Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'still'

English Word: still

Key Russian Translations:

• еще [ˈɛʂʲə] - [Informal, Everyday use]
• все еще [fsʲe ˈɛʂʲə] - [Formal, Emphasizing continuation]
• пока [ˈpokə] - [Informal, Often in questions or temporary states]

Frequency: High (Common in both spoken and written Russian)

Difficulty: A2 (Elementary, as these are basic adverbs; however, nuances may reach B1 for precise usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

еще: [ˈɛʂʲə]

все еще: [fsʲe ˈɛʂʲə]

пока: [ˈpokə]

Note on еще: The 'щ' sound is a soft, palatalized 'sh' which can be tricky for English speakers; it’s softer than the English 'sh' in 'shoe'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Yet or even now (indicating continuation)

Translation(s) & Context:

• еще - Used in informal contexts to mean "still" as in ongoing action or state.
• все еще - Applied in more formal or emphatic situations, similar to "still" in English for persistence.

Usage Examples:

• Я еще не поел. (I am still not hungry or I haven't eaten yet.)

  I still haven't eaten.

• Она еще работает над проектом. (She is still working on the project.)

  She is still working on the project, emphasizing ongoing effort.

• Дети еще спят. (The children are still sleeping.)

  The children are still sleeping, in a domestic context.

• Все еще дождливо в Москве. (It is still rainy in Moscow.)

  It is still rainy in Moscow, used for weather descriptions.

Meaning 2: Nevertheless or despite that (conjunctive sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• пока - Often used in contrasts, similar to "still" meaning "however" or in temporary states.
• все же - For a more emphatic "nevertheless" in formal writing or speech.

Usage Examples:

• Пока он устал, он продолжил идти. (Even though he was tired, he kept going.)

  Still, he continued walking despite being tired.

• Все же, я решил остаться. (Nevertheless, I decided to stay.)

  Still, I decided to stay, in a decision-making context.

• Пока погода плохая, мы наслаждаемся отдыхом. (Even though the weather is bad, we are enjoying the rest.)

  Still, we are enjoying the rest despite the bad weather.

• Он все еще верит в успех. (He still believes in success, despite obstacles.)

  Still, he believes in success, showing resilience.

• Пока это сложно, давай попробуем. (Even though it's difficult, let's try.)

  Still, let's try, encouraging persistence.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily adverbs, which do not undergo significant inflections in Russian. For example:

• еще: Invariable; it remains the same in all contexts (e.g., no changes for gender, number, or case).
• все еще: Also invariable as a phrase; "все" can inflect in other uses, but here it functions as part of the adverbial phrase.
• пока: Invariable in this adverbial sense; however, if used as a conjunction, it doesn't change form.

For completeness, if the word appears in nominal or verbal contexts (rare for these), it would follow standard Russian rules, but these are typically uninflected.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • пока (similar to "still" in temporary states, with a slight nuance of "for now")
  • до сих пор (more emphatic, meaning "up to now")
• Antonyms:
  • уже (meaning "already", indicating completion rather than continuation)

Related Phrases:

• еще раз - Again (used for repetition, e.g., in instructions or requests).
• все еще раз - Once more (more emphatic repetition in formal contexts).
• пока что - For the time being (indicating a temporary state, similar to "still for now").

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "еще" is the most direct equivalent to the English "still" in its adverbial sense, often used in everyday conversation to denote ongoing actions. However, "все еще" is preferred in formal writing or when emphasizing persistence. English speakers should note that Russian adverbs like these don't change form, making them straightforward, but context is key—e.g., use "еще" for simple continuation and "пока" for contrasts. When translating "still" as "nevertheless," opt for "все же" in argumentative texts to maintain the concessive tone.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "еще" with "уже": English learners often mix these up. For example, incorrectly saying "Я уже ем" to mean "I am still eating" (wrong, as "уже" means "already"). Correct usage: "Я еще ем" (I am still eating). Explanation: "Еще" implies ongoing action, while "уже" suggests something has just happened or is completed.

• Overusing "все еще" in informal speech: This can sound overly formal. Instead, use "еще" in casual contexts to avoid sounding stilted. For instance, don't say "Все еще я дома" when "Я еще дома" suffices.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressions like "еще" often reflect a patient, enduring mindset, common in literature and daily life. For example, in Russian proverbs such as "Ещё не вечер" (It's not evening yet, meaning there's still time), it conveys optimism and resilience, emphasizing the value of persistence in the face of challenges.

Related Concepts:

• пока
• уже
• до сих пор