Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'soak'

English Word: soak

Key Russian Translations:

• замочить [zəˈmotɕɪtʲ] - [Informal, Verb; used for soaking something in liquid, e.g., clothes or food]
• вымочить [vɨˈmotɕɪtʲ] - [Formal, Verb; implies thorough soaking, often with an emphasis on complete saturation]
• замочить [zəˈmotɕɪtʲ] - [Informal, Noun form as замачивание; refers to the process of soaking]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday contexts like cooking or laundry, but not as frequent as basic verbs)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and perfective aspects, which can vary by translation)

Pronunciation (Russian):

замочить: [zəˈmotɕɪtʲ]

вымочить: [vɨˈmotɕɪtʲ]

Note on замочить: The soft 'ч' sound ([tɕ]) can be challenging for beginners; it's pronounced like 'ch' in 'church' but softer. Variations may occur in dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To immerse something in liquid until it absorbs moisture (Verb form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• замочить - Used in informal, everyday contexts like soaking clothes or beans before cooking.
• вымочить - Applied in more formal or precise contexts, such as in recipes or scientific descriptions, emphasizing completeness.

Usage Examples:

• Я замочу белье в воде, чтобы оно отстиралось лучше. (Ya zamochu belye v vode, chtoby ono otstiralos' luchshe.)

  I will soak the laundry in water so that it washes better.

• Вымочите фрукты в вине перед добавлением в салат. (Vymochite frukty v vine pered dobavleniyem v salat.)

  Soak the fruits in wine before adding them to the salad.

• Она всегда замачивает зерна на ночь для проращивания. (Ona vsegda zamachivaet zerna na noch' dlya prorashchivaniya.)

  She always soaks the grains overnight for sprouting.

• Не забудьте замочить мясо в маринаде. (Ne zabud'te zamochit' myaso v marinade.)

  Don't forget to soak the meat in marinade.

• Вымоченный в масле хлеб становится мягче. (Vymochennyy v masle khleb stanovitsya myagche.)

  Bread soaked in oil becomes softer.

Meaning 2: The act or state of being soaked (Noun form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• замачивание - Used in contexts describing a process, like in instructions or descriptions.

Usage Examples:

• Замачивание овощей помогает сохранить их витамины. (Zamačivanie ovosčej pomogaet sokhranit' ikh vitaminy.)

  Soaking vegetables helps preserve their vitamins.

• После замачивания ткань стала мягкой. (Posle zamačivaniya tkany' stala myagkoj.)

  After soaking, the fabric became soft.

• Замачивание в соленой воде — традиционный метод. (Zamačivanie v solenoj vode — tradicionnyj metod.)

  Soaking in saltwater is a traditional method.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For verbs like 'замочить' and 'вымочить', these are perfective verbs in Russian, which means they indicate a completed action. They follow standard conjugation patterns for Russian verbs of the first conjugation.

For nouns like 'замачивание', it is a neuter noun that follows the standard second declension with no irregularities: Nominative - замачивание, Genitive - замачивания, etc.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • мочить (mochit') - Less formal, implies wetting without full soaking.
  • пропитать (propitat') - Used when something is thoroughly saturated.
• Antonyms:
  • осушить (osushit') - To dry out completely.
  • высушить (vysushit') - To dry something.

Related Phrases:

• Замочить в воде (Zamochit' v vode) - To soak in water; used for preparing food or cleaning.
• Вымочить в маринаде (Vymochit' v marinade) - To soak in marinade; common in cooking contexts for enhancing flavors.
• Замачивание перед стиркой (Zamačivanie pered stirkoj) - Soaking before washing; a household phrase for laundry routines.

Usage Notes:

'Soak' in English often corresponds to perfective verbs in Russian like 'замочить', which imply a completed action, unlike the imperfective 'мочить'. Choose 'замочить' for informal, everyday use and 'вымочить' for more precise or formal contexts. Be mindful of aspect: Russian verbs must match the context's completeness. For example, if the action is ongoing, use the imperfective form.

• Grammar note: These verbs require an object (e.g., what is being soaked), so always include it in sentences.
• Regional variations: In some dialects, 'замочить' might imply a quicker action than in standard Russian.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'замочить' in an imperfective context, e.g., saying "Я замочу" to mean "I am soaking" (which implies ongoing action).
  Correct: Use the imperfective "мочу" for ongoing actions, e.g., "Я мочу белье" (I am soaking the laundry). Explanation: Russian requires aspect agreement; perfective verbs like 'замочить' are for completed actions.
• Error: Confusing with similar verbs, e.g., using 'мочить' when a completed action is needed.
  Correct: "Замочите фрукты" instead of "Мочите фрукты" for "Soak the fruits (and finish it)." Explanation: This can change the meaning from ongoing to completed, leading to misunderstandings in recipes or instructions.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, soaking (e.g., 'замочить') is a common practice in traditional cooking, such as preparing buckwheat or beans, reflecting resourcefulness in rural or historical contexts. It symbolizes patience and preparation, often tied to family recipes passed down through generations.

Related Concepts:

• пропитать (propitat') - To saturate
• влага (vlaga) - Moisture
• маринад (marinad) - Marinade