Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'regain'

English Word: regain

Key Russian Translations:

• восстановить [vəs.taˈno.vʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, Verb, Used in contexts involving recovery or restoration]
• вернуть [ˈvʲernʊtʲ] - [Informal/Neutral, Verb, Often used for regaining possession or returning something]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday language, especially in formal writing, news, and health-related discussions)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and context, but accessible to learners with basic Russian grammar knowledge)

Pronunciation (Russian):

восстановить: [vəs.taˈno.vʲɪtʲ]

вернуть: [ˈvʲernʊtʲ]

Note on восстановить: The stress falls on the third syllable ('no'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft consonants; practice with native audio for accurate pronunciation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To get back something that was lost, such as health, control, or possession

Translation(s) & Context:

• восстановить - Used in formal or medical contexts, e.g., regaining strength after illness.
• вернуть - Used in everyday situations, e.g., regaining a lost item.

Usage Examples:

• Я смог восстановить силы после болезни. (Ya smoh voss.ta.no.vitʲ si.ly pos.le bo.lez.ni.)

  I was able to regain my strength after the illness.

• Ему удалось вернуть утраченное доверие. (Yemu udalosʹ vernuty ut.ra.chen.noe do.veriye.)

  He managed to regain the lost trust.

• После тренировки она восстановила контроль над ситуацией. (Pos.le tre.nir.ov.ki ona voss.ta.no.vi.la kon.trolʹ nad sit.u.a.tsei.)

  After the workout, she regained control of the situation.

• Врач помог восстановить зрение пациенту. (Vrač po.moh voss.ta.no.vitʲ zre.ni.ye pa.tci.en.tu.)

  The doctor helped the patient regain their vision.

Meaning 2: To recover or win back something abstract, like confidence or a position

Translation(s) & Context:

• восстановить - Often in psychological or professional contexts, emphasizing restoration.
• вернуть - More casual, for regaining emotional states or social standing.

Usage Examples:

• Он восстановил уверенность в себе после неудачи. (On voss.ta.no.vil u.ver.en.nostʹ v se.be pos.le ne.u.da.chi.)

  He regained his confidence after the failure.

• Команда вернула лидерство в матче. (Ko.man.da ver.nu.la li.der.st.vo v mat.che.)

  The team regained the lead in the match.

• Чтобы восстановить равновесие, ей потребовалось время. (Chtob-y voss.ta.no.vitʲ ra.vno.vesiye, yey po.tre.bo.valosʹ vre.mya.)

  To regain balance, she needed some time.

• Мы вернули утраченные позиции на рынке. (My ver.nu.li ut.ra.chen.nye po.zi.tcii na ryn.ke.)

  We regained our lost positions in the market.

• После кризиса страна восстановила экономическую стабильность. (Pos.le kri.zi.sa stran.a voss.ta.no.vi.la e.ko.no.mi.che.sku.yu sta.bi.lʹ.nostʹ.)

  After the crisis, the country regained economic stability.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are verbs, which undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number in Russian. "Восстановить" is a perfective verb (indicating completion), while "вернуть" can be both perfective and imperfective in related forms.

Note: These verbs follow standard Russian conjugation patterns with no irregularities, but pay attention to stem changes and aspect usage.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • восполнить (vospo.lnitʹ) - Similar to regain, but emphasizes filling a gap; often used for resources.
  • получить обратно (po.lu.chitʹ ob.ra.tno) - Literal synonym for regaining possession.
• Antonyms:
  • потерять (po.te.ryatʹ) - To lose.
  • утратить (u.tratitʹ) - To forfeit or lose permanently.

Related Phrases:

• восстановить равновесие (voss.ta.no.vitʹ ra.vno.vesiye) - To regain balance; used metaphorically for emotional or physical stability.
• вернуть в норму (ver.nuty v nor.mu) - To regain normalcy; common in health or daily life contexts.
• восстановить здоровье (voss.ta.no.vitʹ zdor.o.vʹye) - To regain health; a standard phrase in medical discussions.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "восстановить" is more formal and often implies a process of restoration (e.g., after damage), making it a precise match for "regain" in contexts like health or control. "Вернуть" is broader and informal, focusing on retrieval, so choose based on context—use "вернуть" for tangible items and "восстановить" for abstract concepts. Be mindful of verb aspect: perfective forms (like these) indicate completed actions, while imperfective counterparts (e.g., восстанавливать) show ongoing processes. In formal writing or speech, pair with appropriate prepositions like "после" (after) to indicate the regaining process.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "восстановить" interchangeably with "вернуть" without considering aspect or context. For example, an English learner might say "Я верну силы" when meaning "regain strength over time," but this implies a quick return.
  Correct: "Я восстанавливаю силы" (imperfective for ongoing action). Explanation: "Восстановить" is perfective, so it's better for completed regaining; use imperfective forms for processes.
• Mistake: Incorrect conjugation, e.g., saying "восстановилa" for a male subject.
  Correct: "восстановил" for masculine. Explanation: Russian verbs agree in gender, number, and case, so always match the subject.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like "восстановить силы" often tie into the value of resilience and endurance, influenced by historical events such as wars and economic hardships. For instance, regaining something lost is a common theme in Russian literature (e.g., in works by Tolstoy), symbolizing national recovery and personal triumph over adversity.

Related Concepts:

• восстановление (voss.ta.no.vle.ni.ye)
• возвращение (voz.vra.shche.ni.ye)
• потеря (po.te.rya)