Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'serve'

English Word: serve

Key Russian Translations:

• подача [pɐˈdatɕə] - [Noun, Formal, Used in sports contexts like tennis]
• служить [ˈsluʐɨtʲ] - [Verb, Formal, Used in military or general service contexts]
• обслуживать [ɐp.slʊˈʐɨvətʲ] - [Verb, Informal, Used in customer service or everyday scenarios]

Frequency: High (Common in everyday language, sports, and professional settings)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and noun declensions; 'подача' is easier at A2, while 'служить' and 'обслуживать' may reach B2 due to irregular aspects)

Pronunciation (Russian):

подача: [pɐˈdatɕə]

служить: [ˈsluʐɨtʲ] (Note on служить: The stress is on the first syllable; be careful with the soft 'л' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers.)

обслуживать: [ɐp.slʊˈʐɨvətʲ] (Note on обслуживать: This verb has a prefix that alters pronunciation; the 'ш' is a soft fricative.)

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To provide a service or perform a duty (e.g., in military, work, or customer contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• служить - Used in formal or historical contexts, such as military service or lifelong dedication.
• обслуживать - Common in everyday informal situations, like serving customers in a restaurant or shop.

Usage Examples:

• Он служит в армии уже пять лет. (He has been serving in the army for five years.)

  Translation: He has been serving in the army for five years.

• Менеджер обслуживает клиентов в магазине. (The manager is serving customers in the store.)

  Translation: The manager is serving customers in the store.

• Эта компания обслуживает клиентов круглосуточно. (This company serves customers around the clock.)

  Translation: This company serves customers around the clock.

• Врач служит обществу, спасая жизни. (The doctor serves society by saving lives.)

  Translation: The doctor serves society by saving lives.

• Обслуживающий персонал всегда готов помочь. (The serving staff is always ready to help.)

  Translation: The serving staff is always ready to help. (Shows imperative and service industry context)

Meaning 2: To deliver or start play in sports (e.g., tennis)

Translation(s) & Context:

• подача - Specifically used in sports like tennis or volleyball, often in formal or recreational settings.

Usage Examples:

• Его подача в теннисе очень сильная. (His serve in tennis is very strong.)

  Translation: His serve in tennis is very strong.

• Игрок выполнил подачу, и мяч улетел за линию. (The player executed the serve, and the ball went out of bounds.)

  Translation: The player executed the serve, and the ball went out of bounds.

• Тренер учит правильной подаче новичков. (The coach is teaching beginners the proper serve.)

  Translation: The coach is teaching beginners the proper serve. (Demonstrates instructional context)

• Подача была отменена из-за нарушения правил. (The serve was disqualified due to a rule violation.)

  Translation: The serve was disqualified due to a rule violation.

• В волейболе подача решает исход матча. (In volleyball, the serve can decide the match's outcome.)

  Translation: In volleyball, the serve can decide the match's outcome. (Shows variation across sports)

Meaning 3: To supply or present food/drink

Translation(s) & Context:

• подача - Used in dining contexts, like serving a meal.

Usage Examples:

• Официант подает блюда гостям. (The waiter is serving dishes to the guests.)

  Translation: The waiter is serving dishes to the guests.

• Подача еды в ресторане быстрая и качественная. (The serving of food in the restaurant is fast and high-quality.)

  Translation: The serving of food in the restaurant is fast and high-quality.

• Хозяйка подает чай с пирожными. (The hostess is serving tea with pastries.)

  Translation: The hostess is serving tea with pastries. (Informal home setting)

• Подача десерта завершает ужин. (Serving the dessert concludes the dinner.)

  Translation: Serving the dessert concludes the dinner.

• В кафе подают свежие салаты. (In the cafe, they serve fresh salads.)

  Translation: In the cafe, they serve fresh salads. (Plural and general context)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'подача' (noun, feminine): This is a first-declension noun with regular inflections. It does not change in the nominative singular but varies by case and number.

For 'служить' and 'обслуживать' (verbs): These are imperfective verbs with regular conjugations. 'Служить' is conjugated as follows in present tense:

'Обслуживать' follows a similar pattern but is more irregular in perfective forms (e.g., обслужить).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • подача: удар (strike, in sports) - Often used interchangeably in casual sports talk.
  • служить: работать (work) - Applies in professional contexts; less formal.
  • обслуживать: помогать (help) - Used when the service is more supportive than transactional.
• Antonyms:
  • подача: приём (reception, in sports)
  • служить: уходить (leave or retire)
  • обслуживать: игнорировать (ignore)

Related Phrases:

• Подача блюд - Serving of dishes; a common phrase in restaurant settings.
• Служить родине - To serve one's country; often used in patriotic contexts.
• Обслуживать клиентов - Serving customers; standard in business and retail.

Usage Notes:

'Serve' translates differently based on context: use 'подача' for sports, 'служить' for formal duties, and 'обслуживать' for everyday services. In Russian, verbs like these often require aspect consideration (imperfective for ongoing actions). Choose based on formality—'служить' is more elevated, while 'обслуживать' is neutral. Grammatically, ensure agreement with gender, number, and case in sentences.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing 'подача' with 'подать' (to submit or serve food), leading to misuse in sports. Correct: Use 'подача' as a noun; Example of error: "Я подаю в теннисе" (incorrect for noun context); Correct: "Моя подача сильная."
• Error: Overusing 'служить' in casual settings; it sounds too formal. Correct: Opt for 'работать' instead; Example of error: "Я служу в офисе" (awkward); Correct: "Я обслуживаю в офисе."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'служить' often carries historical connotations from military service in the Soviet era or tsarist times, symbolizing duty and patriotism. Phrases like 'служить родине' are common in literature and national discourse, reflecting a deep sense of obligation to the state.

Related Concepts:

• удар
• работа
• помощь