Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'shake'

English Word: shake

Key Russian Translations:

• трясти [ˈtrʲasʲtʲi] - [Informal, Verb]
• встряхнуть [vstʲrʲaˈxnutʲ] - [Formal, Verb]
• шейк [ʂɛjk] - [Informal, Noun, Used for beverages like a milkshake]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday conversation, especially in contexts like physical actions or drinks)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate for verbs like трясти and встряхнуть; A2 for шейк, as it’s a borrowed word)

Pronunciation (Russian):

трясти: [ˈtrʲasʲtʲi]

встряхнуть: [vstʲrʲaˈxnutʲ]

шейк: [ʂɛjk]

Note on трясти: The 'тря' sound can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalized 'рʲ'; practice with native audio for accuracy.

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Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To move something back and forth quickly (Verb)

Translation(s) & Context:

• трясти - Used in informal contexts for shaking objects or in expressions of emotion.
• встряхнуть - Used in more formal or precise contexts, often implying a single, vigorous shake.

Usage Examples:

• Я трясу бутылку, чтобы перемешать содержимое.

  I shake the bottle to mix the contents.

• Встряхни ковёр на балконе, чтобы убрать пыль.

  Shake the rug on the balcony to remove the dust.

• Он трясет головой в знак несогласия.

  He shakes his head in disagreement.

• Встряхни себя и проснись пораньше!

  Shake yourself up and wake up early!

Meaning 2: A beverage like a milkshake (Noun)

Translation(s) & Context:

• шейк - Commonly used in modern Russian for Western-style drinks, especially in urban or casual settings.

Usage Examples:

• Давай закажем шейк в кафе.

  Let's order a shake at the cafe.

• Этот шейк с бананом очень вкусный.

  This banana shake is very tasty.

• В лето я предпочитаю холодный шейк.

  In summer, I prefer a cold shake.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For трясти (verb, imperfective): This is an irregular verb in the first conjugation. It follows standard patterns but has palatalization in some forms.

For встряхнуть (verb, perfective): This is a perfective counterpart and conjugates similarly in past tense; present forms are not used as it's perfective.

For шейк (noun, masculine): This is an indeclinable borrowed word, meaning it does not change forms: Nominative: шейк; Genitive: шейк; etc.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • трясти - качать (to swing or rock, often for gentle movements)
  • встряхнуть - встряхивать (a more continuous form)
  • шейк - молочный коктейль (milk cocktail, for beverage context)
• Antonyms:
  • трясти - успокаивать (to calm)
  • встряхнуть - зафиксировать (to fix or stabilize)

Related Phrases:

• Трясти деревом - Shake the tree (English equivalent: to shake the tree, meaning to provoke change or reveal hidden things)
• Встряхнуть рынок - Shake up the market (Used in business contexts to mean disrupt or revitalize)
• Шейк с фруктами - Shake with fruits (A common phrase for fruit-flavored milkshakes)

Usage Notes:

The English word "shake" often corresponds to multiple Russian verbs like трясти for ongoing actions and встряхнуть for completed ones, based on aspect in Russian grammar. Use трясти in informal daily conversations, but opt for встряхнуть in formal writing or when emphasizing a single action. For the noun form, шейк is a direct borrowing and is neutral in register, commonly used in youth culture or cafes. Be mindful of context: in idiomatic expressions, translations may vary to capture nuances.

• Grammar note: Always pair with appropriate prepositions, e.g., трясти за рукав (shake by the sleeve).
• Choice guidance: If "shake" implies repetition, use трясти; for a one-time shake, use встряхнуть.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse the aspect: using трясти when встряхнуть is needed, e.g., incorrectly saying "Я трясу яблоко" for a single shake instead of "Я встряхнул яблоко." Correct usage: "Я встряхнул яблоко" (I shook the apple once). Another error is declining шейк as if it were a native noun, like saying "шейка" in genitive, which is wrong; it remains "шейк."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like "встряхнуть себя" (shake yourself up) are often used metaphorically in literature and self-help contexts to encourage personal change, reflecting a cultural emphasis on resilience and adaptation, especially in historical contexts like post-Soviet reforms.

Related Concepts:

• Дрожать (to tremble)
• Качать (to rock or swing)
• Коктейль (cocktail)