Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'reunite'

English Word: reunite

Key Russian Translations:

• воссоединить [vɐs.ə.ɐˈdʲi.nʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, used in contexts involving bringing together after separation]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in formal, narrative, or emotional contexts like family stories, politics, or history, but not in everyday casual conversation).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR standards; involves understanding verb conjugations and perfective aspects, which may challenge beginners, but is manageable for intermediate learners).

Pronunciation (Russian):

воссоединить: [vɐs.ə.ɐˈdʲi.nʲɪtʲ]

Note on воссоединить: This verb has a stress on the fourth syllable ("dʲi"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft consonants and vowel reductions in spoken Russian. Pronunciation may vary slightly in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To bring people, groups, or things together again after separation

Translation(s) & Context:

• воссоединить - Used in formal or emotional contexts, such as family reunions or historical events; implies a sense of restoration or reconciliation.

Usage Examples:

• Семья воссоединилась на празднике после многих лет разлуки.

  The family reunited at the holiday after many years of separation.

• Правительство планирует воссоединить разделенные регионы для экономического роста.

  The government plans to reunite the divided regions for economic growth.

• Друзья воссоединились в кафе, чтобы вспомнить старые времена.

  Friends reunited at the cafe to reminisce about old times.

• Во время войны многие семьи смогли воссоединиться благодаря гуманитарной помощи.

  During the war, many families were able to reunite thanks to humanitarian aid.

• Музыканты воссоединились для финального концерта, чтобы почтить память лидера группы.

  The musicians reunited for a final concert to honor the memory of the band leader.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

воссоединить is a perfective verb in Russian, derived from the imperfective "воссоединять." It follows standard first-conjugation patterns for Russian verbs, with changes based on tense, aspect, person, and number. As a perfective verb, it typically indicates a completed action.

Note: The verb changes gender in the past tense (e.g., воссоединил for masculine, воссоединила for feminine). It is regular in most aspects but requires attention to aspectual pairs for precise usage.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • объединить (ob'edinit' – more general, for initial unification; differs by implying a first-time joining rather than reuniting)
  • собрать (sobratt' – to gather, often in a less formal context)
• Antonyms:
  • разъединить (raz'edinit' – to separate or divide)
  • разделить (razdelit' – to split, with a focus on partitioning)

Related Phrases:

• воссоединение семьи (vossoedineniye sem'i) - Family reunion; refers to bringing family members together after separation.
• воссоединить страну (vossoedinit' stranu) - To reunite the country; often used in historical or political contexts, such as post-war recovery.
• воссоединение с родными (vossoedineniye s rodnymi) - Reunion with relatives; emphasizes emotional bonds in personal narratives.

Usage Notes:

воссоединить directly corresponds to "reunite" in English, focusing on the restoration of unity after separation. It is typically used in formal or narrative contexts, such as literature, news, or official documents, and carries an emotional connotation. Be mindful of Russian's aspect system: use the perfective form (воссоединить) for completed actions and the imperfective (воссоединять) for ongoing processes. When choosing between translations like воссоединить and объединить, opt for the former if the reunion implies a prior connection. In spoken Russian, it's common in diaspora or migration discussions.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing воссоединить with объединить and using it for initial unions. Incorrect: "Они объединили семью" (implying they formed a new family). Correct: "Они воссоединили семью" for reuniting an existing one. Explanation: English speakers often overlook the aspectual differences, leading to misuse; always check the context for prior separation.

• Error: Incorrect conjugation in past tense, e.g., using воссоединил for feminine subjects. Incorrect: "Она воссоединил" (grammatically wrong). Correct: "Она воссоединила." Explanation: Russian verbs agree with the subject's gender in the past tense, which is a common pitfall for learners from non-gendered languages.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like воссоединить often evoke historical events, such as the reunification of Russia with territories like Crimea in 2014, which remains a sensitive topic. It symbolizes national unity and emotional restoration, frequently appearing in literature (e.g., in works by Tolstoy) to highlight themes of family and homeland, reflecting Russia's emphasis on collectivism and resilience.

Related Concepts:

• единство (edinstvo – unity)
• разлука (razluka – separation)
• собрание (sobraniye – gathering)