Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sigh'

English Word: sigh

Key Russian Translations:

• вздох [vzˈdox] - [Noun, Informal, Used to describe a physical act of sighing]
• вздыхать [vzˈdɨxatʲ] - [Verb, Informal/Formal, Used in ongoing or repeated actions, e.g., sighing habitually]

Frequency: Medium - The word is commonly used in everyday conversations, literature, and emotional contexts, but not as ubiquitous as basic verbs like "to be" or "to go".

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner) for basic noun form; B1 (Intermediate) for verb conjugations due to Russian inflection rules.

Pronunciation (Russian):

вздох: [vzˈdox] - The 'вз' is a soft consonant cluster, pronounced with a slight aspiration; stress on the second syllable.

вздыхать: [vzˈdɨxatʲ] - The 'ы' sound is a central vowel, often challenging for English speakers; palatalized 'тʲ' at the end.

Note on вздох: Be careful with the 'д' which can sound softer in casual speech; it's not fully devoiced like in some English words.

Note on вздыхать: This verb often involves a drawn-out vowel in spoken Russian to convey emotion.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

As a noun: A deep audible breath expressing relief, tiredness, or sorrow.

Translation(s) & Context:

• вздох - Used in emotional or reflective contexts, such as in literature or daily conversations to denote a sigh of exhaustion. (Context: Informal settings like personal stories or formal writing.)

Usage Examples:

• Он издал глубокий вздох после долгого дня. (He let out a deep sigh after a long day.)

  He let out a deep sigh after a long day. (This shows the noun in a simple declarative sentence, emphasizing emotional release.)

• Её вздох эхом разнёсся по комнате. (Her sigh echoed through the room.)

  Her sigh echoed through the room. (Illustrates the noun in a descriptive context, highlighting auditory aspects.)

• Вздох облегчения вырвался у него, когда он увидел друзей. (A sigh of relief escaped him when he saw his friends.)

  A sigh of relief escaped him when he saw his friends. (Demonstrates the noun with modifiers, in a positive emotional scenario.)

• Каждый вздох в тишине ночи звучал как мольба. (Every sigh in the night's silence sounded like a plea.)

  Every sigh in the night's silence sounded like a plea. (Shows metaphorical use in poetic or narrative contexts.)

• Его вздох был полон разочарования. (His sigh was full of disappointment.)

  His sigh was full of disappointment. (Exemplifies the noun with emotional depth in interpersonal dialogue.)

As a verb: To emit a sigh, often repeatedly or habitually.

Translation(s) & Context:

• вздыхать - Used for ongoing sighing, such as in frustration or longing; common in storytelling or descriptive writing. (Context: Formal or informal, but more literary than everyday speech.)

Usage Examples:

• Она вздыхала каждый раз, когда вспоминала прошлое. (She sighed every time she remembered the past.)

  She sighed every time she remembered the past. (This verb form shows habitual action in a reflective context.)

• Дети вздыхали от скуки во время урока. (The children sighed from boredom during the lesson.)

  The children sighed from boredom during the lesson. (Illustrates plural subject and everyday scenario.)

• Он вздыхал, пытаясь успокоиться. (He sighed, trying to calm down.)

  He sighed, trying to calm down. (Demonstrates the verb in a self-soothing context with conjunctions.)

• Вздыхая, она продолжила работать. (Sighing, she continued working.)

  Sighing, she continued working. (Shows the verb as a gerund in a sequential action.)

• Мы вздыхали от облегчения, когда поезд наконец arrived. (We sighed with relief when the train finally arrived.)

  We sighed with relief when the train finally arrived. (Highlights plural use and positive emotion.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'вздох' (noun, masculine): This is a first-declension noun with regular patterns. It changes based on case and number.

For 'вздыхать' (verb, imperfective): This is a first-conjugation verb with regular endings. Below is a basic present tense conjugation table.

Note: The verb has an aspectual pair (perfective: вздохнуть), which is common in Russian and indicates completion.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: вздохнуть (to sigh once, more instantaneous); охать (to groan or sigh in pain) - Note: 'охать' implies more discomfort than emotional release.
• Antonyms: смех (laughter) - Used for joyful expressions, contrasting with the sadness often associated with sighing.

Related Phrases:

• Вздохнуть с облегчением - (To sigh with relief; used in situations of sudden release from stress.)
• Глубокий вздох - (A deep sigh; a common phrase to intensify the emotional weight.)
• Вздыхать о прошлом - (To sigh about the past; implies nostalgic or regretful reflection.)

Usage Notes:

The Russian translations for 'sigh' like 'вздох' and 'вздыхать' closely mirror the English in emotional contexts but are more inflected, requiring attention to case and aspect. For instance, use 'вздох' as a noun in formal writing for precision, while 'вздыхать' is ideal for describing ongoing actions. English speakers should note that Russian verbs often require perfective/imperfective pairs, so choose based on whether the sigh is habitual or one-time. In casual speech, these words are versatile across registers but lean towards expressive or literary use.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'вздох' without proper declension, e.g., saying "Я слышу вздох" in genitive contexts where it should be "Я слышу вздоха" (I hear a sigh's echo). Correct: Always adjust for case, as in "Я слышу этот вздох" (nominative). Explanation: Russian nouns change endings based on grammatical role, unlike English.
• Mistake: Confusing 'вздыхать' with 'вздохнуть' – learners might use the imperfective when a perfective is needed, e.g., "Я вздыхаю сейчас" instead of "Я вздохну сейчас" for a single action. Correct: Use 'вздохнуть' for completed sighs. Explanation: Aspect is crucial in Russian to convey action completion.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, sighing (e.g., 'вздох') often appears in literature like Tolstoy's works to symbolize deep introspection or melancholy, reflecting the Slavic emphasis on emotional depth and fatalism. It's not just a physical act but can convey a sense of resignation or poetic sorrow, as seen in folk songs where sighs represent unfulfilled longing.

Related Concepts:

• тоска (longing or melancholy)
• облегчение (relief)
• эмоции (emotions)