Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'suck'

English Word: suck

Key Russian Translations:

• сосать [ˈsosətʲ] - [Informal, Verb]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday spoken Russian, but not as frequent as basic verbs like 'to eat').

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and basic phonetics, per CEFR standards).

Pronunciation (Russian):

сосать: [ˈsosətʲ]

Note on сосать: The stress is on the first syllable ('со-'). Be cautious with the palatalized 'тʲ' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers. It softens the 't' as in 'cute'.

Audio: Listen to pronunciation (or embed a player here).

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To draw in liquid or air by sucking, often through the mouth.

Translation(s) & Context:

• сосать - Used in informal contexts, such as eating or drinking, but can be vulgar in other slang applications; avoid in formal settings.

Usage Examples:

• Ребёнок сосёт молоко из бутылочки.

  The child is sucking milk from the bottle.

• Он сосёт лимонад через соломинку, чтобы охладиться.

  He is sucking lemonade through a straw to cool down.

• В жару люди часто сосут леденцы для освежения.

  In the heat, people often suck on candies for refreshment.

• Малыш сосёт палец, когда нервничает.

  The baby sucks their thumb when they're nervous.

• Она сосёт воздух через трубку, имитируя курение.

  She is sucking air through a tube, mimicking smoking.

Meaning 2: Slang for something being bad or disappointing (informal English usage).

Translation(s) & Context:

• гадкий or отвратительный - Not a direct verb translation; used as adjectives in contexts where 'suck' means 'to be awful'. Context: Informal slang, often in youth language.

Usage Examples:

• Этот фильм просто гадкий, не тратьте время.

  This movie just sucks, don't waste your time.

• Еда в этом ресторане отвратительная, она сосёт.

  The food in this restaurant sucks.

• Погода сегодня сосёт – сплошной дождь.

  The weather today sucks – it's just rain.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

сосать is a verb of the first conjugation in Russian, which means it follows regular patterns but has some irregularities in certain forms. It is intransitive and can change based on tense, aspect, and person.

Note: The imperative form is 'соси' (suck!, informal). This verb does not change for gender in the past tense but agrees with the subject.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: втягивать (vtyagivat' – to draw in), посасывать (posasывать – to suck gently)
• Antonyms: выплевывать (vyplyvyvat' – to spit out), выдувать (vyduvat' – to blow out). Note: Antonyms may vary by context; втягивать is a softer synonym for casual use.

Related Phrases:

• Сосать из пальца – Literally: To suck from the finger; Meaning: To make up stories or exaggerate (idiomatic expression).
• Сосать кровь – Literally: To suck blood; Meaning: To exploit someone financially or emotionally.
• Сосать через соломинку – Meaning: To drink through a straw; used in everyday contexts for beverages.

Usage Notes:

'Сосать' directly corresponds to the English 'suck' as a verb for drawing in, but be cautious with its slang implications in Russian, where it can sound vulgar. In formal contexts, prefer alternatives like 'втягивать'. For the slang meaning of 'suck' (as in 'this sucks'), Russian often uses adjectives like 'гадкий' instead. Choose based on context: informal for casual speech, but avoid in professional settings. Grammatically, ensure correct conjugation to match subject and tense.

• Tip: In Russian, verbs like this often pair with prepositions, e.g., 'сосать из' (suck from), to clarify the object.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse 'сосать' by confusing it with more vulgar connotations, leading to inappropriate usage. For example:

• Error: Using 'сосать' in formal writing to mean 'this sucks' (e.g., saying 'Эта работа сосает' in a resume). Correct: Use 'Эта работа отвратительная' instead. Explanation: 'Сосать' as a verb is neutral but can imply crudeness in slang.
• Error: Incorrect conjugation, e.g., saying 'Я сосать' instead of 'Я сосу'. Correct: 'Я сосу лимонад'. Explanation: Russian verbs must agree with the subject in person and number.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like 'сосать из пальца' reflect a storytelling tradition where exaggeration is common in folklore and everyday humor. This idiom highlights the Russian value of skepticism toward unsubstantiated claims, often used in social interactions to question reliability.

Related Concepts:

• втягивать
• высасывать
• пить