Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'spray'

English Word: spray

Key Russian Translations:

• спрей [ˈsprɛj] - [Informal, Common noun; used for aerosol or spray products]
• распылять [rɐˈspɨlʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, Verb; used in contexts involving dispersion of liquids]
• опрыскивать [ɐˈprɨskʲɪvətʲ] - [Informal, Verb; often used for spraying plants or surfaces]

Frequency: Medium (The word and its translations are commonly encountered in everyday contexts like household products or gardening, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun forms and verb conjugations, suitable for learners with basic Russian grammar knowledge. For 'распылять', it may be B2 due to irregular aspects.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

спрей: [ˈsprɛj]

распылять: [rɐˈspɨlʲɪtʲ] - Stress on the second syllable; the 'ы' sound can be tricky for English speakers, similar to a short 'i' in "bit".

опрыскивать: [ɐˈprɨskʲɪvətʲ] - Note on опрыскивать: The palatalized 'кʲ' requires the tongue to touch the palate lightly; common in verbs of action.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

As a noun: A fine mist or jet of liquid propelled from a container.

Translation(s) & Context:

• спрей - Used in informal, everyday contexts like describing hair spray or insect repellent.
• распыление - More formal, in technical or scientific contexts, such as industrial spraying.

Usage Examples:

• Я наношу спрей на волосы каждый день. (I apply spray to my hair every day.)

  English: I apply spray to my hair every day.

• Этот спрей от комаров очень эффективный. (This mosquito spray is very effective.)

  English: This mosquito spray is very effective.

• В магазине есть разные виды спрея для уборки. (In the store, there are various types of cleaning spray.)

  English: In the store, there are various types of cleaning spray.

• Спрей для растений помогает бороться с вредителями. (Spray for plants helps fight pests.)

  English: Spray for plants helps fight pests.

As a verb: To disperse liquid in a fine mist.

Translation(s) & Context:

• распылять - Used in formal or technical contexts, such as painting or chemistry.
• опрыскивать - Informal, often in agricultural or household settings.

Usage Examples:

• Он распыляет краску на стену. (He is spraying paint on the wall.)

  English: He is spraying paint on the wall.

• Мы опрыскиваем сад инсектицидом. (We are spraying the garden with insecticide.)

  English: We are spraying the garden with insecticide.

• Не распыляй парфюм в комнате, это слишком сильно. (Don't spray perfume in the room; it's too strong.)

  English: Don't spray perfume in the room; it's too strong.

• Дети любят опрыскивать друг друга водой. (Children love spraying each other with water.)

  English: Children love spraying each other with water.

• В лаборатории они распыляют химикаты для эксперимента. (In the laboratory, they are spraying chemicals for the experiment.)

  English: In the laboratory, they are spraying chemicals for the experiment.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'Спрей' is a borrowed word and typically remains indeclinable in Russian, meaning it does not change form based on case or number (e.g., Nominative: спрей; Genitive: спрей; Plural: спреи, though less common).

For 'распылять' (verb), it is a first-conjugation verb with imperfective aspect. Here is a basic conjugation table:

For 'опрыскивать' (verb), it follows similar patterns but is more commonly used in perfective forms like 'опрыскать'. It is irregular in some aspects due to its root.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Аэрозоль (aerosol; similar to спрей but more general)
  • Распылитель (sprayer; for devices)
  • Орошать (to irrigate; as a verb synonym for распылять in agricultural contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • Собирать (to gather; opposite of dispersing)
  • Концентрировать (to concentrate; for actions involving containment)

Related Phrases:

• Спрей для волос - Hair spray; a common cosmetic product.
• Распылить в воздухе - To spray into the air; used in contexts like air fresheners.
• Опрыскивание растений - Spraying of plants; a gardening technique.

Usage Notes:

The English word 'spray' often corresponds directly to 'спрей' in Russian for product names, but in verbal contexts, 'распылять' or 'опрыскивать' is preferred based on formality and context. For example, use 'распылять' in scientific or professional settings, while 'опрыскивать' is more casual. Be mindful of aspect in verbs: 'распылять' is imperfective, implying ongoing action, whereas its perfective counterpart 'распылить' indicates completion.

• Grammar note: Nouns like 'спрей' are often invariable, simplifying usage for beginners.
• Context guidance: In informal speech, 'спрей' is ubiquitous, but avoid it in formal writing where 'аэрозоль' might be better.

Common Errors:

One common mistake is confusing 'распылять' with 'опрыскивать'; learners might use 'распылять' in everyday contexts where 'опрыскивать' sounds more natural, e.g., saying "Я распыляю сад" instead of "Я опрыскиваю сад." Correct: Use 'опрыскиваю сад' for gardening. Another error is forgetting verb conjugations, like using 'распыляет' incorrectly in the past tense—wrong: "Я распыляет вчера" (incorrect form); Right: "Я распылял вчера."

• Error: Treating 'спрей' as a fully declinable noun, e.g., "спрея" (genitive) is acceptable but not always necessary; it's often left as is.
• Explanation: This stems from overgeneralizing Russian noun rules; remember, loanwords like 'спрей' are often indeclinable.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'спрей' is commonly associated with everyday hygiene and household products, reflecting modern influences from Western consumer goods. For instance, aerosol sprays became popular in the Soviet era as part of industrialization, symbolizing convenience in urban life.

Related Concepts:

• Аэрозоль
• Распылитель
• Инсектицид
• Орошение