Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'snuff'

English Word: snuff

Key Russian Translations:

• снюс [ˈsnʲus] - [Informal, Refers to smokeless tobacco]
• погасить [pɐˈɡasʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, Used for extinguishing or suppressing]

Frequency: Low (These terms are not commonly used in everyday conversation but appear in specific contexts like health, history, or literature)

Difficulty: B2 for "снюс" (Intermediate, as it involves specialized vocabulary); C1 for "погасить" (Advanced, due to verb conjugations and contextual nuances)

Pronunciation (Russian):

снюс: [ˈsnʲus] (The "сн" is pronounced with a soft "н", similar to "sn" in "snow" but softer; stress on the first syllable)

Note on снюс: Be cautious with the palatalized "н" sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers. It softens the preceding consonant.

погасить: [pɐˈɡasʲɪtʲ] (Stress on the second syllable; the "г" is guttural, and "ш" is a soft "sh" sound)

Note on погасить: This verb has aspectual variations; the perfective form is used here, but imperfective "гасить" [ˈɡasʲɪtʲ] might be needed for ongoing actions.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Snuff as a noun referring to powdered tobacco for sniffing.

Translation(s) & Context:

• снюс - Used in informal or historical contexts, such as discussing tobacco products or traditional habits.

Usage Examples:

• Он взял щепотку снюса и вдохнул его через нос.

  He took a pinch of snuff and inhaled it through his nose. (This example shows the noun in a simple declarative sentence, illustrating everyday use in a historical context.)

• В музее есть экспозиция, посвященная снюсу и его роли в русской культуре XVIII века.

  In the museum, there is an exhibit dedicated to snuff and its role in Russian culture of the 18th century. (Demonstrates usage in a cultural or educational setting.)

• Снюс иногда используется в народной медицине, но это не рекомендуется.

  Snuff is sometimes used in folk medicine, but it's not recommended. (Shows the word in a cautionary context, highlighting potential modern applications.)

• Мой дед коллекционировал разные сорта снюса из разных стран.

  My grandfather collected different types of snuff from various countries. (Illustrates possessive and plural contexts.)

Meaning 2: Snuff as a verb meaning to extinguish or suppress (e.g., snuff out a candle or a life).

Translation(s) & Context:

• погасить - Used in formal or literal contexts, such as describing the act of putting out a fire or metaphorically ending something.

Usage Examples:

• Он быстро погасил свечу, чтобы не разбудить детей.

  He quickly snuffed out the candle to not wake the children. (This shows the verb in a perfective aspect for a completed action in a domestic scenario.)

• Правительство попыталось погасить протесты, но они только усилились.

  The government tried to snuff out the protests, but they only intensified. (Demonstrates metaphorical use in a political context.)

• Ветер погасил костер за считанные секунды.

  The wind snuffed out the campfire in a matter of seconds. (Illustrates the verb with environmental elements.)

• Ей пришлось погасить надежду на поездку из-за плохой погоды.

  She had to snuff out her hope for the trip due to bad weather. (Shows figurative use in emotional contexts.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Снюс" is a masculine noun in Russian, which typically follows the standard declension pattern for third-declension nouns. It is relatively invariable in everyday use but can change in cases:

"Погасить" is a perfective verb (from the root "гасить"). It conjugates irregularly in the past tense and has no future simple form as a perfective verb:

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms for снюс: нюхательный табак (snuff tobacco; more descriptive and formal)
• Synonyms for погасить: задуть (to blow out, e.g., a candle; often used for wind or breath)
• Antonyms for погасить: зажечь (to light or ignite; implies starting something)

Related Phrases:

• Нюхательный табак - A phrase for snuff tobacco; refers to the traditional form, often in historical contexts.
• Погасить огонь - To extinguish a fire; commonly used in safety or emergency situations.
• Снюс и здоровье - Snuff and health; a phrase discussing potential risks, as in public health warnings.

Usage Notes:

"Снюс" directly corresponds to the English "snuff" in the context of tobacco, but it's less common in modern Russian due to health awareness; prefer it in historical or niche discussions. "Погасить" aligns with "to snuff out" metaphorically, but ensure the context fits—use it for complete actions rather than ongoing ones. English speakers should note that Russian verbs have aspects (perfective vs. imperfective), so "погасить" is for finished events, while "гасить" is for processes. When choosing between translations, opt for "снюс" in informal settings and "погасить" in formal writing.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "снюс" as a verb, e.g., confusing it with "to snuff." Correct: "Снюс" is only a noun; use "погасить" for actions. Example of error: *Он снюс огонь* (incorrect). Correct: Он погасил огонь. Explanation: Russian nouns don't function as verbs, so learners must select the appropriate part of speech.
• Error: Mispronouncing "погасить" by stressing the wrong syllable. Correct pronunciation: [pɐˈɡasʲɪtʲ]. Explanation: Stress errors can change the word's perceived meaning or make it incomprehensible in fast speech.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "снюс" (snuff) harks back to 18th-19th century aristocratic habits, often associated with figures like Peter the Great, who popularized tobacco. It's not as prevalent today due to anti-smoking campaigns, but it symbolizes historical luxury. "Погасить" in metaphors can evoke themes of suppression in Russian literature, such as in works by Tolstoy, where it represents the extinguishing of hopes during turbulent times.

Related Concepts:

• табак
• огонь
• протест