Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'tarry'

English Word: tarry

Key Russian Translations:

• задерживаться [zədɨrʐɨˈvatʲsə] - [Informal, Intransitive verb; used in everyday contexts to indicate delaying or lingering]
• медлить [ˈmʲedlʲɪtʲ] - [Formal or literary; implies hesitation or procrastination, often in more poetic or narrative settings]

Frequency: Medium (This verb is commonly encountered in Russian literature and casual conversation but not as ubiquitous as everyday verbs like "идти" (to go).)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; involves understanding reflexive verbs and basic conjugation. For "задерживаться", it's B1; for "медлить", it could be B2 due to its more nuanced usage.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

задерживаться: [zədɨrʐɨˈvatʲsə]

медлить: [ˈmʲedlʲɪtʲ]

Note on задерживаться: The pronunciation features a soft 'ж' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers; it's similar to the 'zh' in 'measure' but softer. Stress falls on the third syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary meaning: To delay, linger, or procrastinate in action.

Translation(s) & Context:

• задерживаться - Used in informal contexts for personal delays, such as waiting too long in a situation.
• медлить - Applied in more formal or reflective contexts, often implying intentional slowness or hesitation.

Usage Examples:

• Не задерживайся на остановке, автобус вот-вот уедет. (Ne zaderzhivaysya na ostanovke, avtobus vot-vot uedet.)

  Don't tarry at the stop; the bus is about to leave. (This example shows the verb in an imperative form, emphasizing urgency in daily life.)

• Он всегда медлит с принятием решений, что приводит к проблемам. (On vsegda medlit s prinjatijem reshenij, chto privodit k problemam.)

  He always tarries with making decisions, which leads to problems. (Here, it illustrates procrastination in a professional or personal context, highlighting habitual behavior.)

• Дети задерживаются в парке, наслаждаясь последними лучами солнца. (Deti zaderzhivayutsya v parke, naslazhdayas' poslednimi luchami solntsa.)

  The children tarry in the park, enjoying the last rays of the sun. (This demonstrates the verb in a plural subject context, conveying a leisurely delay.)

• Медли не стоит, время уходит. (Medli ne stoit, vremya ukhodit.)

  Don't tarry; time is slipping away. (A more poetic use, showing the verb in an advisory tone.)

• Она медлила у двери, раздумывая, стоит ли входить. (Ona medlila u dveri, razdumyvaya, stoit li vkhodit'.)

  She tarried at the door, pondering whether to enter. (This example highlights hesitation in a narrative style.)

Secondary meaning: To stay longer than intended (e.g., in a place).

Translation(s) & Context:

• задерживаться - Common in travel or social scenarios where one lingers unexpectedly.

Usage Examples:

• Мы задержались в кафе из-за интересной беседы. (My zaderzhalis' v kafe iz-za interesnoj besedy.)

  We tarried in the cafe because of an interesting conversation. (Shows the verb with a first-person plural subject in a social context.)

• Не задерживайся в гостях дольше, чем планировал. (Ne zaderzhivaysya v gostyakh dol'she, chem planiroval.)

  Don't tarry at the guests' place longer than planned. (Imperative form, advising on social etiquette.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "задерживаться" and "медлить" are verbs, so they follow Russian verb conjugation patterns. "Задерживаться" is a reflexive verb (ending in -ся), which means it requires the reflexive particle and conjugates accordingly. "Медлить" is a non-reflexive verb.

For "задерживаться" (imperfective aspect):

For "медлить" (imperfective):

Note: These verbs do not have irregular forms but follow standard patterns for imperfective verbs in Russian.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • откладывать (otkladyvat') - More about postponing tasks; differs from медлить by implying deliberate delay.
  • затягивать (zatjagivat') - Used for prolonging something, often negatively.
• Antonyms:
  • спешить (speshit') - To hurry or rush.
  • ускорять (uskorjat') - To speed up.

Related Phrases:

• задержать дыхание (zaderzhat' dykhanie) - To hold one's breath; used in contexts of suspense or medical situations.
• медлить с ответом (medlit' s otvetom) - To delay in responding; common in communication scenarios, implying hesitation.

Usage Notes:

"Tarry" corresponds most closely to "задерживаться" in informal English-Russian translation, but "медлить" is better for contexts involving mental hesitation. Be mindful of the reflexive particle "-ся" in "задерживаться," which is essential for its meaning and is not always intuitive for English speakers. In formal writing, opt for "медлить" to convey a more literary tone. Grammar note: These verbs are imperfective, so they describe ongoing actions rather than completed ones.

Common Errors:

• Error: Omitting the reflexive particle in "задерживаться," e.g., saying "задерживать" instead, which means "to delay someone/something else."

  Correct: Не задерживайся. (Don't tarry yourself.)
  Explanation: This changes the meaning to transitive; always include "-ся" for self-referential actions.

• Error: Confusing tenses, such as using present for past events, e.g., "Я задерживаюсь вчера" instead of "Я задерживался вчера."

  Correct: Я задерживался вчера. (I tarried yesterday.)
  Explanation: Russian verbs require proper aspect and tense agreement; imperfective past is used for ongoing past actions.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts like "задерживаться" or "медлить" often reflect a philosophical attitude toward time, as seen in literature by authors like Chekhov. Russians may view tarrying as a sign of contemplation or inefficiency, depending on context, which ties into the cultural value of "Russian soul" (душа) emphasizing introspection over haste.

Related Concepts:

• терпение (terpenie) - Patience
• время (vremya) - Time
• отсрочка (otsrochka) - Delay (as a noun)