Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'suffocate'

English Word: suffocate

Key Russian Translations:

• задыхаться /zəˈdɨxət͡sə/ - [Informal, Intransitive verb, Used in everyday descriptions of choking or lack of air]
• удушать /uˈduʂətʲ/ - [Formal, Transitive verb, Used in contexts involving intentional or accidental suffocation]

Frequency: Medium (Common in medical, emergency, or descriptive contexts, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "to eat" or "to go")

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate, due to irregular verb conjugations and context-dependent usage; for "задыхаться," it's slightly easier at B1, while "удушать" may reach B2 for perfective aspects)

Pronunciation (Russian):

задыхаться: /zəˈdɨxət͡sə/ (The stress is on the second syllable; note the soft 'х' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers as it's similar to a guttural 'h')

Note on задыхаться: The 'ы' vowel is pronounced with a tense, centralized sound; common in reflexive verbs.

удушать: /uˈduʂətʲ/ (Stress on the third syllable; the 'ш' is a voiceless postalveolar fricative, akin to English 'sh' in "shoe")

Note on удушать: Pay attention to the perfective form "удушить," which alters the ending and pronunciation slightly.

Audio: []

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To experience or cause a lack of air, leading to difficulty breathing (intransitive or transitive form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• задыхаться - Used in informal, personal contexts, such as describing an asthma attack or smoke inhalation.
• удушать - Applied in formal or narrative contexts, like criminal acts or medical emergencies.

Usage Examples:

• Он задыхается от густого дыма в комнате.

  He is suffocating from the thick smoke in the room. (This example shows the verb in a present tense, reflexive context for immediate danger.)

• Дети задыхаются в перегретой машине летом.

  The children are suffocating in the overheated car during summer. (Illustrates plural subject and environmental cause.)

• Курение может удушать лёгкие со временем.

  Smoking can suffocate the lungs over time. (Demonstrates transitive use with an object, in a health-related context.)

• Врачи пытаются удушить огонь, чтобы спасти пациента.

  Doctors are trying to suffocate the fire to save the patient. (Figurative use, showing intervention in an emergency.)

• Она задыхается от аллергии на пыльцу.

  She is suffocating from an allergy to pollen. (Common everyday scenario, emphasizing reflexive verb form.)

Meaning 2: To feel emotionally overwhelmed or stifled (metaphorical use)

Translation(s) & Context:

• задыхаться - In informal, emotional contexts, like feeling trapped in a relationship.
• удушать - Less common metaphorically, but used in formal writing for suppression.

Usage Examples:

• В тесной квартире она задыхается от скуки.

  In the cramped apartment, she is suffocating from boredom. (Metaphorical extension to emotional states.)

• Система правил удушает творчество молодых художников.

  The system of rules is suffocating the creativity of young artists. (Transitive, abstract use in societal contexts.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "задыхаться" and "удушать" are verbs, with "задыхаться" being reflexive (ending in -ся) and "удушать" imperfective. Russian verbs inflect based on tense, aspect, person, and number. "задыхаться" is irregular in some forms due to its reflexive nature, while "удушать" follows standard imperfective patterns.

Note: "задыхаться" requires the reflexive particle "-ся," which does not change, making it somewhat invariant in that aspect.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • душить (similar to удушать, but more general; often used interchangeably in physical contexts)
  • захлебнуться (specific to choking on liquids, with a nuance of suddenness)
• Antonyms:
  • дышать свободно (to breathe freely; not a single word, but a common phrase indicating the opposite)
  • вдохнуть (to inhale, emphasizing relief)

Related Phrases:

• задыхаться от дыма - Suffocating from smoke; used in fire or pollution contexts.
• удушать подушкой - To suffocate with a pillow; often in crime or thriller narratives.
• задыхаться в толпе - To suffocate in a crowd; highlights overcrowding scenarios.

Usage Notes:

"Suffocate" corresponds closely to "задыхаться" for involuntary experiences and "удушать" for actions causing suffocation. Choose "задыхаться" in informal, reflexive contexts like personal health issues, while "удушать" suits formal or transitive descriptions. Be mindful of aspect: use perfective forms (e.g., "задохнуться") for completed actions. In Russian, these verbs often appear in imperfective aspect for ongoing processes, and they can be metaphorical, but avoid over-literal translations in emotional contexts.

• Grammar note: Always pair "задыхаться" with "-ся" for reflexivity.
• Context tip: In medical Russian, prefer "удушать" for professional discussions.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse the reflexive particle, e.g., saying "задыхать" instead of "задыхаться," which is incorrect as it removes the reflexive meaning. Correct: "Он задыхается" (He is suffocating); Error: "Он задыхает" (This isn't a word and changes the verb entirely). Another error is confusing aspects, like using "удушать" when "удушить" is needed for a completed action—e.g., Error: "Я удушаю его" for a finished event; Correct: "Я удушил его" in past perfective.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "задыхаться" often appear in literature and media to describe the harsh realities of winter or industrial environments, reflecting historical contexts like the Soviet era's pollution or wartime hardships. This adds a layer of emotional depth, emphasizing endurance in adverse conditions.

Related Concepts:

• дыхание (breathing)
• кислород (oxygen)
• асфиксия (asphyxiation, a medical term borrowed from Greek)