Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'swallow'

English Word: swallow

Key Russian Translations:

• ласточка [ɫɐˈstotkə] - [Noun, Informal/Neutral, Singular; Used for the bird species]
• глотать [ɡlɐˈtatʲ] - [Verb, Informal, Infinitive; Used for the action of swallowing food or liquid]
• проглатывать [prɐˈɡlatɨvətʲ] - [Verb, Formal/Neutral, Infinitive; Used for swallowing something quickly or completely]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday language for the bird; High for the verb in casual conversations, but varies by context)

Difficulty: A2 for 'ласточка' (Beginner level for basic vocabulary); B1 for 'глотать' and 'проглатывать' (Intermediate, as they involve verb conjugations)

Pronunciation (Russian):

ласточка: [ɫɐˈstotkə]

глотать: [ɡlɐˈtatʲ]

Note on глотать: The soft sign (ʲ) indicates palatalization, which can be tricky for English speakers; pronounce the 't' with a slight hiss, as in "tea" but softer.

проглатывать: [prɐˈɡlatɨvətʲ]

Note on проглатывать: The prefix 'про-' adds a sense of completion; stress on the second syllable, and be aware of the vowel reduction in unstressed positions.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A small migratory bird (Noun)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ласточка - Used in general descriptions of birds, wildlife, or poetry; common in neutral or informal contexts like nature discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Весной ласточки возвращаются в наши края. (In spring, swallows return to our regions.)

  Translation: In spring, swallows return to our regions. (This example shows the noun in a seasonal context, highlighting migration.)

• Ласточка — символ свободы и лета в русской фольклоре. (The swallow is a symbol of freedom and summer in Russian folklore.)

  Translation: The swallow is a symbol of freedom and summer in Russian folklore. (Demonstrates cultural usage in literature or idioms.)

• Я видел ласточку на подоконнике вчера. (I saw a swallow on the windowsill yesterday.)

  Translation: I saw a swallow on the windowsill yesterday. (Simple observational context, showing basic sentence structure.)

• Ласточки строят гнёзда под крышами домов. (Swallows build nests under house roofs.)

  Translation: Swallows build nests under house roofs. (Illustrates plural usage and habitual actions.)

Meaning 2: To swallow (Verb, action of ingesting)

Translation(s) & Context:

• глотать - Informal contexts, like eating or drinking quickly; often used in everyday conversations.
• проглатывать - More formal or descriptive contexts, implying complete or forceful swallowing, such as in medical or narrative settings.

Usage Examples:

• Не глотай еду так быстро, это вредно для здоровья. (Don't swallow your food so quickly; it's bad for your health.)

  Translation: Don't swallow your food so quickly; it's bad for your health. (This shows imperative form in an advisory context.)

• Он проглатывает таблетки без воды. (He swallows the pills without water.)

  Translation: He swallows the pills without water. (Demonstrates transitive verb use with objects in a daily routine.)

• Дети часто глотают мелкие предметы по неосторожности. (Children often swallow small objects by accident.)

  Translation: Children often swallow small objects by accident. (Highlights potential dangers and imperfective aspect.)

• Проглатывать пищу нужно тщательно, чтобы избежать проблем. (One must swallow food thoroughly to avoid issues.)

  Translation: One must swallow food thoroughly to avoid issues. (Formal advice, showing infinitive in a general statement.)

• Она проглатывает обиду, но не показывает. (She swallows her resentment but doesn't show it.)

  Translation: She swallows her resentment but doesn't show it. (Figurative use, extending to emotions.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'ласточка' (feminine noun, 1st declension):

For 'глотать' and 'проглатывать' (verbs, imperfective):

These are first conjugation verbs with regular patterns:

• Present: глотаю (I swallow), глотаешь (you swallow), etc.
• Past: глотал (he swallowed), глотала (she swallowed)
• Future: буду глотать (I will swallow)

'проглатывать' follows the same pattern but is often used in perfective contexts with prefixes.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • ласточка: стриж (swift; similar bird, but more aerodynamic)
  • глотать: сглатывать (to gulp; softer, more subtle action)
  • проглатывать: заглатывать (to gulp down; implies larger quantities)
• Antonyms:
  • глотать: выплевывать (to spit out; opposite action)
  • проглатывать: извергать (to vomit; extreme opposite)

Related Phrases:

• Ласточки вьющие гнезда (Swallows building nests) - Refers to the bird's nesting habits, often in poetic or observational contexts.
• Глотать ком в горле (To swallow a lump in the throat) - An idiomatic phrase for suppressing emotions, like nervousness.
• Проглатывать обиду (To swallow an insult) - Means to endure humiliation without retaliation.

Usage Notes:

'Ласточка' directly corresponds to the English 'swallow' as a bird and is neutral in most contexts, but it's more common in rural or literary Russian. For the verbs, 'глотать' is everyday informal, while 'проглатывать' is preferred in formal writing or when emphasizing completeness. English speakers should note that Russian verbs require aspect (imperfective like 'глотать' for ongoing actions vs. perfective like 'проглотить' for completed ones). Choose based on context: use 'глотать' for habitual actions and 'проглатывать' for specific events.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'ласточка' interchangeably with other birds like 'воробей' (sparrow). Correct: 'Ласточка' specifically means swallow, not a general term; mistake might lead to confusion in wildlife descriptions. Example of error: "Это ворон" instead of "Это ласточка" (This is a crow instead of swallow). Correct: "Это ласточка".

• Error: Forgetting verb aspects, e.g., using 'глотать' for a completed action. Correct: Use perfective 'проглотить' for finished events, like "Я проглотил еду" (I swallowed the food) instead of "Я глотал еду".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'ласточка' symbolizes freedom, spring, and renewal, often appearing in folklore and poetry (e.g., in works by Pushkin). It's associated with migration and hope, reflecting Russia's vast landscapes. For verbs like 'глотать', there's a cultural emphasis on endurance, as seen in idioms about "swallowing pride," which ties into themes of resilience in Russian literature.

Related Concepts:

• воробей (sparrow)
• птица (bird)
• сглатывать (to gulp)