Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'recede'

English Word: recede

Key Russian Translations:

• отступать [ɐtˈstupətʲ] - [Verb, Imperfective, Used in contexts of withdrawal or retreat, e.g., military or physical movement]
• спадать [spɐˈdatʲ] - [Verb, Imperfective, Used for levels decreasing, such as water levels or intensity]
• уменьшаться [uˈmʲenʂət͡sə] - [Verb, Imperfective, Used for reduction in size, quantity, or extent]

Frequency: Medium (The verb forms are commonly encountered in everyday Russian, especially in descriptive or narrative contexts, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "идти").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb aspects and basic inflections. For 'отступать', it may be B2 due to its association with specific contexts like military language.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

отступать: [ɐtˈstupətʲ]

спадать: [spɐˈdatʲ]

уменьшаться: [uˈmʲenʂət͡sə]

Note on отступать: The stress falls on the second syllable; be mindful of the soft 'т' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers due to its palatalization.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To move back or away (e.g., in a physical or metaphorical sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• отступать - Used in contexts of strategic withdrawal, such as in military scenarios or everyday situations like receding hairlines; formal and neutral register.

Usage Examples:

• Войска отступают под натиском противника.

  The troops are receding under enemy pressure. (This example shows 'отступать' in a military context, highlighting imperfective aspect for ongoing action.)

• Волосы начали отступать у него на лбу.

  His hair started to recede on his forehead. (Illustrates metaphorical use in personal description.)

• Когда опасность отступает, люди возвращаются к нормальной жизни.

  When the danger recedes, people return to normal life. (Demonstrates use in abstract, non-physical contexts.)

• Отступать от своих принципов — это признак слабости.

  To recede from one's principles is a sign of weakness. (Shows the verb in a figurative, ethical context.)

To decrease or diminish (e.g., in size, intensity, or level)

Translation(s) & Context:

• спадать - Common in descriptions of natural phenomena, like water levels; informal to neutral.
• уменьшаться - Used for gradual reduction in quantity; versatile across contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Уровень воды в реке начинает спадать после дождей.

  The water level in the river is starting to recede after the rains. (This highlights 'спадать' in a natural, environmental context.)

• Инфляция постепенно уменьшается, но экономика всё ещё нестабильна.

  Inflation is gradually receding, but the economy is still unstable. (Shows 'уменьшаться' in an economic discussion.)

• Боль в ноге спадает, но я всё равно останусь дома.

  The pain in my leg is receding, but I'll still stay home. (Illustrates 'спадать' in a health-related, everyday scenario.)

• С интересом к проекту уменьшается по мере продвижения.

  Interest in the project is receding as it progresses. (Demonstrates 'уменьшаться' in a motivational or professional context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily verbs in the imperfective aspect, which means they describe ongoing or repeated actions. Russian verbs undergo conjugation based on tense, person, number, and gender. Below is a sample conjugation table for 'отступать' (a first-conjugation verb). Other verbs like 'спадать' and 'уменьшаться' follow similar patterns but may have slight irregularities.

For 'спадать' and 'уменьшаться', they are also imperfective and conjugate similarly, but 'уменьшаться' is reflexive, requiring the '-ся' ending. These verbs do not have perfective counterparts in all contexts, but related perfectives like 'отступить' exist for completed actions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • отходить (similar to отступать but more general for moving away; often used interchangeably in casual speech)
  • схлынуть (for liquids receding, with a nuance of flowing back)
• Antonyms:
  • наступать (to advance or approach)
  • увеличиваться (to increase or grow)

Related Phrases:

• Отступать назад - To retreat further; often used in strategic or emotional contexts.
• Спадать на нет - To fade away completely; implies a gradual diminishment to nothing.
• Уменьшаться в размерах - To shrink in size; common in descriptions of objects or phenomena.

Usage Notes:

Russian translations of 'recede' like 'отступать' emphasize the imperfective aspect, which focuses on the process rather than the completion—unlike English, where 'recede' can be neutral. Choose 'отступать' for physical or metaphorical withdrawal, but opt for 'спадать' when dealing with levels or intensities. Be cautious with formal contexts, as these verbs can carry connotations of defeat or loss. In spoken Russian, they pair well with prepositions like 'под' (under) or 'в' (in), e.g., 'под натиском' for pressure-induced recession.

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'отступать' with 'отходить': Learners might use 'отходить' incorrectly in military contexts where 'отступать' implies a more organized retreat. Correct: Войска отступают. Incorrect: Войска отходят (though it works, it lacks the strategic nuance).
• Misapplying aspects: English speakers often forget to use the imperfective for ongoing actions. Correct: Вода спадает (ongoing). Incorrect: Вода спадёт (perfective, implying sudden completion).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'отступать' often evoke historical contexts, such as the retreats during World War II (e.g., the Soviet withdrawal in 1941), symbolizing resilience rather than defeat. This can add a layer of national pride or reflection in literature and media, making it more than a simple verb of movement.

Related Concepts:

• наступление
• прогресс
• сокращение