Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'spew'

English Word: spew

Key Russian Translations:

• рвотать [/rvoˈtatʲ/] - [Informal, Verb, Used in contexts involving vomiting or forceful expulsion]
• выплевывать [/vɨplʲɪˈvɨvətʲ/] - [Informal, Verb, Used for spitting out or expelling liquids forcefully, often metaphorically]

Frequency: Low (This word and its translations are not commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in medical, descriptive, or literary contexts.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of basic verb conjugations and contextual usage, though "рвотать" may feel more challenging due to its phonetic complexity.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

рвотать: /rvoˈtatʲ/ (The 'р' is a rolled 'r', and the stress is on the second syllable; note the palatalized 'тʲ' which can be tricky for English speakers.)

выплевывать: /vɨplʲɪˈvɨvətʲ/ (Stress on the third syllable; the 'ы' sound is a back unrounded vowel, similar to a softened 'i' in English.)

Note on рвотать: This verb often has a guttural quality that emphasizes disgust; beginners may confuse it with similar verbs like "блювать."

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To vomit or expel contents from the stomach forcefully (Primary literal sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• рвотать - Used in informal or medical contexts to describe involuntary vomiting, often with a sense of disgust or urgency.
• выплевывать - Less common for vomiting, but applicable in contexts of forcefully expelling food or liquid, such as in accidents.

Usage Examples:

• Он рвотал всю ночь после отравления едой.

  He spewed all night after food poisoning. (This example shows the verb in a past tense, medical context.)

• Ребёнок выплевывал молоко, потому что оно было слишком горьким.

  The child spewed out the milk because it was too bitter. (Illustrates use in a everyday, child-related scenario with a direct object.)

• После пьянки он рвотал в ванной, чтобы облегчить самочувствие.

  After the binge, he spewed in the bathroom to ease his discomfort. (Demonstrates informal, social context with imperfective aspect.)

• Врачи заставили его выплевывать яд как можно скорее.

  The doctors made him spew out the poison as quickly as possible. (Shows imperative or commanded action in an emergency.)

Meaning 2: To emit or discharge something forcefully, often metaphorically (e.g., words, lava)

Translation(s) & Context:

• выплевывать - Used metaphorically for expelling words or substances, such as in heated arguments or natural disasters.
• рвотать - Rarely used metaphorically, but possible in expressive language for overwhelming outpourings.

Usage Examples:

• Оратор выплевывал обвинения на митинге, не давая оппонентам вставить слово.

  The speaker spewed accusations at the rally, not letting opponents get a word in. (This highlights metaphorical use in a political context.)

• Вулкан рвотал лаву, угрожая близлежащим деревням.

  The volcano spewed lava, threatening nearby villages. (Shows application to natural phenomena with a vivid, descriptive tone.)

• Она выплевывала ругательства в адрес критиков, защищая свою работу.

  She spewed curses at her critics, defending her work. (Illustrates emotional, confrontational usage.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "рвотать" and "выплевывать" are imperfective verbs in Russian, which means they describe ongoing or repeated actions. Russian verbs inflect based on tense, aspect, person, number, and gender. "Рвотать" is irregular in some forms due to its phonetic changes, while "выплевывать" follows more standard patterns.

Note: These verbs do not change for gender in the infinitive or future forms but do in the past tense.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • блювать (Similar to рвотать, but more vulgar and direct; often used interchangeably in informal speech)
  • извергать (For metaphorical spewing, like lava; implies a more violent expulsion)
• Antonyms:
  • проглатывать (To swallow, opposite of expelling)
  • удерживать (To hold back, contrasting with forceful emission)

Related Phrases:

• рвотный рефлекс - The gag reflex (A physiological response often linked to spewing.)
• выплевывать яд - To spew venom (Metaphorical for expressing bitterness or criticism.)
• рвотные массы - Vomit masses (Used in medical contexts to describe expelled contents.)

Usage Notes:

• While "spew" in English can be neutral or metaphorical, its Russian equivalents like "рвотать" are often more visceral and informal; use them cautiously in polite conversation.
• "Выплевывать" is preferable for non-biological contexts, such as debates, to avoid the strong connotations of vomiting.
• Grammar note: These verbs require a direct object in some cases (e.g., "выплевывать что-то"), and they pair well with prepositions like "из" (from) for location.
• When choosing between translations, opt for "рвотать" for literal vomiting and "выплевывать" for broader expulsion to match the exact nuance of "spew".

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "рвотать" with "блювать" and using it in formal settings. Correct: Use "рвотать" only informally; in formal contexts, say "проявлять рвоту" instead. Example: Incorrect - "Пациент рвотал в клинике" (too crude); Correct - "Пациент испытывал рвоту".
• Error: Forgetting verb inflections, e.g., saying "он рвотать" instead of "он рвотает". Explanation: Russian verbs must agree with subject in person and number; always conjugate properly to avoid sounding unnatural.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "рвотать" are often avoided in polite discourse due to their graphic nature, reflecting a broader emphasis on indirectness in discussing bodily functions. This can stem from historical influences in literature, where such terms are used for dramatic effect in works by authors like Dostoevsky to convey human vulnerability.

Related Concepts:

• тошнота (Nausea)
• извержение (Eruption, as in volcanoes)
• выливание (Pouring out)