Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'shrivel'

English Word: shrivel

Key Russian Translations:

• усыхать /uˈsɨxətʲ/ - [Informal, often used for natural processes like drying]
• сморщиваться /smɐrˈʂʲit͡sə/ - [Neutral, commonly for wrinkling or shrinking of materials]

Frequency: Medium (This verb is moderately common in everyday language, especially in contexts involving nature, aging, or deterioration.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; involves basic verb conjugation, but irregularities in aspect and perfective forms may challenge learners. For "усыхать", it's B1; for "сморщиваться", it's also B1 due to reflexive endings.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

усыхать: /uˈsɨxətʲ/

Note on усыхать: The stress is on the second syllable; be careful with the palatalized 'тʲ' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers. Variations in casual speech may soften the 'ы' vowel.

сморщиваться: /smɐrˈʂʲit͡sə/

Note on сморщиваться: This is a reflexive verb; the 'щ' sound is pronounced as a soft, hissing 'shch', and the ending '-ся' is lightly pronounced. Regional accents might alter vowel length.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: To become shrunken or wrinkled, often due to drying or aging (e.g., leaves, skin, or materials losing moisture).

Translation(s) & Context:

• усыхать - Used in contexts of natural drying, such as plants or food; common in informal or descriptive writing.
• сморщиваться - Applied to physical wrinkling, like skin aging or fabric shrinking; suitable for both literal and metaphorical uses.

Usage Examples:

• Листья усыхают на солнце в жару лета.

  The leaves shrivel in the sun during the summer heat.

• Ее кожа сморщивается от старости и сухого климата.

  Her skin shrivels with age and the dry climate.

• Фрукты в корзине усыхают, если их не хранить в холодильнике.

  Fruits in the basket shrivel if they're not stored in the refrigerator.

• Под влиянием жары пластик сморщивается и деформируется.

  Under the heat, the plastic shrivels and deforms.

• В засуху реки усыхают, оставляя сухие русла.

  During droughts, rivers shrivel, leaving dry riverbeds.

Secondary Meaning: To diminish or contract in size, metaphorically (e.g., in emotional or abstract contexts, though less common).

Translation(s) & Context:

• усыхать - In metaphorical senses, like ideas or hopes fading; used poetically or in literature.

Usage Examples:

• Его надежды усыхают с каждым годом неудач.

  His hopes shrivel with each year of failures.

• В одиночестве душа может сморщиваться, как высохший фрукт.

  In solitude, the soul can shrivel like a dried fruit.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "усыхать" and "сморщиваться" are imperfective verbs in Russian, which means they describe ongoing or repeated actions. They follow standard Russian verb conjugation patterns but include reflexive forms for "сморщиваться". Below is a table outlining key inflections:

Note: These verbs do not have irregular inflections but require attention to aspect (e.g., perfective counterparts are "усохнуть" and "сморщиться"). They remain consistent across genders and numbers in past tense forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • высыхать (vysykhat') - Similar but focuses more on complete drying; often interchangeable in natural contexts.
  • свёртываться (svertyvat'sya) - Emphasizes curling or contracting, with a slight nuance for physical shrinkage.
• Antonyms:
  • раздуваться (razduvat'sya) - To swell or expand, opposite in the context of size change.
  • увлажняться (uvlazhnat'sya) - To become moist, countering the drying effect.

Related Phrases:

• Усыхать на корню - Literally: To shrivel at the root; meaning something fails early. (Used for unfulfilled potential or premature decline.)
• Сморщиваться от мороза - To shrivel from the frost; refers to effects of cold weather. (Common in descriptions of winter damage.)
• Кожа усыхает с возрастом - Skin shrivels with age; a phrase for aging processes. (Often in health or beauty contexts.)

Usage Notes:

"Shrivel" translates most accurately to "усыхать" for processes involving drying out, and "сморщиваться" for wrinkling. Both are versatile but "усыхать" is preferred in informal, everyday speech, while "сморщиваться" suits more neutral or scientific descriptions. Be mindful of aspect in Russian: use imperfective for ongoing actions and perfective (e.g., усохнуть) for completed ones. In formal writing, pair with adjectives like "быстро" (quickly) to specify speed. When choosing between translations, opt for "усыхать" in natural contexts and "сморщиваться" for physical appearance changes.

Common Errors:

• Confusing verb aspects: English learners often use the imperfective "усыхать" when a perfective like "усохнуть" is needed for a completed action. Error: "Я усыхаю фрукты" (incorrect for a finished process). Correct: "Я усохнул фрукты" – Meaning: "The fruits have shriveled." Explanation: Russian requires aspect to convey completion, so match the context precisely.
• Misusing reflexive forms: For "сморщиваться", forgetting the "-ся" ending. Error: "Кожа сморщивать" (incorrect). Correct: "Кожа сморщивается." Explanation: This is a reflexive verb, so the ending is essential for meaning.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "усыхать" often evoke imagery of harsh winters or droughts, reflecting Russia's climate. For instance, in literature by authors like Tolstoy, shriveling motifs symbolize the passage of time or human frailty, adding a layer of poetic depth to everyday descriptions.

Related Concepts:

• сохнуть (sohnut') - To dry
• вянуть (vyanut') - To wither
• морщить (morshchit') - To wrinkle