Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'push'

English Word: push

Key Russian Translations:

• толкать [ˈtol.kətʲ] - [Informal, used for physical pushing]
• нажимать [nɐˈʐɨ.mətʲ] - [Formal, used for pressing buttons or applying pressure]
• толчок [ˈtol.t͡ɕək] - [Noun form, Informal, refers to a shove or push as a noun]

Frequency: Medium (The word and its translations are commonly used in everyday conversations and technical contexts, but not as ubiquitous as basic verbs like "to go").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; learners at this level can grasp basic usage, but mastering inflections and contextual nuances may require practice. For 'толкать' as a verb: B1; for 'нажимать': A2 due to simpler conjugation.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

толкать: [ˈtol.kətʲ] (The stress is on the first syllable; note the palatalized 'т' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers.)

нажимать: [nɐˈʐɨ.mətʲ] (Stress on the second syllable; the 'ж' is a voiced palatal fricative, similar to the 's' in 'measure'.)

толчок: [ˈtol.t͡ɕək] (Stress on the first syllable; the 'ч' is a voiceless palatal affricate, like 'ch' in 'church'.)

Note on толкать: This verb has vowel reductions in unstressed syllables, common in Russian; for example, the 'o' in the first syllable may sound closer to [a] in casual speech.

Note on нажимать: Pay attention to the soft sign 'ь' at the end, which indicates palatalization but doesn't affect pronunciation directly.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

As a verb meaning to apply force or propel something

Translation(s) & Context:

• толкать - Used in everyday physical contexts, such as pushing a door or a person; Informal, often in casual or urgent situations.
• нажимать - Used for pressing buttons, levers, or in metaphorical senses like pushing for change; Formal, common in technical or professional settings.

Usage Examples:

• Толкай дверь сильнее, она заклинилась. (Tolkaĭ dver' sil'neye, ona zaklinilas'.)

  Push the door harder; it's jammed. (This example shows 'толкать' in an imperative form for physical action.)

• Не толкай меня, я иду! (Ne tolkaĭ menya, ya idu!)

  Don't push me; I'm going! (Illustrates 'толкать' in a prohibitive context with personal interaction.)

• Нажимай кнопку, чтобы открыть дверь. (Nazyimaĭ knópku, chtoby otkryt' dver'.)

  Press the button to open the door. (Demonstrates 'нажимать' in a technological or mechanical context.)

• Он нажимал на газ, чтобы ускорить машину. (On nazyimal na gaz, chtoby uskorit' mashinu.)

  He pushed the gas pedal to speed up the car. (Shows 'нажимать' in a vehicular scenario, emphasizing control.)

As a noun meaning a shove or an act of pushing

Translation(s) & Context:

• толчок - Refers to a sudden push or jolt; Informal, often in physical or idiomatic expressions.

Usage Examples:

• Его толчок заставил меня упасть. (Yego tolchok zastavil menya upast'.)

  His push made me fall. (This highlights 'толчок' as a noun in a physical accident context.)

• В толпе был сильный толчок. (V tolpe byl sil'nyĭ tolchok.)

  There was a strong push in the crowd. (Illustrates 'толчок' in a crowded, dynamic environment.)

• Толчок в спину помог ему перелезть забор. (Tolchok v spinu pomog yemu perezlet' zabór.)

  The push in the back helped him climb over the fence. (Shows 'толчок' in an assistive or adventurous context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'толкать' (verb, imperfective aspect): This is an irregular verb in the first conjugation group. It undergoes changes based on tense, person, and number. Below is a basic conjugation table:

For 'нажимать' (verb, imperfective): Similar to 'толкать', it's first conjugation and follows regular patterns with palatalization.

For 'толчок' (noun, masculine): It declines as a third-declension noun. It is invariable in plural forms in some contexts but changes by case:

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • давить (dav-it') - Similar to 'push' but implies more pressure; used for squeezing.
  • штурмовать (shtur-mo-vat') - For 'push' in a forceful, aggressive context like storming a building.
• Antonyms:
  • тянуть (tya-nut') - To pull, the opposite of pushing.
  • отталкивать (ot-tal-ki-vat') - To repel or push away.

Related Phrases:

• Толкать речь (Tolkať reč') - To push a speech (meaning to give an impromptu talk); used in informal settings to describe spontaneous public speaking.
• Нажимать на педаль (Nazyimat' na pedaľ) - To press the pedal (e.g., in driving); a common phrase in automotive contexts.
• Дать толчок (Dat' tolchok) - To give a push (metaphorically, to initiate something); implies starting a process or motivating action.

Usage Notes:

The English 'push' corresponds closely to 'толкать' for physical actions but may require 'нажимать' in digital or mechanical contexts. Be mindful of formality: 'толкать' is more casual and can sound abrupt, while 'нажимать' suits professional scenarios. In Russian, verbs like these often require aspectual pairs (e.g., 'толкнуть' as perfective for 'to push once'), so choose based on whether the action is ongoing or completed. For learners, start with nominative forms and build to inflections for accurate sentence construction.

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'толкать' with 'толкнуть': Learners might use 'толкать' for a one-time action; correct is 'толкнуть' for perfective (e.g., Wrong: "Я толкаю дверь" for a single push; Right: "Я толкнул дверь").
• Overusing 'push' as 'пуш' in tech: In Russian, 'push' notifications are often borrowed as 'пуш', but natives prefer 'уведомление' for clarity; Error: "Отправь пуш" (informal slang); Correct: "Отправь уведомление".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like 'дать толчок' can metaphorically refer to historical events, such as the push for reforms in the 19th century, emphasizing Russia's revolutionary history. This reflects a cultural emphasis on collective action and resilience, where 'pushing' often symbolizes overcoming obstacles in literature and daily life.

Related Concepts:

• shove (толчок)
• pressure (давление)
• force (сила)