Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sunbathe'

English Word: sunbathe

Key Russian Translations:

• загорать [zəɡɐˈratʲ] - [Informal; commonly used in everyday contexts for leisure activities]
• прожариваться на солнце [prəʐɐˈrʲɪvɐtʲsə nɐ ˈsont͡sə] - [Formal or descriptive; used in more literary or precise descriptions]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in casual conversations, especially during summer months in Russia, but not as frequent as basic daily verbs).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; involves standard verb conjugation, which may challenge beginners, but it's manageable for intermediate learners familiar with imperfective aspects in Russian).

Pronunciation (Russian):

загорать: [zəɡɐˈratʲ] (stress on the third syllable; the 'г' is pronounced as a voiced velar fricative, similar to the 'g' in 'go').

прожариваться на солнце: [prəʐɐˈrʲɪvɐtʲsə nɐ ˈsont͡sə] (note the soft sign 'ь' in 'рʲɪvɐtʲsə' which palatalizes the preceding consonant).

Note on загорать: Be mindful of the stress; misplacing it can alter the word's perceived meaning or make it sound unnatural to native speakers.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To expose one's body to the sun, typically for tanning or relaxation.

Translation(s) & Context:

• загорать - Used in informal settings like beaches or parks; implies a leisurely activity without strong emphasis on health risks.
• прожариваться на солнце - Applied in more formal or humorous contexts, often emphasizing intense heat or prolonged exposure.

Usage Examples:

• Я люблю загорать на пляже в выходные.

  I love sunbathing on the beach on weekends.

• Дети загорают у реки, не забывая о креме от загара.

  The children are sunbathing by the river, not forgetting sunscreen.

• Она предпочитает загорать topless, но только в частных местах.

  She prefers sunbathing topless, but only in private spots.

• В жару многие люди решают прожариваться на солнце, рискуя получить ожог.

  In the heat, many people decide to sunbathe, risking sunburn.

• Мы загораем на даче, чтобы получить ровный загар.

  We sunbathe at the dacha to get an even tan.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"загорать" is an imperfective verb, which means it describes ongoing or repeated actions. It follows standard first conjugation patterns for Russian verbs ending in -ать. Below is a table of its key inflections in the present tense:

For "прожариваться на солнце", it is a reflexive verb and follows similar patterns, but as a phrase, its inflections depend on the main verb "прожариваться". It is imperfective and conjugates as: я проживариваюсь, ты проживариваешься, etc. No irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • дубеть на солнце (to get tanned or hardened in the sun; more vivid and informal, often implying a rough tan)
  • принимать солнечные ванны (to take sun baths; a more elegant, less common synonym)
• Antonyms:
  • укрываться от солнца (to hide from the sun; used when avoiding sun exposure)
  • тенироваться (to stay in the shade; a direct opposite in outdoor contexts)

Related Phrases:

• загорать topless - Sunbathing topless; often discussed in contexts of beach culture or personal freedom.
• получить загар - To get a tan; a common phrase implying the result of sunbathing.
• загорать на даче - Sunbathing at the dacha; refers to rural relaxation, a staple in Russian summer traditions.

Usage Notes:

"Загорать" directly corresponds to "sunbathe" in English, focusing on the act of exposing skin to the sun for tanning. It is most appropriate in informal contexts and can be used with various prepositions, like "на пляже" (on the beach). For formal writing, consider "прожариваться на солнце" if emphasizing intensity. Learners should note that Russian verbs often require aspectual pairs; "загорать" is imperfective, so pair it with perfective forms like "загореть" for completed actions. Choose based on context: use "загорать" for ongoing activities.

Common Errors:

• Confusing aspect: Learners might use "загорать" when a perfective verb like "загореть" is needed. For example, incorrect: "Я загорать вчера" (should be "Я загорел вчера" for "I sunbathed yesterday"). Correct usage: Use imperfective for descriptions of the process.

• Mispronouncing the stress: Saying [zaɡɐˈratʲ] with stress on the wrong syllable, which can make it sound like a different word. Always stress the third syllable for clarity.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, sunbathing is a popular summer activity, often associated with trips to the Black Sea coast or dacha gardens. However, due to the short summer season and variable weather, it's tied to traditions of relaxation and health, though awareness of skin cancer risks has grown. The word "загорать" can carry a positive connotation of leisure, reflecting Russia's appreciation for nature despite its harsh climate.

Related Concepts:

• пляж (beach)
• загар (tan)
• солнцезащитный крем (sunscreen)