Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'steep'

English Word: steep

Key Russian Translations:

• крутой [kruˈtoj] - [Adjective, Informal, often used for physical steepness]
• заваривать [zəvəˈrʲivətʲ] - [Verb, Neutral, commonly used in contexts like brewing tea]
• настаивать [nəstɐˈivətʲ] - [Verb, Formal, for steeping in a more prolonged or medicinal sense]

Frequency: Medium (e.g., 'крутой' is commonly encountered in everyday descriptions, while 'заваривать' and 'настаивать' appear in specific contexts like cooking or herbal remedies, but not as frequently as basic verbs).

Difficulty: B1 for 'крутой' (Intermediate, as it involves basic adjective declension); B2 for 'заваривать' and 'настаивать' (Upper-Intermediate, due to verb conjugation and aspect usage).

Pronunciation (Russian):

крутой: [kruˈtoj] (Stress on the first syllable; note the soft 'т' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers due to the palatalization.)

заваривать: [zəvəˈrʲivətʲ] (Stress on the third syllable; pay attention to the rolled 'р' and the soft 'в' before 'и'.)

настаивать: [nəstɐˈivətʲ] (Stress on the third syllable; the 'с' is pronounced as a soft 's' sound.)

Note on крутой: This word can vary in pronunciation based on regional dialects; in standard Russian, the 'ой' ending is diphthongized.

Note on заваривать: Imperfective aspect verbs like this often have subtle vowel shifts; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Having a sharp or pronounced incline (Adjective, referring to physical steepness)

Translation(s) & Context:

• крутой - Used in descriptions of terrain, slopes, or metaphorical steepness (e.g., in informal conversations about mountains or graphs).

Usage Examples:

• Эта гора такая крутая, что подняться на неё трудно.

  This mountain is so steep that climbing it is difficult.

• Крутой склон реки привлекает любителей экстрима.

  The steep bank of the river attracts extreme sports enthusiasts.

• График цен показал крутой подъём в последние месяцы.

  The price chart showed a steep rise in the last few months.

• В городе есть крутые улицы, где машины ездят медленно.

  In the city, there are steep streets where cars drive slowly.

Meaning 2: To soak or infuse in liquid, often for extraction (Verb, e.g., steeping tea or herbs)

Translation(s) & Context:

• заваривать - Common in culinary or daily contexts, especially for hot beverages; implies a shorter infusion process.
• настаивать - Used for longer steeping, like in medicinal teas or tinctures; more formal and precise in scientific or health-related contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Завари чай в горячей воде на пять минут для лучшего вкуса.

  Steep the tea in hot water for five minutes for better flavor.

• Она всегда заваривает травы перед сном, чтобы расслабиться.

  She always steeps herbs before bed to relax.

• Настаивать лекарственные растения нужно в тёмном месте несколько дней.

  You need to steep medicinal plants in a dark place for several days.

• В рецепте указано заваривать кофе в французской прессе.

  The recipe specifies to steep the coffee in a French press.

• Не забывайте настаивать вино с специями для праздничного ужина.

  Don't forget to steep the wine with spices for the festive dinner.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'крутой' (adjective): This is a first-declension adjective that follows standard Russian adjective patterns. It changes based on gender, number, and case.

For 'заваривать' and 'настаивать' (verbs): These are imperfective verbs of the first conjugation. They conjugate irregularly in some forms due to Russian's aspect system. Example for 'заваривать' in present tense:

These verbs are imperfective; their perfective counterparts are 'заварить' and 'настоять', which do not change in the same way.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms for крутой: крутонаклонный (krutonaklonnyj) - More technical term for steep incline; обрывистый (obryvistyj) - For very abrupt slopes.
• Synonyms for заваривать: варить (varit') - Similar but broader, meaning to boil or brew; замачивать (zamočat') - For soaking without heat.
• Synonyms for настаивать: мацерировать (macerirovat') - Formal, scientific synonym for steeping in liquids.
• Antonyms for крутой: пологий (poligij) - Gradual or gentle slope.
• Antonyms for заваривать/настаивать: выливать (vyilivat') - To pour out, opposite in the context of liquids.

Related Phrases:

• Крутой подъём - A steep ascent; used in hiking or metaphorical contexts like career growth.
• Заваривать чай - To steep tea; a common daily phrase in Russian households.
• Настаивать на своём - To insist on one's point (not directly related to steeping, but a homophonic phrase meaning to persist).
• Крутой вираж - A steep turn; often in aviation or driving contexts.

Usage Notes:

'Крутой' directly corresponds to the English 'steep' in physical contexts but can also mean 'cool' or 'awesome' in slang, so context is key to avoid confusion. 'Заваривать' is ideal for short infusions like tea, while 'настаивать' suits longer processes; choose based on duration and formality. In Russian, verbs must agree in aspect (imperfective for ongoing actions), which differs from English's simple structure. For learners, pay attention to case agreements when using adjectives like 'крутой' with nouns.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'крутой' to mean 'steep' in slang contexts, e.g., saying "Он крутой" to mean "He is steep" instead of "He is cool." Correct: For physical steepness, ensure context is clear; e.g., "Гора крутая" vs. "Парень крутой" (meaning cool guy). Explanation: This homonymy leads to misunderstandings; always check for informal vs. literal usage.
• Error: Confusing 'заваривать' with 'настаивать' and using the wrong verb for duration, e.g., "Заваривать лекарство на неделю" (incorrect for long steeping). Correct: Use 'настаивать' for extended periods; e.g., "Настаивать лекарство на неделю." Explanation: Russian verbs have specific aspectual nuances that English lacks, so learners must learn pairs like these.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'заваривать чай' is a staple of social gatherings, symbolizing hospitality and warmth, often tied to traditions like samovars in rural settings. 'Крутой' in its slang sense reflects youth culture influences from the West, showing how language evolves with global trends.

Related Concepts:

• склон (sklon) - Slope
• варить (varit') - To boil
• настойка (nastijka) - Tincture or infusion
• подъём (podjom) - Ascent