Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'separate'

English Word: separate

Key Russian Translations:

• разделить [rɐzˈdʲelʲɪtʲ] - [Verb, Formal, Used in contexts of dividing or partitioning]
• отдельный [ɐtˈdʲelʲnɨj] - [Adjective, General, Informal, Used to describe something isolated or distinct]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday and formal contexts, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "to be" or "to have")

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate for 'разделить' as it involves verb conjugation; A2 for 'отдельный' as a basic adjective, per CEFR standards)

Pronunciation (Russian):

разделить: [rɐzˈdʲelʲɪtʲ]

Note on разделить: The stress falls on the second syllable; be careful with the soft 'л' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. Pronounce it with a palatalized 'l' as in "luxury".

отдельный: [ɐtˈdʲelʲnɨj]

Note on отдельный: The final 'ый' ending is often reduced in casual speech; stress is on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Verb: To divide or set apart

Translation(s) & Context:

• разделить - Used in formal or everyday contexts when physically or conceptually separating items, such as dividing a space or group.

Usage Examples:

• Мы разделим комнату на две части, чтобы создать отдельные зоны.

  We will separate the room into two parts to create distinct areas.

• Пожалуйста, разделите документы по категориям перед встречей.

  Please separate the documents by categories before the meeting.

• Родители решили разделить обязанности по уходу за детьми.

  The parents decided to separate the responsibilities for child care.

• В эксперименте ученые разделят вещества для анализа.

  In the experiment, scientists will separate the substances for analysis.

• Если вы разделите задачи, работа пойдет быстрее.

  If you separate the tasks, the work will go faster.

Adjective: Distinct or isolated

Translation(s) & Context:

• отдельный - Used in general contexts to describe something that is standalone, individual, or not connected to others.

Usage Examples:

• Каждый студент получит отдельный стол для работы.

  Each student will get a separate desk for work.

• Эта отдельная комната предназначена для встреч.

  This separate room is intended for meetings.

• В отеле есть отдельные входы для гостей и персонала.

  The hotel has separate entrances for guests and staff.

• Они живут в отдельных квартирах, но часто встречаются.

  They live in separate apartments but often meet up.

• Для безопасности используйте отдельный пароль для каждого аккаунта.

  For security, use a separate password for each account.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'разделить' (a verb of the first conjugation), it follows regular patterns with variations based on tense, aspect, and person. It is imperfective in its base form and has a perfective counterpart 'разделить' (already given). Here's a basic table:

For 'отдельный' (an adjective), it declines based on gender, number, and case. It is regular and follows the standard pattern for adjectives ending in -ый. Example: Nominative: отдельный (masc.), отдельная (fem.), отдельное (neut.), отдельные (plur.). It remains unchanged in some fixed phrases.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: разъединить (to disconnect, often for mechanical separation), отделить (to isolate, with a focus on removal)
• Antonyms: соединить (to join or unite), слить (to merge)

Related Phrases:

• разделить пополам - To divide in half; used in mathematical or equitable distribution contexts.
• отдельный вход - A separate entrance; common in buildings for security or accessibility.
• разделить внимание - To divide attention; implies splitting focus in multitasking situations.

Usage Notes:

'Разделить' is the perfective form of the verb, ideal for completed actions, while its imperfective counterpart 'разделять' is used for ongoing processes. For 'separate' as an adjective, 'отдельный' directly corresponds but may imply more permanence than in English. In formal Russian, prefer 'разделить' in official documents; in casual speech, it's versatile. When choosing between translations, use 'разделить' for actions and 'отдельный' for descriptions. Be mindful of context: Russian often requires specifying the aspect for verbs.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'разделить' without considering aspect, e.g., saying "Я разделяю дом" when meaning a completed action. Correct: "Я разделил дом" for past completion. Explanation: Russian verbs have aspect; imperfective 'разделять' is for habitual actions, while perfective 'разделить' is for one-time events.
• Error: Incorrectly declining 'отдельный', e.g., saying "отдельныйы" in plural. Correct: "отдельные". Explanation: Adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case; always check the noun it's modifying.
• Error: Confusing with similar words, e.g., using 'разделить' when 'отделить' is more appropriate for physical removal. Explanation: 'Отделить' emphasizes separation from a whole, whereas 'разделить' implies division into parts.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'разделить' can carry connotations of historical events, such as the division of territories in the Soviet era or family separations during migrations. This adds a layer of emotional weight, especially in literature, where 'разделить' might symbolize personal or societal rifts, as seen in works by Tolstoy.

Related Concepts:

• соединение
• изолированный
• разделение