Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'slip'

English Word: slip

Key Russian Translations:

• скользить [skɐlʲˈzʲitʲ] - [Informal, often used for accidental sliding or slipping]
• пролезть [prɐˈlʲezʲtʲ] - [Informal, used in contexts of slipping through or squeezing]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday conversations about accidents or movement)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and common phrasal contexts)

Pronunciation (Russian):

скользить: [skɐlʲˈzʲitʲ]

пролезть: [prɐˈlʲezʲtʲ]

Note on скользить: The 'л' is palatalized, which can be tricky for English speakers; it sounds like a soft 'l' as in 'million'. Pronounce with emphasis on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To lose one's footing and slide unintentionally (e.g., on a slippery surface)

Translation(s) & Context:

• скользить - Used in informal or everyday contexts, such as describing accidents on ice or wet floors.
• пролезть - Applied in scenarios involving slipping through tight spaces, like escaping or maneuvering.

Usage Examples:

• Он поскользнулся на мокром полу и упал. (He slipped on the wet floor and fell.)

  Translation: He slipped on the wet floor and fell. (This example shows the verb in a simple past context, highlighting accidental movement.)

• Дети любят скользить по снегу на санках. (Children love to slip and slide on the snow with sleds.)

  Translation: Children love to slip and slide on the snow with sleds. (Demonstrates recreational use in a playful, informal setting.)

• Она пролезла через забор, чтобы избежать погони. (She slipped through the fence to avoid the chase.)

  Translation: She slipped through the fence to avoid the chase. (Illustrates a more metaphorical or action-oriented usage.)

• В дождь легко скользить на асфальте, так что будьте осторожны. (It's easy to slip on the asphalt in the rain, so be careful.)

  Translation: It's easy to slip on the asphalt in the rain, so be careful. (Shows the verb in an advisory context with imperative mood.)

Meaning 2: To slide or move smoothly and quietly (e.g., as in a piece of paper slipping)

Translation(s) & Context:

• скользить - In contexts involving smooth, effortless movement, often metaphorically for objects.

Usage Examples:

• Бумага скользит по столу, как шелк. (The paper slips across the table like silk.)

  Translation: The paper slips across the table like silk. (This highlights the verb in a descriptive, inanimate context.)

• Ветер заставил лист скользить по земле. (The wind made the leaf slip along the ground.)

  Translation: The wind made the leaf slip along the ground. (Demonstrates usage with external forces in a natural setting.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are verbs and follow standard Russian conjugation patterns. 'Скользить' is an imperfective verb, while 'пролезть' is perfective. Russian verbs change based on tense, aspect, person, and number.

Note: These verbs do not have irregular inflections but follow common patterns for motion verbs in Russian.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • скользнуть (to glide quickly; similar to скользить but implies a shorter action)
  • упасть (to fall; used when slipping results in falling)
• Antonyms:
  • застрять (to get stuck)
  • остановиться (to stop)

Related Phrases:

• Скользить по льду (To slip on ice) - Common phrase for describing winter accidents.
• Пролезть сквозь (To slip through something) - Used for escaping or navigating obstacles, often in adventurous contexts.
• Скользкий пол (Slippery floor) - A fixed expression warning about hazardous surfaces.

Usage Notes:

The English word 'slip' often corresponds to 'скользить' in Russian for physical or accidental sliding, but choose 'пролезть' for actions involving stealth or penetration. Be mindful of aspect: use imperfective 'скользить' for ongoing actions and perfective forms for completed ones. In formal contexts, pair with adverbs like 'неожиданно' (unexpectedly) to convey the accidental nature.

• Avoid direct word-for-word translation; context determines the best fit.
• In spoken Russian, these verbs are common in narratives or warnings, but they may vary by region (e.g., more frequent in snowy areas).

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse 'скользить' with 'упасть', using 'скользить' when 'упасть' is more appropriate for actual falling. For example:

• Incorrect: Он скользил с лестницы. (This implies ongoing sliding, not a fall.)
• Correct: Он упал с лестницы. (He fell from the stairs.) Explanation: Use 'скользить' for the act of slipping, but switch to 'упасть' if the result is falling to emphasize the outcome.
• Another error: Misconjugating tenses, e.g., saying 'я скользить' instead of 'я скользжу'. Always conjugate based on person and number.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases involving 'скользить' are often tied to winter activities like ice skating or dealing with snowy streets, reflecting Russia's harsh climate. This can evoke a sense of resilience or caution in everyday language, as slipping on ice is a common hazard in many regions.

Related Concepts:

• упасть (to fall)
• скользкий (slippery)
• движение (movement)