Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'retell'

English Word: retell

Key Russian Translations:

• переска́зать [pʲɪrʲɪˈskazətʲ] - [Formal, Used in narrative contexts]
• рассказа́ть [rəsˈkazətʲ] - [Informal, Often used interchangeably but with a broader sense]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday storytelling and educational contexts, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "сказать").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of perfective aspect in Russian verbs, though "переска́зать" follows regular patterns once basic conjugation is learned).

Pronunciation (Russian):

переска́зать: [pʲɪrʲɪˈskazətʲ]

рассказа́ть: [rəsˈkazətʲ]

Note on переска́зать: Stress falls on the third syllable ("ска́"), which is a common point of difficulty for English speakers. The "р" is rolled, and the verb has a perfective aspect, indicating completion.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: To tell a story, event, or information again, often in one's own words or from memory.

Translation(s) & Context:

• переска́зать - Used in formal or educational settings, such as retelling a book summary; common in written and spoken narratives.
• рассказа́ть - Informal equivalent, often for casual retelling, but can overlap; preferred in everyday conversations.

Usage Examples:

• Он пересказал старую легенду на современном языке, чтобы дети лучше поняли.

  He retold the old legend in modern language so that the children could understand it better.

• В школе ученики должны пересказать главные события романа.

  In school, students have to retell the main events of the novel.

• Она пересказала шутку, но забыла забавную часть, так что никто не засмеялся.

  She retold the joke but forgot the funny part, so no one laughed.

• Друг пересказал мне новость по телефону, добавив свои комментарии.

  My friend retold me the news over the phone, adding his own comments.

Secondary Meaning: To repeat or paraphrase information without significant changes (e.g., in reporting).

Translation(s) & Context:

• рассказа́ть - More suitable here for informal paraphrasing; used when relaying facts without alteration.

Usage Examples:

• Журналист пересказал речь президента в своей статье.

  The journalist retold the president's speech in his article.

• Я пересказал инструкции коллеге, чтобы он не запутался.

  I retold the instructions to my colleague so he wouldn't get confused.

• В музее гид пересказывает историю экспоната для посетителей.

  In the museum, the guide retells the history of the exhibit for visitors.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "переска́зать" and "рассказа́ть" are perfective verbs in Russian, following the first conjugation pattern. They are irregular in aspect but regular in conjugation. Russian verbs like these change based on tense, person, number, and gender.

Note: These verbs do not change in the present tense as they are perfective; instead, use imperfective forms like "пересказывать" for ongoing actions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • рассказа́ть (Similar but more general; used for initial telling rather than retelling).
  • изложе́ть (More formal, implying a structured retelling, often in writing).
• Antonyms:
  • замолча́ть (To fall silent or stop telling).
  • скрыть (To hide or conceal information).

Related Phrases:

• переска́зать по-свое́му - To retell in one's own words; used for creative adaptation in storytelling.
• кратко пересказать - To briefly retell; common in summaries or reports.
• переска́зать из па́мяти - To retell from memory; emphasizes recollection without notes.

Usage Notes:

Russian verbs like "переска́зать" directly correspond to "retell" but emphasize the perfective aspect, meaning the action is completed. Choose "переска́зать" for formal or narrative contexts, while "рассказа́ть" works for casual use. Be mindful of aspect: use imperfective forms (e.g., "пересказывать") for ongoing retelling. English speakers often confuse this with simple telling, so focus on context—retelling implies repetition or paraphrase.

• In spoken Russian, these verbs are common in educational and social settings.
• When selecting between translations, use "переска́зать" if the retelling involves adaptation, and "рассказа́ть" for straightforward repetition.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse aspect by using perfective verbs like "переска́зать" for ongoing actions. For example:

• Error: *Я пересказываю историю сейчас. (Incorrect, as it implies a completed action.)
• Correct: Я пересказываю историю сейчас. (Actually, for ongoing, use the imperfective: Я пересказываю историю сейчас is fine, but learners might say *Я пересказал историю сейчас, which is wrong for present.)

Explanation: Always pair with the appropriate aspect; "переска́зать" is for finished retelling, not processes. Another error is overusing "рассказа́ть" when a more specific verb is needed.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, retelling stories (e.g., folktales or historical events) is a key part of oral tradition, as seen in fairy tales like those by Pushkin. Verbs like "переска́зать" reflect the importance of narrative in Russian literature and education, where adapting stories is encouraged to preserve cultural heritage.

Related Concepts:

• повтори́ть (To repeat)
• рассказа́ть заново́ (To tell again)
• переска́з (The act of retelling, as a noun)