Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'prune'

English Word: prune

Key Russian Translations:

• чернослив [t͡ɕɪrnɐˈslʲif] - [Noun, Formal, Singular; Refers to the dried plum fruit]
• обрезать [ɐˈbrʲezətʲ] - [Verb, Informal; Used in contexts of cutting or trimming plants]

Frequency: Medium for 'чернослив' (commonly encountered in food-related discussions); High for 'обрезать' (a general verb in everyday language).

Difficulty: A2 for 'чернослив' (Beginner level, as it's a straightforward noun); B1 for 'обрезать' (Intermediate, due to verb conjugations and contextual usage).

Pronunciation (Russian):

чернослив: [t͡ɕɪrnɐˈslʲif]

обрезать: [ɐˈbrʲezətʲ]

Note on обрезать: The stress is on the second syllable; be cautious with the soft 'р' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. Variations in informal speech may soften the ending.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

As a noun (dried plum)

Translation(s) & Context:

• чернослив - Used in formal or culinary contexts, such as describing dried fruits in recipes or health discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Я ем чернослив для улучшения пищеварения. (Ya yem chernosliv dlya uluchsheniya pishchevareniya.)

  I eat prunes to improve digestion.

• В магазине есть свежий чернослив из Турции. (V magazine yest' svyezhiy chernosliv iz Turtsii.)

  In the store, there are fresh prunes from Turkey.

• Чернослив часто добавляют в выпечку. (Chernosliv chasto dobavlyayut v vypyechku.)

  Prunes are often added to baked goods.

• Моя бабушка готовит компот из чернослива. (Moya babushka gotovit kompot iz chernosliva.)

  My grandmother makes compote from prunes.

As a verb (to trim or cut back)

Translation(s) & Context:

• обрезать - Applied in gardening, editing, or general cutting; informal in everyday speech, but can be formal in professional contexts like horticulture.

Usage Examples:

• Мне нужно обрезать кусты в саду. (Mne nuzhno obrezat' kushty v sadu.)

  I need to prune the bushes in the garden.

• Обрежьте видео, чтобы оно было короче. (Obrezte video, chtoby ono bylo koroche.)

  Prune the video to make it shorter.

• Садовник обрезает деревья каждую весну. (Sadovnik obrezet derev'ya kazhduyu vesnu.)

  The gardener prunes the trees every spring.

• Она обрезала волосы у парикмахера. (Ona obrezala volosy u parikmakhera.)

  She got her hair pruned (trimmed) at the hairdresser.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'чернослив' (a masculine noun), it follows standard Russian noun declension patterns. It is invariable in plural forms for general references but can inflect by case.

For 'обрезать' (a verb of the first conjugation), it is irregular in some aspects. Here is a basic conjugation table for the present tense:

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms for чернослив: сухая слива (slightly more general, used interchangeably in casual contexts)
• Synonyms for обрезать: стричь (more specific to hair or plants), укорачивать (to shorten)
• Antonyms for обрезать: расти (to grow), удлинять (to lengthen)

Related Phrases:

• Ешьте чернослив для здоровья - Eat prunes for health (a common health advice phrase).
• Обрезать ветки дерева - To prune the tree branches (used in gardening contexts).
• Домашний компот из чернослива - Homemade compote from prunes (a traditional Russian dessert phrase).

Usage Notes:

'Чернослив' directly corresponds to the English 'prune' as a noun and is commonly used in food and health contexts, but it's more formal than everyday slang. For the verb 'обрезать', it aligns with 'to prune' in gardening but can also mean general cutting; choose it over synonyms like 'стричь' when precision is needed. Be mindful of context: in Russian, verbs like this require agreement with gender, number, and case, which differs from English simplicity.

• In formal writing, use 'чернослив' for culinary descriptions.
• Avoid 'обрезать' in contexts where 'укорачивать' might be more appropriate for abstract shortening.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse 'обрезать' with 'резать' (to cut), leading to misuse in gardening contexts. For example, an incorrect usage might be: "Я режу дерево" (meaning "I cut the tree" in a destructive way), whereas the correct is: "Я обрезаю дерево" (I prune the tree, implying careful trimming). This error stems from overlooking the specific connotation of 'обрезать' for maintenance rather than general cutting.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'чернослив' is not just a food item but symbolizes health and longevity, often featured in traditional recipes like compotes or in folk medicine. It's commonly associated with winter preserves, reflecting Russia's seasonal eating habits and emphasis on preserved foods during harsh winters.

Related Concepts:

• слива (plum)
• садоводство (gardening)
• укоренение (rooting or establishing plants)