Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sip'

English Word: sip

Key Russian Translations:

• глотнуть [ɡɫɐˈtnutʲ] - [Informal, often used for quick, small intakes of liquid]
• сделать глоток [sdʲɪˈlʲatʲ ˈɡɫotək] - [Formal or descriptive, used in more polite or narrative contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in everyday conversations about eating and drinking, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "пить").

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner level; straightforward verb conjugation for those familiar with basic Russian grammar, though "глотнуть" has irregular aspects).

Pronunciation (Russian):

глотнуть: [ɡɫɐˈtnutʲ]

сделать глоток: [sdʲɪˈlʲatʲ ˈɡɫotək]

Note on глотнуть: The 'г' is a voiced velar fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers; it sounds like a soft 'g' in "go," but with a guttural quality. Variations may occur in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To drink taking small mouthfuls

Translation(s) & Context:

• глотнуть - Used in informal settings, such as casual meals or when describing quick drinks, e.g., sipping tea during a break.
• сделать глоток - Applied in more formal or descriptive contexts, like in literature or polite conversation, to emphasize a deliberate action.

Usage Examples:

• Он глотнул горячего чая, чтобы согреться.

  He took a sip of hot tea to warm up.

• Дети любят глотнуть сок из пакета во время прогулки.

  Children like to sip juice from a carton while walking.

• Она сделала глоток вина на званом ужине.

  She took a sip of wine at the formal dinner.

• После пробежки, он глотнул воды из бутылки.

  After the run, he sipped water from the bottle.

• В холодный вечер, мы сделали глоток горячего какао у камина.

  On a cold evening, we took a sip of hot cocoa by the fireplace.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"глотнуть" is a verb of the perfective aspect (indicating a completed action) and follows imperfective-perfective pairs in Russian. It is irregular in some conjugations. "сделать глоток" involves the verb "сделать" (to do/make), which is also irregular.

For "глотнуть" (perfective):

"сделать глоток" does not inflect as a single unit; "сделать" conjugates as above, and "глоток" is a masculine noun that changes by case: Nominative - глоток, Genitive - глотка, etc.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: отпить (to drink a bit), попить (to have a drink) - "отпить" is similar but implies a slightly larger amount; "попить" is more general.
• Antonyms: выпить (to drink up, finish) - Implies consuming the entire amount rather than just a sip.

Related Phrases:

• Сделать глоток воды - To take a sip of water; used when needing a quick refreshment.
• Глотнуть воздуха - To take a breath of air; metaphorically extended from sipping liquids to imply a quick intake.
• Пить глотками - To drink in sips; a common phrase for controlled drinking, often in health contexts.

Usage Notes:

The English word "sip" directly corresponds to "глотнуть" in informal Russian speech, but "сделать глоток" is preferred in formal or written contexts to convey politeness or precision. Be mindful of aspect: "глотнуть" is perfective (for a single action), while its imperfective counterpart "глотать" describes ongoing sipping. English learners should choose based on context—use "глотнуть" for one-time actions and avoid it in formal settings where "сделать глоток" fits better.

• Grammar note: Verbs like "глотнуть" require attention to perfective-imperfective pairs, which don't exist in English.
• Context guide: In culinary or social scenarios, these words often appear, but they're less common in professional jargon.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "глотнуть" in formal writing, e.g., saying "Я глотнул чай" in a business report instead of "Я сделал глоток чая." Correct: Opt for "сделать глоток" for formality. Explanation: "Глотнуть" sounds too casual and may come across as unprofessional.
• Error: Confusing aspect, e.g., using "глотнуть" for ongoing actions like "I am sipping coffee" (incorrect: "Я глотну кофе" implies a future or single sip). Correct: Use "глотать" for ongoing actions. Explanation: Russian verbs must match the action's completeness, which English speakers often overlook.
• Error: Mispronouncing the 'г' in "глотнуть" as a hard 'g,' making it sound like "glotnut" instead of [ɡɫɐˈtnutʲ]. Correct: Practice the soft, guttural sound. Explanation: This can lead to misunderstandings in spoken Russian.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, sipping tea or other beverages is a common social ritual, especially during long conversations or in cold weather. Phrases like "глотнуть чая" evoke warmth and hospitality, often tied to traditions like samovars and family gatherings, reflecting Russia's emphasis on communal drinking as a way to build relationships.

Related Concepts:

• пить (to drink)
• глоток (a sip, as a noun)
• напиток (beverage)