Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'rotate'

English Word: rotate

Key Russian Translations:

• вращать [vrɐˈʂatʲ] - [Formal, Used in technical or scientific contexts]
• поворачивать [pɐvɐˈraʧʲɪvɐtʲ] - [Informal, Everyday usage for turning or rotating objects]

Frequency: Medium (Common in technical, mechanical, and everyday descriptions, but not as frequent as basic verbs in casual speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and aspect, which can vary by translation)

Pronunciation (Russian):

вращать: [vrɐˈʂatʲ]

поворачивать: [pɐvɐˈraʧʲɪvɐtʲ]

Note on вращать: The 'щ' sound ([ʂ]) is a soft, hissing fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers; practice it as a sharper 'sh' than in English.

Note on поворачивать: The ending '-ать' ([atʲ]) softens in speech, and the verb often stresses the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: To turn or cause something to turn around a central point or axis (e.g., mechanical rotation)

Translation(s) & Context:

• вращать - Used in formal or technical contexts, such as machinery or physics, to imply continuous or repetitive motion.
• поворачивать - Used in informal settings for general turning actions, like rotating a wheel or head.

Usage Examples:

• Я вращаю колесо, чтобы завести механизм. (Ya vrashchayu koleso, chtoby zavesti mekhanizm.)

  I am rotating the wheel to start the mechanism. (This example shows the verb in a technical context with imperfective aspect.)

• Дети поворачивают вертушку на playground. (Deti povorachivayut vertushku na playground.)

  The children are rotating the spinner on the playground. (Illustrates informal usage with plural subjects and present tense.)

• Инженер вращает шестерёнку для тестирования. (Inzhener vrashchaet shesternyonku dlya testirovaniya.)

  The engineer is rotating the gear for testing. (Demonstrates formal application in a professional setting.)

• Она поворачивает голову, чтобы посмотреть. (Ona povorachivaet golovu, chtoby posmotret'.)

  She is rotating her head to look. (Shows the verb in a metaphorical or physical action context.)

• Мы вращаем вентилятор, чтобы охладить комнату. (My vrashchayem ventilyator, chtoby okhladit' komnatu.)

  We are rotating the fan to cool the room. (Highlights plural usage and practical application.)

Secondary Meaning: To change position or direction repeatedly (e.g., in a cycle)

Translation(s) & Context:

• вращать - Applied when emphasizing cyclical or mechanical repetition.

Usage Examples:

• Земля вращает вокруг своей оси. (Zemlya vrashchaet vokrug svoey osi.)

  The Earth rotates around its axis. (This example uses the verb in a scientific, impersonal context.)

• Вращать страницы книги быстро неудобно. (Vrashchat' stranitsy knigi bystro neudobno.)

  Rotating the pages of the book quickly is inconvenient. (Shows infinitive form in a negative sentence.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "вращать" and "поворачивать" are imperfective verbs in Russian, meaning they describe ongoing or repeated actions. They follow standard first-conjugation patterns with variations in tense, aspect, and person. "Вращать" is more regular, while "поворачивать" can have slight irregularities in prefixed forms.

Note: These verbs do not change for number in the infinitive form and are aspectually tied to imperfective actions. For perfective counterparts, use "повернуть" for "поворачивать".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • крутить (krutit') - More casual, implies twisting or spinning.
  • вертеть (vertet') - Informal, often for rapid or fidgety rotation.
• Antonyms:
  • остановить (ostanovit') - To stop or halt rotation.
  • зафиксировать (zafiksirovat') - To fix in place, preventing movement.

Related Phrases:

• Вращать головой (vrashchat' golovoy) - To shake or turn one's head; often used to express disbelief or denial.
• Поворачивать ситуацию (povorachivat' situatsiyu) - To turn the situation around; implies changing circumstances strategically.
• Вращать ручку (vrashchat' ruchku) - To turn a handle; common in mechanical contexts.

Usage Notes:

• Russian verbs like "вращать" and "поворачивать" are aspect-sensitive; choose based on whether the action is ongoing (imperfective) or completed (perfective, e.g., "повернуть").
• "Вращать" is preferred in formal or technical English-to-Russian translations, while "поворачивать" suits everyday scenarios to match the informal tone of "rotate" in casual speech.
• Always consider context: in scientific texts, "вращать" aligns closely with "rotate," but in idiomatic expressions, synonyms may be more natural.
• For plural subjects or commands, ensure proper conjugation to avoid grammatical errors.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "вращать" in casual conversation where "поворачивать" is more appropriate, e.g., saying "Я вращаю руль" instead of "Я поворачиваю руль" for "I am rotating the steering wheel."

  Correct: "Поворачиваю" is better for everyday driving; explanation: "Вращать" sounds overly formal and mechanical.

• Error: Neglecting aspect, e.g., using "вращать" for a one-time action like "I rotated the dial" (should be perfective "повернул").

  Correct: Use "повернул" for completed actions; explanation: Russian requires aspect to convey whether an action is finished, which English doesn't always specify.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases involving rotation like "вращать головой" (shaking the head) can signify disagreement or amusement, often seen in folklore or everyday interactions, reflecting a communicative style that emphasizes non-verbal cues.

Related Concepts:

• крутить
• вертеться
• осевое вращение