Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'spare'

English Word: spare

Key Russian Translations:

• запасной [zəˈpaznɨj] - [Formal, Adjective, used for physical spares like parts]
• свободный [svɨˈbodnɨj] - [Informal, Adjective, often for time or resources]
• пощадить [pəˈʂatʲ] - [Formal, Verb, used in contexts of mercy or restraint]

Frequency: Medium - The word 'spare' and its translations appear regularly in everyday Russian, especially in technical, daily life, and literary contexts, but not as commonly as basic vocabulary.

Difficulty: B1 - Intermediate level per CEFR; basic translations like 'запасной' are accessible to learners, but verb forms like 'пощадить' may require more practice due to irregular conjugations. For 'свободный', difficulty is A2 if used in simple contexts.

Pronunciation (Russian):

запасной: [zəˈpaznɨj]

свободный: [svɨˈbodnɨj]

пощадить: [pəˈʂatʲ]

Note on запасной: The 'з' sound is soft and similar to 'z' in 'zebra'; stress on the second syllable can vary in fast speech.

Note on пощадить: The 'щ' is a unique Russian sound, like 'sh' in 'she' but with more friction; pay attention to the infinitive form for verb conjugation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: As an adjective meaning 'extra, reserve, or additional' (e.g., spare parts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• запасной - Used in formal or technical contexts for physical items like tools or equipment.
• свободный - Used informally for abstract concepts like time or space, implying availability.

Usage Examples:

• У меня есть запасной ключ на случай, если потеряю основной.

  I have a spare key in case I lose the main one.

• В выходные у меня будет свободное время для отдыха.

  On the weekends, I'll have spare time for rest.

• Эта машина имеет запасной аккумулятор для длительных поездок.

  This car has a spare battery for long trips.

• Я всегда ношу запасной телефон в рюкзаке.

  I always carry a spare phone in my backpack.

Meaning 2: As a verb meaning 'to refrain from using or to show mercy' (e.g., spare no effort, spare someone's life)

Translation(s) & Context:

• пощадить - Used in emotional or literary contexts for mercy; formal and somewhat archaic in modern speech.

Usage Examples:

• В битве он решил пощадить противника, увидев его отчаяние.

  In the battle, he decided to spare the opponent upon seeing his desperation.

• Не пощади усилий, чтобы достичь цели.

  Spare no effort to achieve your goal. (Note: This is an idiomatic use emphasizing full commitment.)

• Судья пощадил обвиняемого из-за его возраста.

  The judge decided to spare the defendant because of his age.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'запасной' (adjective): It follows standard Russian adjective declension. As a first-declension adjective, it changes by case, number, and gender.

For 'свободный' (adjective): Similar to 'запасной', it is a first-declension adjective with regular inflections across cases and genders. No irregularities.

For 'пощадить' (verb): It is a first-conjugation verb with imperfective aspect. The infinitive is 'пощадить', and it conjugates as follows in present tense:

Note: This verb has an irregular perfective form 'пощадить', which is the same as the infinitive in some uses.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • запасной: резервный (reservnyj) - Similar, but more formal for military or official contexts.
  • свободный: незанятый (nezanyatyj) - Often interchangeable, but 'незанятый' emphasizes unoccupied status.
  • пощадить: сжалиться (szhalit'sya) - Conveys pity; used in emotional appeals.
• Antonyms:
  • запасной: основной (osnovnoy) - Main or primary, opposite of reserve.
  • свободный: занятый (zanyatyj) - Busy or occupied.
  • пощадить: уничтожить (unichtozhit') - To destroy, implying no mercy.

Related Phrases:

• Запасной вариант (Zapasnoi variant) - Backup plan; used in decision-making scenarios.
• Свободное время (Svobodnoe vremya) - Free time; common in daily conversations about schedules.
• Не пощади врага (Ne poshadi vraga) - Spare no enemy; an idiomatic phrase from literature, implying full effort in conflict.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'spare' translations vary by context: use 'запасной' for tangible items like parts, 'свободный' for abstract availability, and 'пощадить' for mercy-related verbs. Be mindful of formality—'пощадить' is more literary. When choosing between translations, consider the sentence structure; Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify. For example, 'spare time' directly translates to 'свободное время', but in formal writing, opt for more precise phrasing to avoid ambiguity.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'запасной' for abstract concepts like time, e.g., saying "запасное время" instead of "свободное время". Correct: свободное время. Explanation: 'Запасной' implies a physical reserve, while 'свободный' fits temporal contexts better.
• Error: Incorrectly conjugating 'пощадить', e.g., saying "пощадишь" in the wrong tense. Correct: Ensure proper aspect (imperfective for ongoing actions). Explanation: Russian verbs have aspects that English lacks, so learners often mix them up, leading to tense confusion.

Cultural Notes:

The verb 'пощадить' often appears in Russian literature and historical contexts, such as in war stories or folktales, reflecting themes of mercy in Slavic culture. For instance, in Russian folklore, sparing an enemy can symbolize wisdom or humanity, contrasting with more aggressive Western narratives.

Related Concepts:

• резерв (rezerv) - Reserve
• экономия (ekonomiya) - Economy or saving
• милосердие (miloserodie) - Mercy