Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'secrete'

English Word: secrete

Key Russian Translations:

• скрывать [ˈskrɨvətʲ] - [Informal, Verb; used in everyday contexts for concealing information]
• секретировать [sʲɪkrʲɪˈtʲirəvətʲ] - [Formal, Scientific; used in biological or medical contexts]

Frequency: Medium for скрывать (commonly used in general conversation), Low for секретировать (specialized in scientific fields).

Difficulty: B1 for скрывать (Intermediate, as it involves basic verb conjugation), B2 for секретировать (Upper Intermediate, due to its technical nature and less common inflection patterns).

Pronunciation (Russian):

скрывать: [ˈskrɨvətʲ]

Note on скрывать: The stress is on the first syllable; the 'ы' sound can be challenging for English speakers, similar to a short 'i' in "bit" but more centralized.

секретировать: [sʲɪkrʲɪˈtʲirəvətʲ]

Note on секретировать: This is a borrowed word from Latin via English, with palatalized consonants; practice the soft 'sʲ' sound, which is like 's' in "measure."

Audio: []

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To keep something secret or hidden (non-biological sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• скрывать - Used in informal or everyday situations where someone is concealing information or emotions from others.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда скрывает свои настоящие чувства от друзей. (He always secretes his true feelings from his friends.)

  Translation: He always hides his true feelings from his friends. (This example shows the verb in a personal context.)

• Правительство скрывает детали расследования. (The government is secreting the details of the investigation.)

  Translation: The government is hiding the details of the investigation. (Illustrates use in a formal, political scenario.)

• Дети часто скрывают свои шалости от родителей. (Children often secrete their mischief from their parents.)

  Translation: Children often hide their mischief from their parents. (Demonstrates everyday family usage.)

• В романе герой скрывает тайну, чтобы защитить семью. (In the novel, the hero secretes a secret to protect his family.)

  Translation: In the novel, the hero hides a secret to protect his family. (Shows narrative or literary application.)

Meaning 2: To produce and discharge a substance, especially in a biological context

Translation(s) & Context:

• секретировать - Employed in scientific, medical, or biological discussions, often in technical writing or research.

Usage Examples:

• Железы секретируют гормоны, регулирующие метаболизм. (Glands secrete hormones that regulate metabolism.)

  Translation: Glands secrete hormones that regulate metabolism. (This highlights biological processes in a straightforward sentence.)

• Клетки секретируют ферменты для переваривания пищи. (Cells secrete enzymes for digesting food.)

  Translation: Cells secrete enzymes for digesting food. (Illustrates use in cellular biology contexts.)

• В стрессовых ситуациях надпочечники секретируют адреналин. (In stressful situations, the adrenal glands secrete adrenaline.)

  Translation: In stressful situations, the adrenal glands secrete adrenaline. (Shows application in physiology.)

• Растения секретируют нектар, чтобы привлекать опылителей. (Plants secrete nectar to attract pollinators.)

  Translation: Plants secrete nectar to attract pollinators. (Demonstrates use in botany or ecology.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are verbs and follow Russian conjugation patterns. скрывать is a first-conjugation verb with regular patterns, while секретировать is less common and may have irregularities due to its borrowed nature.

For скрывать (imperfective verb):

For секретировать (also imperfective, but more formal):

It follows similar patterns but is less frequently conjugated in speech. Base form: секретировать. Example: Я секретирую (I secrete), but it's invariant in some scientific contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms for скрывать: утаивать (utaiivat' - to conceal subtly), маскировать (maskirovat' - to disguise)
• Synonyms for секретировать: выделять (vydeliat' - to release or excrete)
• Antonyms for скрывать: раскрывать (raskryvat' - to reveal)
• Antonyms for секретировать: поглощать (pogloshat' - to absorb)

Related Phrases:

• Скрывать правду - (To hide the truth; used in contexts of deception or secrecy.)
• Секретировать вещества - (To secrete substances; common in biological descriptions.)
• Утаивать информацию - (To withhold information; a phrase related to скрывать in formal settings.)

Usage Notes:

The English verb "secrete" has two distinct meanings, which map to different Russian verbs. Use скрывать for everyday hiding or concealing, as it fits informal contexts, but avoid it in scientific writing. For biological secretion, секретировать is the precise equivalent, often used in technical fields. Note that Russian verbs require aspect (imperfective like these for ongoing actions), and always consider the context to choose the right verb—e.g., скрывать for emotional secrecy vs. секретировать for physiological processes. When translating, ensure gender and number agreement in sentences.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing скрывать with утаивать and using them interchangeably. Correct: скрывать implies active hiding, while утаивать suggests withholding without effort. Example: Incorrect: "Он утаивает секреты" (if active concealment is meant); Correct: "Он скрывает секреты".
• Error: Overusing секретировать in non-scientific contexts. Correct: Reserve it for biology; use скрывать for general secrecy. Example: Incorrect: "Я секретирую подарок" (for hiding a gift); Correct: "Я скрываю подарок".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of скрывать (hiding) often ties to themes of privacy and mistrust, as seen in literature like Dostoevsky's works, where characters hide inner turmoil. Секретировать, being a scientific term, reflects Russia's emphasis on medical and biological research, influenced by historical figures like Pavlov.

Related Concepts:

• таина (taina - mystery or secret)
• выделение (vydelenie - excretion or release)
• маскировка (maskirovka - disguise)