Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sag'

English Word: sag

Key Russian Translations:

• провисать [prɐˈvʲisətʲ] - [Informal, Verb; Used for describing objects bending or hanging down loosely]
• обвисший [ɐbˈvʲisʲɪj] - [Adjective; Used to describe something that has sagged, e.g., fabric or skin]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday descriptions of physical objects, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "идти")

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; Requires understanding of verb conjugations and adjective agreements in Russian sentences)

Pronunciation (Russian):

провисать: [prɐˈvʲisətʲ]

обвисший: [ɐbˈvʲisʲɪj]

Note on провисать: The stress falls on the second syllable ("vi"), and the verb has palatalization in the root, which can be tricky for English speakers. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To bend or hang down loosely (as a verb)

Translation(s) & Context:

• провисать - Typically used in contexts involving physical objects under weight or gravity, such as wires, ropes, or clothing. Informal in everyday speech.

Usage Examples:

• Веревка провисает под тяжестью груза.

  The rope is sagging under the weight of the load.

• Старый забор провисает из-за ветра и времени.

  The old fence is sagging due to wind and time.

• Проволока провисает между столбами, создавая опасность.

  The wire is sagging between the poles, creating a hazard.

• После дождя ткань палатки провисает и намокает.

  After the rain, the tent fabric sags and gets wet.

• Если не подтянуть, ремень провисает и не держит.

  If you don't tighten it, the belt sags and doesn't hold.

Meaning 2: A state of being loose or drooping (as an adjective)

Translation(s) & Context:

• обвисший - Used to describe the result of sagging, often in static descriptions, such as for clothing or body parts. Can be formal or neutral.

Usage Examples:

• Обвисший парус не помогает кораблю двигаться.

  The sagging sail doesn't help the ship move.

• Его обвисшая одежда указывает на усталость.

  His sagging clothes indicate fatigue.

• Обвисший провод может вызвать короткое замыкание.

  The sagging wire could cause a short circuit.

• С годами кожа становится обвисшей без ухода.

  Over the years, skin becomes sagging without care.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For провисать (a verb of the 1st conjugation):

This is an imperfective verb. It follows standard Russian verb conjugation patterns, which are somewhat irregular due to aspect and stem changes. Below is a basic conjugation table for the present tense:

Note: It has imperfective aspect, so for completed actions, use the perfective form "провисеть".

For обвисший (an adjective):

This is a short-form adjective that agrees with nouns in gender, number, and case. It is invariable in its short form but can have full forms. Example: обвисший (masc.), обвисшая (fem.), обвисшее (neut.), обвисшие (plur.). No irregular changes.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • опускаться (opuskatsya) - Similar, but implies a more gradual lowering; often used in metaphorical contexts.
  • свисать (svishat') - Exact synonym for hanging down loosely.
• Antonyms:
  • напрягаться (napryagatsya) - Implies tightening or becoming taut.
  • выпрямляться (vypryamlyatsya) - Means to straighten up.

Related Phrases:

• Провисать под грузом - Literally: "To sag under load"; Used for objects bearing weight; English equivalent: "to give way under pressure".
• Обвисшая ткань - Literally: "Sagging fabric"; Common in descriptions of worn-out materials; English: "drooping cloth".
• Провисеть всю ночь - Literally: "To have sagged all night"; Refers to something remaining in a sagged state; English: "to hang loosely overnight".

Usage Notes:

"Sag" as a verb corresponds most closely to "провисать" in Russian, which is used for physical, tangible sagging. Be cautious with context: in formal writing, opt for more precise verbs like "опускаться" if the sagging is metaphorical. For adjectives, "обвисший" is ideal for static descriptions but requires gender and case agreement with the noun it modifies. When choosing between translations, use "провисать" for ongoing actions and "обвисший" for states. Avoid direct word-for-word translation; instead, focus on the situation to ensure natural Russian phrasing.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "саг" as a direct transliteration, which doesn't exist in Russian. Correct: Use "провисать" instead. Explanation: Russian doesn't borrow English words directly; learners often forget to adapt to native equivalents, leading to confusion.

• Error: Incorrect verb conjugation, e.g., saying "провисает" for first person instead of "провисаю". Correct: Always conjugate based on subject (e.g., "Я провисаю"). Explanation: English speakers may overlook Russian's person-based endings, making sentences grammatically incorrect.

• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "обвисший дом" for a feminine noun. Correct: Use "обвисшая" for feminine nouns like "крыша" (roof). Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender, number, and case, which is a common pitfall for beginners.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "провисать" or "обвисший" are often used in everyday contexts to describe physical wear and tear, reflecting a practical, resilient attitude toward maintenance and aging. For instance, in literature by authors like Chekhov, sagging elements in settings symbolize neglect or the passage of time, adding a layer of emotional or social commentary not always present in English usage.

Related Concepts:

• опускаться
• свисать
• выпрямляться