Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'summon'

English Word: summon

Key Russian Translations:

• призывать [prɪˈzɨvətʲ] - [Formal, Used in official or urgent contexts]
• вызывать [vɨˈzɨvətʲ] - [Informal, Used when calling someone or something]
• созывать [sɐˈzɨvətʲ] - [Formal, Plural or group contexts, e.g., summoning a meeting]

Frequency: Medium (Common in legal, official, or literary contexts, but less frequent in everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and context-specific usage; for 'призывать' and 'созывать', it may be B2, while 'вызывать' could be B1 for simpler forms)

Pronunciation (Russian):

призывать: [prɪˈzɨvətʲ]

вызывать: [vɨˈzɨvətʲ]

созывать: [sɐˈzɨvətʲ]

Note on призывать: The stress falls on the second syllable; be cautious with the soft 'тʲ' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers due to its palatalization.

Note on вызывать: Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech, where the 'ы' sound softens; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To call upon or order someone to appear, often officially (e.g., in a legal or authoritative context)

Translation(s) & Context:

• призывать - Used in formal settings, such as court summons or military calls.
• вызывать - More general, for everyday situations like calling someone to a location.

Usage Examples:

• Судья решил призывать свидетелей на завтрашнее заседание.

  The judge decided to summon witnesses for tomorrow's session.

• Врач вызвала пациента в кабинет для осмотра.

  The doctor summoned the patient to the office for an examination.

• Полиция может призывать граждан для дачи показаний.

  The police can summon citizens to give testimony.

• Он быстро вызвал такси по телефону.

  He quickly summoned a taxi over the phone.

• В экстренных случаях президент имеет право призывать армию.

  In emergencies, the president has the right to summon the army.

Meaning 2: To invoke or call forth, such as spirits or abstract concepts (e.g., in magical or metaphorical contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• призывать - Often used metaphorically, like summoning courage or spirits.
• созывать - For gathering or invoking groups, such as in folklore.

Usage Examples:

• В сказках колдун призывает духов для помощи.

  In fairy tales, the wizard summons spirits for help.

• Оратор призывал аудиторию к единству во время речи.

  The speaker summoned the audience to unity during the speech.

• Она созвала друзей, чтобы отпраздновать победу.

  She summoned her friends to celebrate the victory.

• В ритуале шаман призывает силы природы.

  In the ritual, the shaman summons the forces of nature.

• Поэт призывает музы в своих стихах.

  The poet summons the muses in his poems.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations ('призывать', 'вызывать', 'созывать') are verbs, which follow imperfective aspect patterns in Russian. They are conjugated based on tense, person, number, and aspect. These verbs are imperfective, meaning they describe ongoing or repeated actions.

Note: These verbs have irregular aspects in some forms; for example, 'вызывать' can pair with perfective 'вызвать' for completed actions. If the verb is used in plural subjects, ensure agreement in number (e.g., они призывают).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • звать [zvat'] - More casual, meaning to call out.
  • кликать [klɪˈkat'] - Informal, like shouting to summon.
  • манящий [ˈmanʲɪʂɨj] - As an adjective form, implying attraction.
• Antonyms:
  • отпускать [ɐtˈpʊskətʲ] - To release or dismiss.
  • изгонять [ɪzˈgonʲətʲ] - To expel or drive away.

Brief note: 'звать' is often interchangeable with 'вызывать' in informal speech but lacks the formal tone.

Related Phrases:

• призывать на помощь [prɪˈzɨvətʲ na pɐˈmoʂʲ] - To call for help; used in emergencies or appeals.
• вызывать по телефону [vɨˈzɨvətʲ pa tʲɪlʲɪˈfonʊ] - To summon via phone; common in daily communication.
• созывать собрание [sɐˈzɨvətʲ sɐˈbrənʲɪjə] - To call a meeting; typical in organizational contexts.
• призывать духов [prɪˈzɨvətʲ ˈdʊxəf] - To summon spirits; often in folklore or supernatural stories.

Usage Notes:

'Summon' in English often corresponds to 'призывать' in formal Russian contexts, such as legal or official summons, while 'вызывать' is better for everyday calls. Be mindful of the aspect: use imperfective forms like these for ongoing actions, and pair with perfective verbs (e.g., 'призвать') for completed ones. In spoken Russian, 'вызывать' might be preferred in informal settings to avoid sounding overly authoritative. When choosing between translations, consider the subject: 'созывать' is ideal for groups or assemblies.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'призывать' in casual conversations, which can sound too formal. Correct: Opt for 'вызывать' instead, e.g., Incorrect: "Я призываю друга" (I summon my friend); Correct: "Я вызываю друга" (I call my friend). Explanation: 'Призывать' implies authority, potentially confusing social dynamics.

• Error: Forgetting verb conjugation in past tense, e.g., using masculine form for feminine subjects. Incorrect: "Она призывал" (She summoned - wrong gender); Correct: "Она призывала". Explanation: Russian verbs agree in gender, number, and person, unlike English.

• Error: Mixing up synonyms, using 'звать' in formal contexts. Incorrect: "Суд звал свидетелей" (The court called witnesses - too informal); Correct: "Суд призывал свидетелей". Explanation: 'Звать' is casual and may undermine the seriousness of the situation.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, summoning (e.g., 'призывать духов') often ties to folklore and Slavic mythology, where shamans or characters in tales like those of Baba Yaga invoke spirits. This reflects a historical emphasis on oral traditions and the supernatural, differing from Western views; users should note that such phrases carry a mystical connotation in modern Russian media and literature.

Related Concepts:

• волшебство [vɐlʲɨˈʂɛstvə] - Magic
• ритуал [rʲɪˈtuaɫ] - Ritual
• собрание [sɐˈbrənʲɪjə] - Assembly