Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'thicken'

English Word: thicken

Key Russian Translations:

• утолщать /u.tɐlʲˈʂatʲ/ - [Formal, used for making something thicker or denser]
• загущать /zɐˈguʂːatʲ/ - [Informal, specifically for thickening liquids or mixtures]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in cooking, science, and everyday descriptions, but not as frequent as basic verbs)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and contextual usage; загущать may be slightly easier at B1 due to its common application in daily life)

Pronunciation (Russian):

утолщать: /u.tɐlʲˈʂatʲ/

Note on утолщать: The 'щ' sound is a soft, palatalized 'sh' which can be challenging for English speakers; stress on the second syllable. Variations in fast speech may soften the 'т' sound.

загущать: /zɐˈguʂːatʲ/

Note on загущать: The double 'щ' indicates a prolonged sound; stress on the third syllable. Regional accents in Russia might alter the vowel length.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: To make something thicker or denser (e.g., liquids, materials)

Translation(s) & Context:

• утолщать - Used in formal or technical contexts, such as in manufacturing or scientific processes.
• загущать - Applied in everyday informal settings, like cooking or describing physical changes.

Usage Examples:

• Чтобы утолщать суп, добавьте муку. (To thicken the soup, add flour.)

  This example shows the verb in an imperative form within a cooking context, demonstrating basic conjugation.

• Она загущает краску для лучшей текстуры. (She thickens the paint for better texture.)

  Here, it's used in an artistic or DIY scenario, highlighting informal application and object agreement.

• В лаборатории мы утолщаем растворы специальными реагентами. (In the lab, we thicken solutions with special reagents.)

  This illustrates a formal, scientific context with plural objects and perfective aspect.

• Не загущай слишком сильно, иначе блюдо испортится. (Don't thicken it too much, or the dish will be ruined.)

  An advisory sentence showing negative imperative and potential outcomes in casual conversation.

• Этот процесс помогает утолщать металл для прочности. (This process helps thicken the metal for strength.)

  Demonstrates use in industrial contexts with infinitive forms and purpose clauses.

Secondary Meaning: To become thicker naturally (e.g., in a metaphorical or physical sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• утолщать - In contexts implying gradual change, such as in descriptions of growth or density.
• загущать - Less common here, but used for liquids solidifying over time.

Usage Examples:

• Крем утолщается на воздухе. (The cream thickens in the air.)

  This shows reflexive or passive use in everyday observations of physical changes.

• С возрастом волосы могут утолщаться. (With age, hair can thicken.)

  Illustrates metaphorical or biological contexts with imperfective verbs.

• Если не перемешивать, смесь загустит сама. (If you don't stir, the mixture will thicken on its own.)

  Emphasizes natural processes in instructional language.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'утолщать' and 'загущать' are imperfective verbs, which means they describe ongoing or repeated actions. Russian verbs follow conjugation patterns based on person, number, tense, and aspect. These verbs are from the first conjugation group and have irregular aspects in some forms.

Note: These verbs do not change for gender in the past tense but agree with the subject in number. They are invariable in terms of stem changes but follow standard endings.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • загустить (a perfective form, implying completion)
  • сгущать (more general, often for condensing)
• Antonyms:
  • разжижать (to dilute or thin out)
  • разбавлять (to water down, especially liquids)

Explanation: 'загустить' is a perfective synonym, suitable for completed actions, while 'сгущать' has a broader application in scientific contexts.

Related Phrases:

• Загустить суп - (To thicken soup; a common cooking phrase implying adding ingredients for density.)
• Утолщать стены - (To thicken walls; used in construction for structural integrity.)
• Загуститель для краски - (Thickener for paint; a phrase from DIY or artistic contexts.)

Usage Notes:

'Утолщать' is more formal and precise for non-liquid substances, aligning closely with 'thicken' in English for materials or structures, while 'загущать' is informal and best for liquids or mixtures. Choose based on context: use 'утолщать' in technical writing and 'загущать' in casual recipes. Be mindful of aspect—pair with perfective forms like 'утолщить' for completed actions. In Russian, these verbs must agree with the subject in person and number, which differs from English's more flexible structure.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'утолщать' interchangeably with 'загущать' without considering context. Incorrect: Я утолщаю сок (for a liquid). Correct: Я загущаю сок. Explanation: 'Утолщать' is better for solids, leading to confusion in liquid contexts.
• Mistake: Forgetting verb conjugation in sentences. Incorrect: Он утолщать металл. Correct: Он утолщает металл. Explanation: Russian verbs must be conjugated for person and number, unlike English infinitives.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like 'загущать суп' are common in home cooking traditions, reflecting the importance of hearty, thick meals in cold climates. This verb often appears in folklore or proverbs about preparation and endurance, symbolizing resourcefulness in daily life.

Related Concepts:

• сгусток (clot or lump)
• разбавление (dilution)
• консистенция (consistency)