Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'slake'

English Word: slake

Key Russian Translations:

• утолить [u.tɐ.'lʲitʲ] - [Verb, Formal, used for satisfying thirst or desires]
• гасить [ˈɡasʲɪtʲ] - [Verb, Informal, used specifically for quenching fire, thirst, or heat]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in everyday language, especially in contexts like literature or daily conversations about needs and satisfaction)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; involves basic verb conjugation and contextual usage, though 'утолить' may vary slightly in nuance for advanced learners)

Pronunciation (Russian):

утолить: [u.tɐ.'lʲitʲ]

гасить: [ˈɡasʲɪtʲ]

Note on утолить: The stress falls on the second syllable ('lʲitʲ'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft 'l' sound; pronounce it with a light, palatalized 'l' as in 'yes'.

Note on гасить: The initial 'г' is a voiced velar fricative, similar to the 'g' in 'go', but ensure it's not aspirated.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To satisfy or quench thirst or desires (e.g., literal or metaphorical)

Translation(s) & Context:

• утолить - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe satisfying a need, such as thirst, in everyday or poetic language.
• гасить - Applied in informal settings for quenching something physical, like fire or extreme heat, extending to thirst metaphorically.

Usage Examples:

• Я выпил стакан воды, чтобы утолить жажду после долгой прогулки.

  I drank a glass of water to slake my thirst after a long walk.

• Ему удалось утолить любопытство, прочитав эту книгу.

  He managed to slake his curiosity by reading this book.

• В жару мы гасим жажду холодным чаем.

  In the heat, we slake our thirst with cold tea.

• Герой романа гасит свою усталость крепким сном.

  The hero of the novel slakes his fatigue with a deep sleep.

Meaning 2: To quench or extinguish (e.g., in the context of fire or heat)

Translation(s) & Context:

• гасить - Primarily used for literal quenching, such as fire, in practical or emergency scenarios.
• утолить - Less common here, but can be used metaphorically for emotional or figurative extinguishing.

Usage Examples:

• Пожарные быстро гасили пламя, чтобы предотвратить дальнейшее распространение.

  The firefighters quickly slaked the flames to prevent further spread.

• Она гасит свою злость, выходя на прогулку.

  She slakes her anger by going for a walk.

• Ветер помог утолить жар в лесу после грозы.

  The wind helped slake the heat in the forest after the storm.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are verbs, which undergo conjugation in Russian. 'Утолить' is a perfective verb, while 'гасить' is imperfective. Russian verbs change based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Below is a table for 'утолить' (perfective) and 'гасить' (imperfective).

Note: These verbs follow standard conjugation patterns but can have irregularities in certain aspects. 'Гасить' is more frequently used in ongoing actions, while 'утолить' is for completed ones.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • удовлетворить (udovletvorit') - Similar to 'утолить', but often implies a deeper sense of fulfillment.
  • успокоить (uspokoit') - Used when 'slaking' involves calming or soothing, with a slight emotional connotation.
• Antonyms:
  • возбудить (vozbudit') - The opposite, meaning to arouse or intensify.
  • усилить (usilit') - To strengthen or heighten, contrasting with quenching.

Related Phrases:

• Утолить жажду - To slake thirst; commonly used in everyday contexts for physical needs.
• Гасить огонь - To slake or extinguish a fire; refers to emergency or practical situations.
• Утолить голод - To slake hunger; extends the metaphor to appetite or desires.

Usage Notes:

In English, 'slake' often carries a poetic or archaic tone, similar to how 'утолить' is used in Russian literature. Choose 'утолить' for formal or metaphorical contexts, like satisfying emotional needs, and 'гасить' for literal actions. Be mindful of aspect: Russian verbs distinguish between perfective (completed action) and imperfective (ongoing). For example, use 'утолить' for a finished event, but 'гасить' for processes. In spoken Russian, these words are common in narratives or daily talk, but avoid them in very casual slang.

• Tip: When translating 'slake thirst', pair it with 'жажду' for precision.
• Context guide: In formal writing, 'утолить' aligns better; in informal speech, 'гасить' might feel more natural.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing aspect and using 'утолить' for ongoing actions, e.g., saying "Я утоляю жажду" instead of "Я утолял жажду" for a completed past action.
  Correct: Use 'гасить' for imperfective, like "Я гашу жажду" for an ongoing process.
  Explanation: Russian requires aspect agreement; this mistake can make the sentence sound incomplete.
• Error: Over-literal translation, e.g., using 'утолить' for physical fire when 'гасить' is more appropriate.
  Correct: Say "Гасить огонь" instead of "Утолить огонь".
  Explanation: 'Утолить' implies satisfaction, not extinguishing, leading to semantic confusion.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like 'утолить жажду' often appear in folklore and literature, symbolizing the fulfillment of deep desires or survival in harsh environments, such as the vast Russian steppes. This reflects themes of endurance and simplicity in daily life, drawing from historical contexts like peasant traditions where quenching thirst was a basic necessity.

Related Concepts:

• жажда (zhazhda) - Thirst
• голод (golod) - Hunger
• успокоение (uspokoeniye) - Soothing or calming