Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sing'

English Word: sing

Key Russian Translations:

• петь [ˈpʲetʲ] - [Informal, Verb, Used in everyday conversation]
• исполнять [ɪspɐˈlʲenʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, Verb, Used in professional or musical contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in daily language, especially in artistic or casual settings, but not as ubiquitous as basic verbs like 'to be').

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner level for basic conjugation, but B1 for irregular forms or formal variants).

Pronunciation (Russian):

петь: [ˈpʲetʲ]

исполнять: [ɪspɐˈlʲenʲɪtʲ]

Note on петь: The initial 'п' is a voiceless bilabial plosive, and the 'ть' ending can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft 't' sound; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: To produce musical sounds with the voice.

Translation(s) & Context:

• петь - Used in informal, everyday contexts, such as singing for pleasure or in social gatherings.
• исполнять - Used in formal contexts, like performing on stage or in professional music.

Usage Examples:

• Я люблю петь под гитару в кругу друзей. (I love singing with a guitar among friends.)

  Translation: I love singing with a guitar among friends. (This example shows 'петь' in a casual, imperfective aspect.)

• Она исполняет арию из оперы на концерте. (She performs an aria from the opera at the concert.)

  Translation: She performs an aria from the opera at the concert. (Illustrates 'исполнять' in a formal, perfective context.)

• Дети поют народные песни на празднике. (The children are singing folk songs at the festival.)

  Translation: The children are singing folk songs at the festival. (Demonstrates plural subject and cultural usage.)

• Он не умеет петь, но всегда пытается. (He doesn't know how to sing, but he always tries.)

  Translation: He doesn't know how to sing, but he always tries. (Shows negative construction and habitual aspect.)

• Мы исполняем дуэт на школьном вечере. (We are performing a duet at the school evening.)

  Translation: We are performing a duet at the school evening. (Highlights collaborative or group usage.)

Secondary Meaning: To make a ringing or buzzing sound (e.g., birds singing).

Translation(s) & Context:

• петь - Metaphorical use for natural sounds, like birds or wind.

Usage Examples:

• Птицы поют на рассвете в лесу. (The birds are singing at dawn in the forest.)

  Translation: The birds are singing at dawn in the forest. (This extends 'петь' to non-human subjects.)

• Ветер поёт в листве деревьев. (The wind is singing in the tree leaves.)

  Translation: The wind is singing in the tree leaves. (Poetic or descriptive context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'петь' (a first conjugation verb with irregularities), it follows standard patterns but has vowel changes in some forms. 'Исполнять' is more regular.

Note: 'Петь' is imperfective; its perfective counterpart is 'спеть'. Words like 'исполнять' do not change as irregularly.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • проспевать (more poetic, for prolonged singing)
  • заводить (informal, for starting to sing)
• Antonyms:
  • молчать (to be silent)
  • прекращать (to stop, in the context of performing)

Brief note: 'Проспевать' implies a longer duration, making it suitable for ballads, while 'молчать' is a direct opposite in sound-related contexts.

Related Phrases:

• Петь песни (To sing songs) - A common phrase for casual singing, often in social or recreational settings.
• Исполнять роль (To perform a role) - Extends to acting, but can relate to singing in theater.
• Петь под аккомпанемент (To sing with accompaniment) - Refers to singing with musical backup, emphasizing collaboration.

Usage Notes:

• Russian verbs like 'петь' are aspect-driven; use the imperfective for ongoing actions and perfective ('спеть') for completed ones, unlike English 'sing' which doesn't distinguish as strictly.
• In formal contexts, 'исполнять' is preferred over 'петь' to convey professionalism, such as in concerts or official events.
• Gender and number agreements are crucial; for example, past tense forms change based on the subject's gender.
• When choosing between translations, opt for 'петь' in everyday speech and 'исполнять' for artistic performances to match the appropriate register.

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse aspect: Using 'петь' for a completed action, e.g., saying "Я петь песню" instead of "Я спел песню" (I sang a song). Correct: "Я спел песню" for a finished performance. Explanation: Russian requires perfective aspect for completed actions.
• Mispronouncing the soft 'т' in 'петь' as a hard 't', which can make it sound unnatural. Correct pronunciation: [ˈpʲetʲ], with a palatalized ending.
• Overusing 'исполнять' in casual talk, e.g., "Я исполняю в душе" instead of "Я пою в душе" (I sing in the shower). Explanation: 'Исполнять' is too formal for informal situations.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, singing ('петь') is deeply tied to traditions like folk songs and choral performances, often seen in events such as Maslenitsa festivals. It symbolizes community and heritage, with songs like those of the Soviet era carrying historical and emotional weight, evoking nostalgia or national pride.

Related Concepts:

• музыка (music)
• песня (song)
• концерт (concert)