Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'swim'

English Word: swim

Key Russian Translations:

• плавать [ˈplavətʲ] - [Informal, Verb, Used in everyday contexts for recreational or general swimming]
• плавание [pləˈvanʲɪje] - [Formal, Noun, Used when referring to swimming as an activity, sport, or skill]

Frequency: Medium (The word is commonly used in daily conversations, literature, and sports-related contexts, but not as ubiquitous as basic verbs like 'eat' or 'go').

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; involves understanding verb conjugations and noun declensions. For 'плавать' as a verb: B1; for 'плавание' as a noun: A2, as it has straightforward declensions.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

плавать: [ˈplavətʲ]

Note on плавать: The stress is on the first syllable, and the 'тʲ' sound is a palatalized 't', which can be challenging for English speakers. It may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

плавание: [pləˈvanʲɪje]

Note on плавание: Stress falls on the third syllable; the 'нʲ' is palatalized, similar to a soft 'n' sound, which is common in Russian nouns.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To move through water by moving the body or parts of it (Verb form).

Translation(s) & Context:

• плавать - Used in informal or everyday contexts, such as describing leisure activities or exercise in water bodies.

Usage Examples:

• Я люблю плавать в реке летом.

  I love swimming in the river in the summer.

• Дети учатся плавать в бассейне под присмотром тренера.

  Children are learning to swim in the pool under the coach's supervision.

• Он умеет плавать быстро, как рыба.

  He can swim fast, like a fish.

• После урока мы пошли плавать в озере.

  After the lesson, we went swimming in the lake.

• В жару люди предпочитают плавать в море, а не загорать.

  In the heat, people prefer swimming in the sea rather than sunbathing.

Swimming as an activity or sport (Noun form).

Translation(s) & Context:

• плавание - Used in formal, educational, or professional contexts, such as sports, training, or discussions about physical education.

Usage Examples:

• Плавание — это отличный вид спорта для поддержания формы.

  Swimming is an excellent sport for staying in shape.

• В школе мы изучаем плавание как обязательный предмет.

  In school, we study swimming as a required subject.

• Олимпийское плавание требует строгой тренировки и дисциплины.

  Olympic swimming requires strict training and discipline.

• Плавание в открытой воде популярно среди экстремальных любителей.

  Open-water swimming is popular among extreme enthusiasts.

• Ее любимое хобби — плавание в бассейне по утрам.

  Her favorite hobby is swimming in the pool in the mornings.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'плавать' (verb, imperfective aspect), it follows the pattern of first-conjugation verbs with irregularities in some forms. It is an imperfective verb, often paired with perfective 'проплыть' for completed actions.

For 'плавание' (noun, neuter gender), it declines regularly as a neuter noun in the second declension:

• Nominative: плавание
• Genitive: плавания
• Dative: плаванию
• Accusative: плавание
• Instrumental: плаванием
• Prepositional: плавании

It remains unchanged in plural forms for most contexts but can vary in compounds.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • плыть - More specific to floating or moving through water without effort; differs from плавать by implying less active propulsion.
  • купаться - Used for bathing or splashing in water, often in a playful or shallow context.
• Antonyms:
  • тонуть - To sink or drown.
  • всплывать - To float up or surface.

Related Phrases:

• плавать в бассейне - Swimming in a pool; commonly used for indoor or controlled swimming environments.
• плавание в открытой воде - Open-water swimming; refers to swimming in natural bodies like lakes or seas, often in adventure sports.
• учиться плавать - To learn to swim; a phrase for beginners in swimming lessons.

Usage Notes:

Use 'плавать' for ongoing or habitual swimming actions, as it is an imperfective verb, making it a direct match for the English 'swim' in progressive tenses. In contrast, 'плавание' as a noun is ideal for discussing swimming as a noun or abstract concept. Be mindful of context: 'плавать' is informal and versatile, while 'плавание' suits formal writing or sports. English learners should note that Russian verbs like this require aspect pairing (e.g., with 'проплыть' for completed actions) to convey perfective meaning accurately.

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'плавать' with 'плыть': English speakers might use 'плавать' interchangeably, but 'плыть' implies passive floating. Error: "Я плыву в бассейне" (incorrect for active swimming). Correct: "Я плаваю в бассейне" – This distinction helps avoid implying no effort.
• Neglecting verb aspects: Forgetting to use the perfective form for completed actions. Error: "Я плавал весь день" (implies ongoing). Correct: "Я проплыл весь день" for a finished activity – Always check the context for completion.

Cultural Notes:

In Russia, swimming (плавание) is deeply tied to cultural and historical contexts, such as traditional summer dacha visits where people swim in rivers or lakes. It's also prominent in Soviet-era sports programs, emphasizing physical fitness, and in modern events like the Russian Open Water Swimming Championships, reflecting national pride in endurance and nature-based activities.

Related Concepts:

• вода (water)
• спорт (sport)
• бассейн (pool)
• озеро (lake)