Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'stoop'

English Word: stoop

Key Russian Translations:

• наклоняться [nəkləˈnʲat͡sə] - [Informal, Verb; commonly used in everyday contexts]
• согнуться [səɡˈnut͡sə] - [Formal; often in literary or descriptive contexts]

Frequency: Medium (The verb 'stoop' is moderately common in English, with its Russian equivalents appearing frequently in daily conversations and literature.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; for 'наклоняться', it's straightforward for intermediate learners, but 'согнуться' may require B2 due to its formal nuances.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

наклоняться: [nəkləˈnʲat͡sə]

согнуться: [səɡˈnut͡sə]

Note on наклоняться: The stress falls on the third syllable; be mindful of the soft 'н' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. Variations in fast speech may soften the vowels.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To bend forward and down from the waist

Translation(s) & Context:

• наклоняться - Used in informal, everyday situations, such as physical actions or descriptions in casual speech.
• согнуться - Applied in more formal or literary contexts, emphasizing a deeper bend or submission.

Usage Examples:

• Он наклонился, чтобы поднять упавшую книгу с пола.

  He stooped to pick up the fallen book from the floor.

• Ветер был так силен, что она согнулась, чтобы не упасть.

  The wind was so strong that she stooped to avoid falling.

• Ребёнок наклонился к земле, разглядывая насекомых.

  The child stooped down to the ground to examine the insects.

• В старости он часто согнулся от боли в спине.

  In his old age, he often stooped due to back pain.

• Она наклонилась через стол, чтобы лучше услышать собеседника.

  She stooped over the table to hear her conversation partner better.

To lower oneself morally or in status (metaphorical sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• наклоняться - Less common in this sense; used informally to imply bending principles.
• унижаться [unʲiˈʐat͡sə] - Formal equivalent, emphasizing humiliation or submission.

Usage Examples:

• Он не хотел унижаться, предлагая такую низкую цену.

  He didn't want to stoop to offering such a low price.

• В политике иногда приходится наклоняться к компромиссам.

  In politics, one sometimes has to stoop to compromises.

• Она отказалась унижаться перед начальством.

  She refused to stoop before her superiors.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

The primary translations are verbs, which follow standard Russian conjugation patterns. 'Наклоняться' and 'согнуться' are imperfective verbs, meaning they describe ongoing or repeated actions. Russian verbs inflect based on tense, aspect, mood, person, and number. Below is a conjugation table for 'наклоняться' in the present tense as an example:

For 'согнуться', it is also a verb but can be irregular in perfective forms (e.g., perfective: согнуться). If the context requires the perfective aspect, use 'согнуться' for completed actions. These verbs do not change in gender but must agree in number and person.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • сгинуться (to bend; similar to согнуться but more neutral)
  • опуститься (to lower oneself; implies a downward motion with a connotation of descent)
• Antonyms:
  • выпрямиться (to straighten up; opposite of bending)
  • встать прямо (to stand straight; a more literal contrast)

Related Phrases:

• наклониться вперед - To lean forward; often used in physical descriptions, e.g., in yoga or daily activities.
• согнуться под тяжестью - To bend under the weight; implies physical or metaphorical burden.
• унижаться до уровня - To stoop to the level; used in contexts of moral compromise or social interaction.

Usage Notes:

'Stoop' in English often carries both literal (physical bending) and figurative (moral lowering) meanings, which align closely with Russian verbs like 'наклоняться' for everyday use and 'согнуться' or 'унижаться' for more formal or emotional contexts. Choose 'наклоняться' for informal, action-oriented scenarios, as it's more versatile and common in spoken Russian. Be aware of aspect: use imperfective forms for ongoing actions and perfective for completed ones. In Russian, these verbs must agree with the subject in person and number, which can be a key difference from English where verb forms are less variable.

Common Errors:

• Confusing aspect: English learners often misuse imperfective and perfective forms. For example, incorrect: "Я согнулся вчера" (if implying a completed action, but 'согнуться' is already perfective). Correct: Use 'наклонялся' for ongoing past actions. Explanation: Russian requires specifying the aspect to convey completeness, unlike English.
• Overusing formal verbs: Beginners might default to 'унижаться' for all 'stoop' meanings, which sounds overly dramatic. Correct: Opt for 'наклоняться' in casual contexts to avoid sounding unnatural.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressions involving bending or stooping, like 'согнуться под бременем' (to bend under a burden), often symbolize resilience or the weight of historical hardships, such as those endured during wars or economic struggles. This reflects a broader cultural emphasis on endurance and humility in the face of adversity.

Related Concepts:

• поклониться (to bow)
• склониться (to incline or bow down)
• выпрямить (to straighten)