Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'swerve'

English Word: swerve

Key Russian Translations:

• свернуть [ˈsvʲernutʲ] - [Informal, Verb, Used in contexts involving sudden direction changes, such as driving or movement]
• увернуться [uˈvʲernutʲsə] - [Formal, Verb, Used when implying evasion or dodging, often in physical or metaphorical senses]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday conversations about driving, sports, or navigation, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "go" or "turn")

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate for 'свернуть'; learners at this level can grasp basic conjugations, but 'увернуться' may vary to B2 due to reflexive forms)

Pronunciation (Russian):

свернуть: [ˈsvʲernutʲ] (The 'sv' sound is a soft, palatalized 's' followed by 'v'; stress on the first syllable. Note the palatalization, which is common in Russian verbs.)

увернуться: [uˈvʲernutʲsə] (Stress on the second syllable; the reflexive suffix '-ся' softens the ending. Common challenge for English speakers is the rolled 'r' and soft consonants.)

Note on свернуть: Be cautious with the palatalized 'sv' sound, which doesn't have a direct English equivalent; it sounds softer than in "swerve."

Note on увернуться: This verb often involves reflexive forms, making pronunciation vary slightly in different conjugations.

Audio: []

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To suddenly change direction, especially while driving or moving (e.g., in traffic)

Translation(s) & Context:

• свернуть - Used in informal, everyday contexts like describing a car maneuver; common in spoken Russian for sudden turns.
• увернуться - Used in more formal or descriptive contexts, such as avoiding an obstacle, with a connotation of agility.

Usage Examples:

• Он свернул влево, чтобы избежать столкновения с грузовиком.

  He swerved left to avoid colliding with the truck.

• Водитель свернула резко на обочину, увидев пешехода.

  The driver swerved sharply onto the shoulder upon seeing the pedestrian.

• Машина свернула с шоссе на проселочную дорогу.

  The car swerved off the highway onto a country road.

• Он попытался свернуть в последний момент, но было слишком поздно.

  He tried to swerve at the last moment, but it was too late.

Meaning 2: To evade or dodge something, often metaphorically (e.g., in arguments or decisions)

Translation(s) & Context:

• увернуться - Preferred in contexts involving avoidance, such as in sports or interpersonal situations; carries a sense of quick reaction.
• свернуть - Less common here, but used informally for metaphorical turns, like changing the subject in conversation.

Usage Examples:

• Она увернулась от вопроса журналиста, переведя разговор на другую тему.

  She swerved away from the journalist's question by shifting the conversation to another topic.

• В баскетболе игрок увернулся от защитника и забил мяч.

  In basketball, the player swerved to dodge the defender and scored the ball.

• Он увернулся от ответственности, свалив вину на коллегу.

  He swerved from responsibility by blaming his colleague.

• Дипломат увернулся от прямого ответа, используя двусмысленные фразы.

  The diplomat swerved from a direct answer by using ambiguous phrases.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'свернуть' and 'увернуться' are verbs, primarily imperfective in nature, and follow standard Russian conjugation patterns. 'Свернуть' is a perfective verb meaning a completed action, while 'увернуться' is often reflexive and can vary based on aspect.

For 'свернуть' (perfective):

For 'увернуться' (reflexive, perfective):

These verbs are irregular in their perfective forms but follow common patterns. They do not inflect for gender in the infinitive but do in the past tense.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: повернуть (povernut' - to turn, with a smoother connotation); уклониться (uklonitsya - to deviate or dodge)
• Synonyms: маневрировать (manevrirovat' - to maneuver, often in strategic contexts; differs by implying planned action rather than suddenness)
• Antonyms: продолжать (prodolzhat' - to continue straight); остановиться (ostanovitsya - to stop)

Related Phrases:

• резкий поворот (rezhkiy povorot) - Sharp turn; used in driving contexts to describe a sudden swerve for safety.
• увернуться от удара (uvernut'sya ot udara) - To dodge a blow; common in sports or self-defense scenarios.
• свернуть с пути (svernuty s puti) - To veer off course; metaphorically means to deviate from a plan or path.

Usage Notes:

'Свернуть' directly corresponds to the physical act in 'swerve', making it ideal for literal translations in driving or movement. However, 'увернуться' is better for evasive actions, aligning with metaphorical uses. In formal Russian, prefer 'увернуться' in written contexts like literature, while 'свернуть' suits casual speech. Be mindful of aspect: use perfective forms for completed actions. When choosing between translations, consider the context—'swerve' in traffic uses 'свернуть', but in arguments, 'увернуться' fits better.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing 'свернуть' with 'повернуть' and using it interchangeably. Incorrect: "Он повернул, чтобы увернуться." (This implies a simple turn, not a swerve.) Correct: "Он свернул, чтобы увернуться." (This emphasizes the suddenness.) Explanation: English learners often overlook the intensity implied in 'свернуть'.
• Error: Forgetting the reflexive suffix in 'увернуться'. Incorrect: "Он увернул от мяча." (This is grammatically wrong.) Correct: "Он увернулся от мяча." (Add '-ся' for reflexive action.) Explanation: Russian reflexive verbs require the suffix, which English speakers might omit due to lack of direct equivalent.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'свернуть' are often associated with driving in challenging conditions, such as Russia's vast rural roads or winter ice, where sudden swerves are common for safety. This reflects a broader cultural emphasis on adaptability in adverse environments, as seen in literature like Tolstoy's works, where evasive maneuvers symbolize life's unpredictability.

Related Concepts:

• дорога (doroga - road)
• маневр (manevr - maneuver)
• уклон (uklon - deviation)