Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'smother'

English Word: smother

Key Russian Translations:

• душить [ˈduʂɨtʲ] - [Informal, Used in physical or metaphorical contexts involving suffocation or suppression]
• подавлять [pədɐˈvlʲætʲ] - [Formal, Often used for emotional or abstract suppression]
• задавить [zɐˈdavʲɪtʲ] - [Informal, Implies overwhelming or crushing force]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday language for physical actions, less frequent in formal writing)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate for most translations; beginners may struggle with verb conjugations, while advanced learners can handle nuances)

Pronunciation (Russian):

душить: [ˈduʂɨtʲ]

Note on душить: The "ш" sound is a voiceless postalveolar fricative, similar to the "sh" in "she" in English. Be careful with the soft "тʲ" ending, which softens the consonant.

подавлять: [pədɐˈvlʲætʲ]

Note on подавлять: Stress falls on the third syllable; the "влʲ" combination requires a soft pronunciation, which can be tricky for English speakers.

задавить: [zɐˈdavʲɪtʲ]

Note on задавить: The prefix "за-" adds a sense of completion; pronounce the "д" as a voiced dental stop.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To suffocate or kill by covering, as in a physical act

Translation(s) & Context:

• душить - Used in contexts involving physical obstruction of breathing, such as in accidents or crimes; common in informal speech or narratives.
• задавить - Applied when something heavy or overwhelming causes suffocation; often in literal or figurative emergency scenarios.

Usage Examples:

• Она душила пламя подушкой, чтобы предотвратить пожар. (She smothered the flame with a pillow to prevent the fire.)

  English Translation: She smothered the flame with a pillow to prevent the fire.

• В толпе его чуть не задушили, но он вырвался. (In the crowd, he was almost smothered, but he broke free.)

  English Translation: In the crowd, he was almost smothered, but he broke free.

• Дети иногда душили друг друга подушками во время игр, но это было безобидно. (Children sometimes smothered each other with pillows during games, but it was harmless.)

  English Translation: Children sometimes smothered each other with pillows during games, but it was harmless.

• Задыхаясь, он пытался не задушить себя в дыму. (Gasping, he tried not to smother himself in the smoke.)

  English Translation: Gasping, he tried not to smother himself in the smoke.

Meaning 2: To suppress or stifle emotions, ideas, or expressions

Translation(s) & Context:

• подавлять - Used in psychological or social contexts, such as suppressing feelings or ideas; formal and common in literature or discussions.
• душить - Can be metaphorical, implying emotional suppression, but less formal than подавлять.

Usage Examples:

• Она старалась подавлять свои слезы на публике, чтобы не показать слабость. (She tried to smother her tears in public to not show weakness.)

  English Translation: She tried to smother her tears in public to not show weakness.

• Правительство подавляло любые dissent, душа свободу слова. (The government smothered any dissent, suppressing freedom of speech.)

  English Translation: The government smothered any dissent, suppressing freedom of speech.

• В семье он подавлял свои амбиции, чтобы не конфликтовать с родителями. (In the family, he smothered his ambitions to avoid conflicting with his parents.)

  English Translation: In the family, he smothered his ambitions to avoid conflicting with his parents.

• Душа творчество в себе, он выбрал стабильную работу. (Smothering his creativity, he chose a stable job.)

  English Translation: Smothering his creativity, he chose a stable job.

• Подавляя гнев, она улыбнулась и продолжила разговор. (Smothering her anger, she smiled and continued the conversation.)

  English Translation: Smothering her anger, she smiled and continued the conversation.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily verbs, which undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number in Russian. Verbs like душить and подавлять are imperfective, while задавить is perfective. Russian verbs have regular and irregular patterns; these follow standard conjugation rules.

Note: These verbs are regular but require attention to aspect (imperfective vs. perfective) for correct usage.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • душить: задушить (more intense, implies completion)
  • подавлять: угнетать (implies oppression, often emotional)
  • задавить: подавить (similar but more forceful in suppression)
• Antonyms:
  • освобождать (to free or release)
  • выражать (to express, opposite of suppressing emotions)
  • вдохновлять (to inspire, countering suppression)

Related Phrases:

• Душить в объятиях - (To smother in embraces; a phrase for overly affectionate hugging, often in familial contexts.)
• Подавлять эмоции - (To suppress emotions; used in psychological discussions to describe emotional restraint.)
• Задушить в зародыше - (To smother in the cradle; meaning to prevent something from developing, like an idea or plan.)

Usage Notes:

"Smother" corresponds closely to Russian verbs like душить for physical actions and подавлять for abstract ones. Use душить in informal, everyday scenarios (e.g., cooking or accidents), while подавлять is better for formal contexts like psychology or politics. Be mindful of verb aspect: choose imperfective (e.g., душить) for ongoing actions and perfective (e.g., задавить) for completed ones. English speakers often confuse these with English phrasal verbs; select based on context to avoid awkwardness.

• In emotional contexts, подавлять is preferred for its neutral tone.
• Avoid literal translations in idiomatic expressions; for example, "smother laughter" might use сдерживать (to hold back) instead.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse aspect: for instance, using the imperfective душить when a perfective like задушить is needed for a completed action. Error: "Я душу огонь" (incorrect for a finished act); Correct: "Я задушил огонь" (I smothered the fire completely). Another common mistake is overusing душить metaphorically, where подавлять is more appropriate, as in "Я душу свои чувства" (awkward); Better: "Я подавляю свои чувства" (I suppress my feelings). This stems from not distinguishing between physical and emotional contexts.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like "душить в объятиях" reflect a warmth in familial interactions, where physical affection is common but can be overwhelming. Historically, suppression themes in literature (e.g., in works by Dostoevsky) highlight how "подавлять" emotions ties to themes of repression under authoritarian regimes, adding a layer of cultural depth to these words.

Related Concepts:

• удушье (suffocation)
• репрессия (repression)
• сдержанность (restraint)