Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'spit'

English Word: spit

Key Russian Translations:

• плевать [plʲɪˈvatʲ] - [Informal, Verb, Used in everyday conversations or expressions of disgust]
• плевок [ˈplʲɛvək] - [Informal, Noun, Refers to the act or result of spitting]

Frequency: Medium (Common in casual speech but not in formal writing; appears frequently in literature and media)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of basic verb conjugations and informal expressions. For 'плевок' as a noun, it may be A2 for beginners.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

плевать: [plʲɪˈvatʲ]

плевок: [ˈplʲɛvək]

Note on плевать: The 'лʲ' sound is a palatalized 'l', which can be challenging for English speakers; it sounds softer than a standard 'l'. Stress falls on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To eject saliva from the mouth (Verb)

Translation(s) & Context:

• плевать - Used in informal contexts to describe spitting as an action, often expressing contempt or disgust.

Usage Examples:

• Он плюнул на землю в раздражении. (He spat on the ground in irritation.)

  English Translation: He spat on the ground in irritation. (This example shows the verb in a simple past context, emphasizing emotional expression.)

• Не плюй в общественном месте! (Don't spit in public places!)

  English Translation: Don't spit in public places! (Demonstrates imperative form in a prohibitive context, common in etiquette discussions.)

• Она плюнула, чтобы очистить горло. (She spat to clear her throat.)

  English Translation: She spat to clear her throat. (Illustrates a practical, non-emotional use in everyday situations.)

• В фильме герой плюнул в лицо врагу. (In the movie, the hero spat in the enemy's face.)

  English Translation: In the movie, the hero spat in the enemy's face. (Shows dramatic or confrontational usage in narratives.)

• Дети плюют, играя в игры. (Children spit while playing games.)

  English Translation: Children spit while playing games. (Highlights informal, playful contexts, though not always literal.)

Meaning 2: A narrow point of land projecting into the sea (Noun)

Translation(s) & Context:

• плевок - Less common; used metaphorically, but for literal geography, prefer 'мыс' (mys).
• мыс - Used in formal or geographical contexts to describe a spit of land.

Usage Examples:

• Этот мыс выступает в море, как естественный плевок земли. (This spit projects into the sea like a natural extension of land.)

  English Translation: This spit projects into the sea like a natural extension of land. (Combines literal and metaphorical usage in descriptive writing.)

• Мы посетили мыс на побережье. (We visited the spit on the coast.)

  English Translation: We visited the spit on the coast. (Standard geographical reference.)

• Плевок песка отделяет озеро от океана. (The spit of sand separates the lake from the ocean.)

  English Translation: The spit of sand separates the lake from the ocean. (Emphasizes a natural barrier in environmental contexts.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'плевать' (verb, imperfective):

This is an irregular verb in Russian, following patterns of motion or action verbs. It conjugates based on tense, aspect, and person. Below is a basic conjugation table:

For 'плевок' (noun, masculine):

It declines as a standard third-declension noun. It is invariable in plural forms for some cases but follows regular patterns:

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • выплевывать (vyplevyvat') - More emphatic, used for spitting out forcefully; differs by implying greater effort.
  • отплевываться (otplevyvatsya) - Specifically for spitting to defend or react.
• Antonyms:
  • глотать (glotat') - To swallow, opposite in action.
  • удерживать (uderzhivat') - To hold back, in the context of restraining an action.

Related Phrases:

• плевать в потолок (plevat' v potolok) - Meaning: To waste time or do something pointless (English: "To spit at the ceiling," implying futility).
• не плевать против ветра (ne plevat' protiv vetra) - Meaning: Don't act against your own interests (English: "Don't spit against the wind," a proverbial warning).
• плевок судьбы (plevok sud'by) - Meaning: A twist of fate or bad luck (English: "A spit of fate," used in dramatic contexts).

Usage Notes:

'Плевать' is a versatile verb in Russian but is highly informal and can be rude or vulgar in polite settings, unlike its English counterpart which might be neutral. Always consider the context: use it in casual conversations or literature, but avoid in formal writing. For geographical 'spit', 'мыс' is a more precise translation than 'плевок', which carries a saliva connotation. When choosing between translations, opt for 'плевать' for actions and 'плевок' for nouns, and be mindful of regional variations in Russia where spitting taboos might influence usage.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'плевать' in formal contexts, e.g., saying "Я плюнул на встречу" instead of "Я пропустил встречу" (I missed the meeting).

  Correct Usage: 'Пропустить' for missing an event. Explanation: 'Плевать' implies literal spitting, which can offend; English learners often confuse it with casual idioms.

• Error: Incorrect conjugation, e.g., saying "Я плюет" instead of "Я плюю".

  Correct Usage: "Я плюю". Explanation: Russian verbs require proper person agreement; this mistake arises from not studying conjugation tables.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, spitting (плевать) is often associated with superstitions, such as spitting three times over the shoulder to ward off bad luck, derived from folk traditions. This reflects a broader Slavic belief in using simple actions to combat the evil eye, making the word not just literal but symbolically protective in everyday life.

Related Concepts:

• слюна (slyuna) - Saliva
• гнев (gnev) - Anger (often linked in emotional contexts)
• побережье (poberezh'ye) - Coastline (for geographical spit)