Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'plummet'

English Word: plummet

Key Russian Translations:

• рухнуть [ruˈxnutʲ] - [Informal, often used for sudden, dramatic falls]
• обвалиться [ɐbvɐˈlʲit͡sə] - [Formal, implies a collapse or steep decline in various contexts]
• падение [pɐˈdʲenʲje] - [Neutral, as a noun for the act of plummeting]

Frequency: Medium (Common in news, literature, and everyday discussions about economics or disasters)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and contextual usage for learners at this CEFR level)

Pronunciation (Russian):

рухнуть: [ruˈxnutʲ]

обвалиться: [ɐbvɐˈlʲit͡sə]

падение: [pɐˈdʲenʲje]

Note on рухнуть: The 'х' sound is a guttural fricative, similar to the 'ch' in Scottish "loch"; be careful with stress on the first syllable.

Note on обвалиться: The prefix 'об-' adds a sense of completeness; pronounce with a soft 'л' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To fall suddenly and steeply (Verb form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• рухнуть - Used in dramatic contexts like stock market crashes or building collapses; informal and vivid.
• обвалиться - Applied in formal settings, such as geological events or economic downturns; emphasizes total failure.

Usage Examples:

• Акции компании рухнули после скандала.

  The company's stocks plummeted after the scandal.

• Цены на нефть обвалились из-за глобального кризиса.

  Oil prices plummeted due to the global crisis.

• Самолет рухнул в океан во время шторма.

  The plane plummeted into the ocean during the storm.

• Инфляция обвалилась, но экономика все еще нестабильна.

  Inflation plummeted, but the economy is still unstable.

2. A sudden, steep decline (Noun form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• падение - Used metaphorically for declines in value, temperature, or morale; neutral and versatile.

Usage Examples:

• Падение курса валюты шокировало инвесторов.

  The plummet in currency value shocked investors.

• Быстрое падение температуры привело к снегопаду.

  The sudden plummet in temperature led to snowfall.

• Экономическое падение длилось несколько месяцев.

  The economic plummet lasted for several months.

• Падение популярности бренда было неизбежным.

  The plummet in the brand's popularity was inevitable.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For verbs like "рухнуть" and "обвалиться" (perfective verbs), they follow irregular conjugation patterns in Russian. "Рухнуть" is often used in perfective aspect and conjugates based on person and tense.

For the noun "падение", it is a neuter noun that declines regularly in cases and numbers:

These verbs do not have imperfective forms directly, but "падение" as a noun remains stable in its root.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • упасть (upast') - Similar but less dramatic; used for general falling.
  • обрушиться (obrushitsya) - Emphasizes sudden collapse, often in structural contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • подняться (podnjat'sya) - To rise or ascend.
  • взлететь (vzletet') - To soar or take off rapidly.

Related Phrases:

• рухнуть в бездну - To plummet into the abyss (Used metaphorically for total failure or despair).
• обвал цен - Plummet in prices (Common in economic discussions).
• падение спроса - Decline in demand (Refers to market or consumer behavior).

Usage Notes:

"Plummet" as "рухнуть" is a perfective verb, ideal for completed actions, while "обвалиться" suits formal or catastrophic events. Choose based on context: use "рухнуть" for everyday informal speech and "падение" for nominal descriptions. Be mindful of aspect in Russian sentences, as it affects tense and meaning. For example, in financial contexts, "падение" aligns closely with English "plummet" but requires genitive case for possession.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "рухнуть" interchangeably with "упасть" without considering intensity. Incorrect: "Акции упали резко" (implies a general fall). Correct: "Акции рухнули" (conveys sudden plummet). Explanation: "Рухнуть" emphasizes drama, so overuse can sound hyperbolic.
• Mistake: Forgetting noun declensions, e.g., saying "падение валюты" in the wrong case. Incorrect: "О падение" (wrong preposition-case match). Correct: "О падении" (prepositional case). Explanation: Russian requires precise case agreement, which English learners often overlook.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "рухнуть" often appear in literature and media to describe historical events, such as the economic collapses during the 1990s or in works by authors like Tolstoy, symbolizing rapid downfall. This reflects a cultural emphasis on resilience amid sudden changes, common in Russian history.

Related Concepts:

• кризис (crisis)
• обвал рынка (market crash)
• падение уровня (level decline)