Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'shove'

English Word: shove

Key Russian Translations:

• толкнуть [tɐlʲˈkunʲnʲɨ] - [Informal, used for a sudden, forceful push]
• втолкнуть [ftɐlʲˈkunʲnʲɨ] - [Formal or contextual, implying pushing into a space]
• швырнуть [ʂvɨrʲˈnutʲ] - [Informal, for a more violent or throwing-like shove]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday conversations, especially in physical or urban contexts, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "идти" (to go))

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; involves understanding verb aspects and perfective/imperfective forms. For "толкнуть", it's perfective and straightforward for intermediates; "втолкнуть" may require more nuance for advanced learners.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

толкнуть: [tɐlʲˈkunʲnʲɨ] (Stress on the second syllable; the "т" is soft and pronounced quickly.)

втолкнуть: [ftɐlʲˈkunʲnʲɨ] (Similar to "толкнуть" but with a prefixed "в-", which softens the initial sound; common in fast speech.)

швырнуть: [ʂvɨrʲˈnutʲ] (The "ш" is a voiceless postalveolar fricative; note the rolled "р" for native accuracy.)

Note on толкнуть: This word often involves a hard consonant shift; learners may struggle with the soft "лʲ", which can sound like a "ly" blend. Practice with minimal pairs for precision.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To push someone or something roughly, often with force.

Translation(s) & Context:

• толкнуть - Used in informal, everyday situations, such as in crowds or casual interactions (e.g., accidentally pushing someone).
• втолкнуть - Applied in contexts involving forcing into a confined space, like a room or vehicle, often with a sense of urgency or rudeness.
• швырнуть - Reserved for more aggressive or careless shoving, such as throwing an object roughly.

Usage Examples:

• Он толкнул меня в толпе, чтобы пройти. (On tolknul menya v tolpe, chtoby proyti.)

  He shoved me in the crowd to get through.

• В толпе кто-то втолкнул меня в дверь. (V tolpe kto-to vtolknul menya v dver'.)

  Someone shoved me into the door in the crowd.

• Она швырнула книгу на стол в гневе. (Ona shvyurnula knigu na stol v gneve.)

  She shoved the book onto the table in anger.

• Дети толкнули мяч под забор. (Deti tolknuli myach pod zabot.)

  The kids shoved the ball under the fence.

Meaning 2: To force or insert something quickly and awkwardly (e.g., shoving an item into a bag).

Translation(s) & Context:

• втолкнуть - Common in literal contexts, like packing or inserting forcefully, often implying tight spaces.
• швырнуть - Used metaphorically for careless insertion, such as in emotional or hurried scenarios.

Usage Examples:

• Я втолкнул вещи в рюкзак перед поездкой. (Ya vtolknul veshchi v ryukzak pered poezdkoy.)

  I shoved the items into my backpack before the trip.

• Он швырнул письмо в ящик почты. (On shvyurnul pismo v yashchik pochty.)

  He shoved the letter into the mailbox.

• В спешке она втолкнула документы в портфель. (V speshke ona vtolknula dokumenty v portfel'.)

  In a hurry, she shoved the documents into her briefcase.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily verbs, which in Russian follow complex inflection patterns based on aspect (perfective vs. imperfective). "Толкнуть" is perfective (completed action), while its imperfective counterpart is "толкать". "Втолкнуть" is also perfective. Inflections vary by tense, person, number, and gender.

These verbs are irregular in their aspects but follow standard conjugation rules. For example, past tense changes by gender and number, as shown.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Толкать (tolkat' - imperfective form, for repeated pushing)
  • Пихать (pihat' - a more casual or slangy push, often with physical contact)
  • Вдавить (vdavit' - to press or shove in forcefully, with a connotation of embedding)
  (Note: "Пихать" is more informal and regional, suitable for everyday speech.)
• Antonyms:
  • Тянуть (tyanut' - to pull)
  • Вытащить (vytashtchit' - to pull out)

Related Phrases:

• Толкнуть в спину (Tolkat' v spinu) - To shove in the back; used in contexts of surprise or aggression.
• Втолкнуть в комнату (Vtolknut' v komnatu) - To shove into a room; implies forcing entry, often in dramatic scenarios.
• Швырнуть на землю (Shvyurnut' na zemlyu) - To shove onto the ground; a phrase for rough handling or fights.

Usage Notes:

These translations correspond closely to "shove" in English, emphasizing force and suddenness, but Russian verbs often distinguish between perfective (completed) and imperfective (ongoing) aspects—e.g., use "толкнуть" for a single action and "толкать" for repeated ones. Be mindful of context: "втолкнуть" is ideal for spatial confinement, while "швырнуть" adds a sense of violence. In formal writing, opt for less aggressive alternatives; in casual speech, these are common. When choosing among translations, consider the aspect to match the English tense accurately.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Confusing "толкнуть" with "толкать" and using the perfective form for ongoing actions. Incorrect: "Я толкнул дверь каждый день." (Implies a single push daily.) Correct: "Я толкал дверь каждый день." (For repeated actions.) Explanation: Russian requires aspect agreement; this error can change the meaning entirely.
• Mistake: Overusing "швырнуть" in non-violent contexts, making speech sound too aggressive. Incorrect: "Швырни книгу в сумку." (Sounds like throwing violently.) Correct: "Втолкни книгу в сумку." (For gentle shoving.) Explanation: Learners should assess the intensity level to avoid miscommunication.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, shoving or pushing is often associated with crowded urban environments, like Moscow's metro, where personal space is limited. Phrases like "толкнуть в толпе" reflect everyday realities and can carry a neutral or humorous connotation in narratives, but they might imply rudeness in polite settings, highlighting cultural norms around public behavior.

Related Concepts:

• Тянуть (to pull)
• Пихать (to nudge or push casually)
• Вдавить (to press in forcefully)