Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'prowl'

English Word: prowl

Key Russian Translations:

• красться [ˈkraʂʲtʲsə] - [Informal, often used for stealthy movement like animals]
• бродить [brɐˈdʲitʲ] - [Common, neutral; can imply wandering or roaming]
• подкрадываться [pədkraˈdɨvat͡sə] - [Formal, emphasizes approaching quietly or stealthily]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in literature and everyday descriptions of movement, but not as high-frequency as basic verbs like "идти")

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and contextual nuances, with красться being slightly more challenging due to its reflexive form)

Pronunciation (Russian):

красться: [ˈkraʂʲtʲsə]

Note on красться: This verb features a soft 'щ' sound (like 'sh' in "she" but softer), which can be tricky for English speakers; it's a reflexive verb ending in -ся.

Audio: Play audio for красться [Insert audio player or link here]

бродить: [brɐˈdʲitʲ]

Note on бродить: The stress is on the second syllable; the 'о' is pronounced as a short 'a' sound, common in Russian verbs.

Audio: Play audio for бродить [Insert audio player or link here]

подкрадываться: [pədkraˈdɨvat͡sə]

Note on подкрадываться: Pay attention to the prefix 'под-', which softens the initial sound; this is a prefixed verb that alters the base meaning.

Audio: Play audio for подкрадываться [Insert audio player or link here]

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To move about stealthily, as in searching for prey or in a suspicious manner (e.g., like a predator).

Translation(s) & Context:

• красться - Used in contexts involving quiet, cautious movement, such as animals hunting or people sneaking; common in narrative or descriptive writing.
• подкрадываться - Applied in more formal or precise scenarios, like military or wildlife descriptions, emphasizing gradual approach.

Usage Examples:

• В темноте тигр крадется к своей добыче.

  In the darkness, the tiger is prowling toward its prey.

• Детектив подкрадывался к дому, чтобы не привлечь внимания.

  The detective was prowling up to the house to avoid drawing attention.

• Кошка крадется по крыше, охотясь за птицами.

  The cat is prowling on the roof, hunting for birds.

• Воры подкрадывались к музею под покровом ночи.

  The thieves were prowling toward the museum under the cover of night.

Meaning 2: To wander or roam aimlessly, often with a sense of unease or purpose (e.g., in urban settings).

Translation(s) & Context:

• бродить - Suitable for general wandering, such as someone strolling streets restlessly; less stealthy than красться.

Usage Examples:

• По ночам он бродит по городу, не находя себе места.

  At night, he prowls the city, unable to find peace.

• Бездомные собаки бродят по улицам в поисках еды.

  Stray dogs prowl the streets in search of food.

• Туристы бродят по старым кварталам, наслаждаясь атмосферой.

  Tourists prowl the old quarters, enjoying the atmosphere (though this use is more neutral).

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations are verbs, which in Russian undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Below is a table for each verb's common forms.

For красться (imperfective, reflexive verb):

Form	Present	Past	Future
I (я)	крадусь	крался/кралась	буду красться
You (ты)	крадешься	крался/кралась	будешь красться
He/She/It	крадётся	крался/кралась	будет красться

Note: This verb is irregular in its reflexive form and changes with gender in the past tense.

For бродить (imperfective verb):

Form	Present	Past	Future
I (я)	брожу	бродил/бродила	буду бродить
You (ты)	бродишь	бродил/бродила	будешь бродить
He/She/It	бродит	бродил/бродила	будет бродить

This verb follows standard first-conjugation patterns and is relatively regular.

For подкрадываться (imperfective, prefixed verb):

It follows similar patterns to красться but adds the prefix 'под-'. Example: Present - подкрадываюсь; Past - подкрадывался/подкрадывалась.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • подсматривать (subtly watch or sneak) - More focused on observation.
  • скитаться (wander aimlessly) - Implies longer-term roaming with a sense of displacement.
  • проникать (infiltrate) - Used in formal or espionage contexts, with a stealthier connotation.
• Antonyms:
  • спокойно идти (walk calmly)
  • оставаться на месте (stay put)
  • убегать (run away)

Related Phrases:

• красться в темноте - To prowl in the dark; used for stealthy night activities.
• бродить без цели - To wander aimlessly; implies purposeless movement in daily life.
• подкрадываться к двери - To creep up to the door; common in suspenseful narratives.

Usage Notes:

"Prowl" often corresponds to красться in contexts of predation or secrecy, but бродить is better for general wandering. In Russian, these verbs are imperfective, focusing on ongoing actions, so pair them with appropriate aspects (e.g., use perfective counterparts like "украсться" for completed actions). Choose based on formality: красться is informal and vivid, while подкрадываться suits written or formal speech. Be mindful of reflexive endings (-ся) which indicate the action is directed at oneself or inherently.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using красться without the reflexive ending, e.g., saying "красть" instead of "красться". Correct: "Красться" is the proper form; "красть" means "to steal". Explanation: English learners often omit reflexive particles, altering the meaning entirely.

• Error: Confusing бродить with more aggressive verbs like "охотиться" (to hunt). Correct: Use бродить for neutral roaming; pair with context clues. Explanation: This can make the sentence sound overly intense when a casual tone is intended.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian literature, such as in works by Chekhov or Dostoevsky, verbs like красться often evoke themes of mystery or existential wandering, reflecting Russia's vast landscapes and historical intrigue. For instance, prowling motifs appear in stories about the Russian wilderness, symbolizing isolation or hidden dangers in society.

Related Concepts:

• охота (hunting)
• странствование (wandering)
• тайна (mystery)