Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'skulk'

English Word: skulk

Key Russian Translations:

• красться [ˈkrastʲsʲə] - [Informal; often used in narrative or descriptive contexts to imply stealthy movement]
• таиться [ˈtajtɕɪsʲə] - [Formal; emphasizes hiding or lurking with caution]

Frequency: Medium (This verb is commonly encountered in literature and everyday Russian, but not as frequent as basic movement verbs like "идти".)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of reflexive verbs and imperfective aspects, but not overly complex for learners familiar with basic conjugations.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

красться: [ˈkrastʲsʲə]

таиться: [ˈtajtɕɪsʲə]

Note on красться: The stress is on the first syllable, and the 'т' sound can be softened in fast speech, which is common in informal Russian dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To move stealthily or hide while moving (primary meaning of 'skulk')

Translation(s) & Context:

• красться - Used in contexts involving cautious, sneaky movement, such as in detective stories or describing animal behavior.
• таиться - Applied in more formal or serious situations, like espionage or survival scenarios, to convey lurking with intent.

Usage Examples:

• Он крался по тёмному коридору, стараясь не шуметь.

  He was skulking down the dark hallway, trying not to make any noise.

• Кот таился за забором, поджидая добычу.

  The cat was skulking behind the fence, waiting for its prey.

• Воры крались к дому под покровом ночи.

  The thieves were skulking toward the house under the cover of night.

• Она таилась в тени, наблюдая за подозреваемым.

  She was skulking in the shadows, watching the suspect.

• Дети крались в сад, чтобы сорвать яблоки без разрешения.

  The children were skulking into the garden to pick apples without permission.

To lurk or behave in a cowardly manner (secondary, less common meaning)

Translation(s) & Context:

• красться - In metaphorical contexts, implying avoidance or fear-based hiding.

Usage Examples:

• Он крался от ответственности, избегая важных разговоров.

  He was skulking from responsibility, avoiding important conversations.

• Таиться в углу – не выход, нужно面对 проблему.

  Skulking in the corner isn't a solution; you need to face the problem.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "красться" and "таиться" are reflexive verbs (ending in -ся), which are common in Russian for actions involving oneself. They follow the imperfective aspect and have irregular conjugations in some forms.

For "красться" (imperfective):

For "таиться", it follows a similar pattern but is more regular:

These verbs do not change in the infinitive form and are invariant in some aspects like the perfective counterpart (e.g., "скрыться" for таиться).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Скрываться (skryvat'sya) - More general hiding, with less emphasis on movement.
  • Заседать (zasedyat') - Lurking in a waiting position, often formal.
• Antonyms:
  • Выходить на свет (vychodit' na svet) - To come out into the open.
  • Шагать открыто (shagat' otkryto) - To walk openly or boldly.

Related Phrases:

• Красться в тени - To skulk in the shadows; used for stealthy, secretive actions.
• Таиться в засаде - To lurk in ambush; common in military or hunting contexts.
• Крадущийся тигр - The skulking tiger; a phrase inspired by literature, implying quiet danger.

Usage Notes:

"Skulk" translates most accurately to "красться" in informal contexts, where the action involves sneaky movement, but "таиться" is preferable for more formal or intentional hiding. In Russian, these verbs are reflexive, so they always end in "-ся," which English learners often forget. Choose based on context: use "красться" for physical stealth and "таиться" for psychological or strategic lurking. Be mindful of aspect; these are imperfective, so they describe ongoing actions.

Common Errors:

• Error: Forgetting the reflexive "-ся" ending, e.g., saying "красть" instead of "красться." Correct: Always include "-ся" for reflexive verbs. Explanation: This changes the meaning entirely, as "красть" means "to steal."

• Error: Using in the wrong tense, e.g., "крался" when a present action is needed. Correct: Match the tense to the context, like "крадусь" for "I am skulking." Explanation: Russian verbs require precise aspect and tense agreement, which can confuse English speakers used to simpler structures.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian literature, such as in works by Tolstoy or Chekhov, verbs like "красться" often symbolize themes of secrecy and evasion in societal contexts, reflecting historical distrust in Russian culture due to events like the Soviet era. This adds a layer of connotation beyond mere physical movement, implying moral or social cowardice.

Related Concepts:

• Скрытность (secrecy)
• Засада (ambush)
• Подозрительность (suspicion)