenʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, often used in literary or metaphorical contexts]
• окаменить [ɐ.kɐˈmʲenʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, primarily for literal geological or scientific uses]

Frequency: Low (This word and its translations are not commonly used in everyday conversation but appear in literature, scientific texts, or descriptive narratives.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for both translations, as they involve understanding verb conjugations and contextual nuances in Russian; learners at this level should grasp imperfective and perfective aspects.

Pronunciation (Russian):

окаменеть: [ɐ.kɐˈmʲenʲɪtʲ]

Note on окаменеть: The stress falls on the third syllable ("men"), and the "е" sound can vary slightly in rapid speech. Be mindful of the soft sign (ʲ) which affects the preceding consonant's pronunciation.

окаменить: [ɐ.kɐˈmʲenʲɪtʲ]

Note on окаменить: Similar to окаменеть, but this is the causative form; pronunciation may soften in casual speech, especially in southern Russian dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To turn something into stone (literal, geological sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• окаменить - Used in scientific or descriptive contexts, such as in geology or fossilization processes.

Usage Examples:

• Вулканическая лава может окаменить органические материалы за века. (Volcanic lava can petrify organic materials over centuries.)

  English: Volcanic lava can petrify organic materials over centuries.

• Геологи изучили, как минералы окаменили древние деревья в этом регионе. (Geologists studied how minerals petrified ancient trees in this region.)

  English: Geologists studied how minerals petrified ancient trees in this region.

• Процесс окаменения происходит медленно, превращая кости в камень. (The process of petrification occurs slowly, turning bones into stone.)

  English: The process of petrification occurs slowly, turning bones into stone.

• В музее выставлены окамененные остатки динозавров. (In the museum, petrified remains of dinosaurs are exhibited.)

  English: In the museum, petrified remains of dinosaurs are exhibited.

Meaning 2: To stun or paralyze with fear (figurative sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• окаменеть - Used metaphorically to describe a state of extreme fear or shock, common in literature or emotional descriptions.

Usage Examples:

• От неожиданного шума она окаменела на месте, не в силах пошевелиться. (From the sudden noise, she petrified in place, unable to move.)

  English: From the sudden noise, she petrified in place, unable to move.

• Во время грозы дети окаменели от страха, прижавшись к родителям. (During the storm, the children petrified with fear, clinging to their parents.)

  English: During the storm, the children petrified with fear, clinging to their parents.

• Его речь была так убедительна, что аудитория окаменела в молчании. (His speech was so compelling that the audience petrified into silence.)

  English: His speech was so compelling that the audience petrified into silence.

• При виде привидения, он окаменел, забыв о бегстве. (At the sight of the ghost, he petrified, forgetting about fleeing.)

  English: At the sight of the ghost, he petrified, forgetting about fleeing.

• Окаменев от холода и ужаса, она ждала помощи. (Petrified from the cold and terror, she waited for help.)

  English: Petrified from the cold and terror, she waited for help.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "окаменеть" and "окаменить" are verbs in Russian, with "окаменеть" being an intransitive verb (perfective aspect) and "окаменить" being a transitive verb (also perfective). Russian verbs follow patterns of conjugation based on aspect, tense, and person. These verbs are irregular in some forms due to their roots.

Note: These verbs do not change in a highly irregular way but follow standard perfective patterns. They are aspectual pairs with imperfective forms like "окаменяться" for ongoing processes.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • парализовать (paralizovat' - to paralyze, often for fear)
  • застыть (zastyat' - to freeze or stiffen, more literal)
  • испугать (ispugat' - to frighten, for the fear sense)

  Note: "Парализовать" implies complete immobilization, while "застыть" is milder and more physical.

• Antonyms:
  • освободить (osvobodit' - to free or release)
  • оживить (ozhivit' - to animate or bring to life)

Related Phrases:

• Окаменеть от страха - (To petrify with fear; used to describe sudden terror in storytelling.)
• Окаменить в камне - (To petrify into stone; common in geological or mythical contexts, implying permanence.)
• Застыть как окаменелый - (To freeze like petrified; a phrase for extreme shock, often in literature.)

Usage Notes:

"Petrify" corresponds closely to "окаменеть" in figurative contexts (e.g., fear) and "окаменить" in literal ones. In Russian, choose based on transitivity: use "окаменеть" for self-experienced states and "окаменить" for causing a change. These words are formal and literary, so avoid in casual speech. Grammatically, they are perfective verbs, requiring attention to aspect when forming sentences. For English learners, note that Russian often pairs these with emotional adverbs like "от страха" (from fear) to clarify context.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "окаменеть" with "окаменить" by using the intransitive form when a transitive action is needed. For example, incorrectly saying "Я окаменел дерево" (I petrified the tree) instead of "Я окаменил дерево".

  Correct: "Я окаменил дерево" (I petrified the tree). Explanation: "Окаменеть" is for the subject experiencing the change, not causing it.

• Error: Overusing in casual contexts, e.g., saying "Я окаменел вчера" for a minor scare, which sounds overly dramatic. Correct approach: Reserve for intense situations and pair with appropriate adverbs.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian literature and folklore, words like "окаменеть" often evoke themes from myths, such as Medusa's gaze in Greek stories adapted into Russian tales, symbolizing paralysis by fear or the passage of time turning things to stone. This reflects a cultural emphasis on nature's transformative power and human vulnerability.

Related Concepts:

• паралич (paralich - paralysis)
• застывание (zastyvanie - freezing or solidification)
• минерализация (mineralizatsiya - mineralization)