Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'freeze'

English Word: freeze

Key Russian Translations:

• замерзать [zəˈmʲer.zətʲ] - [Verb, Imperfective, Intransitive]
• заморозить [zəˈmʲo.rə.zʲitʲ] - [Verb, Perfective, Transitive]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday contexts like weather descriptions, food preservation, and scientific discussions).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of Russian verb aspects, but basic forms are accessible to learners with moderate exposure).

Pronunciation (Russian):

замерзать: [zəˈmʲer.zətʲ] (The stress is on the second syllable; note the palatalized 'mʲ' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers.)

Note on замерзать: This verb has a soft 'z' sound due to palatalization; practice with native audio to master the subtle vowel shifts in imperfective forms.

Audio: []

заморозить: [zəˈmʲo.rə.zʲitʲ] (Stress on the third syllable; the 'rʲ' indicates a palatalized 'r', common in Russian verbs.)

Note on заморозить: Pay attention to the perfective ending '-ить', which affects pronunciation; it's often pronounced more crisply in formal speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To turn into ice or become very cold (intransitive, e.g., water freezing).

Translation(s) & Context:

• замерзать - Used in contexts describing natural processes or personal experiences of cold, such as in weather reports or daily conversations.

Usage Examples:

• Вода замерзает при нуле градусов.

  Water freezes at zero degrees.

• Руки замерзают на улице зимой.

  Hands freeze outside in winter.

• Озеро замерзает каждую зиму.

  The lake freezes every winter.

• Еда в холодильнике замерзает, если температура слишком низкая.

  Food in the fridge freezes if the temperature is too low.

Meaning 2: To cause something to freeze or preserve by freezing (transitive).

Translation(s) & Context:

• заморозить - Applied in contexts like food storage, scientific experiments, or metaphorical uses, such as freezing assets.

Usage Examples:

• Я заморозил ягоды для зимы.

  I froze the berries for winter.

• Учёные заморозили образцы для исследования.

  Scientists froze the samples for research.

• Банк заморозил мой счёт из-за подозрительной активности.

  The bank froze my account due to suspicious activity.

• Она заморозила овощи, чтобы сохранить их свежесть.

  She froze the vegetables to keep them fresh.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are verbs, so they follow Russian conjugation patterns. 'Замерзать' is imperfective, while 'заморозить' is perfective. Russian verbs change based on tense, aspect, person, and number.

Note: These verbs are regular in their conjugations but require attention to aspect differences; 'замерзать' describes ongoing actions, while 'заморозить' indicates completion.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • охлаждать (to cool, but less specific to freezing)
  • леденеть (to turn to ice, more poetic or literary)
• Antonyms:
  • разморозить (to defrost)
  • нагревать (to heat)

Explanation: 'Охлаждать' is a milder synonym, often used for cooling without full freezing, while 'разморозить' directly opposes the action of freezing.

Related Phrases:

• Замерзнуть насмерть - To freeze to death (used in extreme weather contexts, implying fatal cold exposure).
• Заморозить продукты - To freeze products (common in cooking and storage discussions).
• Лёд замерзает - Ice freezes (a basic phrase for educational or scientific use).

Usage Notes:

Russian verbs like 'замерзать' and 'заморозить' must be chosen based on aspect: use 'замерзать' for ongoing or repeated actions (e.g., "The river is freezing"), and 'заморозить' for completed ones (e.g., "I froze the meat"). English "freeze" can be both, so context guides the choice. These words are neutral in formality but may vary in scientific or everyday speech. Beginners should practice aspect pairs to avoid confusion.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'замерзать' when a perfective verb is needed, e.g., saying "Я замерзаю еду" instead of "Я заморозил еду". Correct: The imperfective implies an ongoing process, which doesn't fit for a completed action. Explanation: This confuses the aspect, making the sentence sound incomplete.

• Error: Mispronouncing the palatalized sounds, e.g., saying [zəˈmer.zat] instead of [zəˈmʲer.zətʲ]. Correct: Ensure the 'mʲ' is soft; practice with audio to refine. Explanation: English speakers often overlook Russian palatalization, leading to misunderstandings.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, freezing is often associated with the harsh winters of Russia, symbolizing endurance and survival. Phrases like "замерзнуть насмерть" appear in literature and folklore, reflecting historical experiences with cold climates, such as in Tolstoy's works or modern discussions of Siberian life.

Related Concepts:

• оттаять (to thaw)
• холод (cold)
• лед (ice)