Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'trickle'

English Word: trickle

Key Russian Translations:

• капать [kɐˈpatʲ] - [Verb, Informal, Used for liquids dripping slowly]
• струйка [ˈstrujkə] - [Noun, Feminine, Singular, Used for a small stream or flow]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday descriptions of liquids or slow flows, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "идти").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations for "капать" and noun declensions for "струйка", suitable for learners with basic Russian grammar knowledge).

Pronunciation (Russian):

капать: [kɐˈpatʲ]

Note on капать: The stress is on the second syllable; the soft 'т' sound can be challenging for English speakers. Pronounce it with a quick, guttural 'k' followed by a soft 't' as in "cat" but palatalized.

струйка: [ˈstrujkə]

Note on струйка: Stress on the first syllable; the 'й' acts as a soft 'y' sound, similar to "you" in English, and the final 'a' is reduced in casual speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: As a verb, to flow or drip slowly (e.g., water trickling from a faucet).

Translation(s) & Context:

• капать - Used in informal or everyday contexts to describe a slow, steady drip, such as water from a leak.

Usage Examples:

• Вода капает из крана уже час. (Voda kapayet iz krana uzhe chas.)

  Water is trickling from the faucet for an hour already. (This example shows the verb in present tense, describing a continuous action.)

• Капает дождь, но мы всё равно пойдём гулять. (Kapayet dozhd', no my vsyo ravno poydyom gulyat'.)

  It's trickling rain, but we're still going for a walk. (Illustrates use in weather descriptions, with the verb conjugated for third person singular.)

• Не позволяй, чтобы кровь капала на пол. (Ne pozvolyay, chtoby krov' kapala na pol.)

  Don't let the blood trickle onto the floor. (Demonstrates imperative form in a cautionary context.)

• Капает масло из бутылки, нужно её закрутить. (Kapayet maslo iz butylki, nuzhno yeyo zakrutit'.)

  Oil is trickling from the bottle; I need to screw it shut. (Shows the verb with a different subject in a practical scenario.)

Meaning 2: As a noun, a small, steady flow or stream (e.g., a trickle of water).

Translation(s) & Context:

• струйка - Used for a thin, gentle stream, often in literal or metaphorical contexts like a small amount of liquid.

Usage Examples:

• Из трещины в скале вытекает тонкая струйка воды. (Iz treshchiny v skale vyttekayet tonkaya struyka vody.)

  A thin trickle of water flows from the crack in the rock. (This highlights the noun in a natural description, showing its feminine form.)

• Её слёзы текли тонкой струйкой. (Yeyo slyozy tekli tonkoy struykoy.)

  Her tears flowed in a thin trickle. (Metaphorical use, demonstrating the noun in an emotional context.)

• В пустыне мы нашли лишь струйку чистой воды. (V pustyne my nashli lish' struyku chistoy vody.)

  In the desert, we found only a trickle of clean water. (Emphasizes scarcity, with the noun in genitive case.)

• Струйка пара поднимается от горячего чая. (Struyka para podnimaetsya ot goryachego chaya.)

  A trickle of steam rises from the hot tea. (Shows the noun with a different substance in everyday life.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "капать" (verb): This is an imperfective verb that follows the first conjugation pattern with some irregularities. It changes based on tense, aspect, and person.

For "струйка" (noun): This is a feminine noun in the first declension. It inflects based on case and number, but is regular.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Капля (kaplya) - More specific to drops, often used interchangeably in liquid contexts but implies discreteness.
  • Течь (tech') - For a flow, but more general and can imply a stronger stream.
• Antonyms:
  • Поток (potok) - A strong, abundant flow, contrasting with the slowness of a trickle.
  • Ливень (liven') - A heavy downpour, especially for rain.

Related Phrases:

• Капать с носа (Kapat' s nosa) - Meaning: To drip from the nose (e.g., a runny nose); used in health contexts.
• Тонкая струйка дыма (Tonka struyka dyma) - Meaning: A thin trickle of smoke; common in descriptions of fire or cigarettes.
• Капля за каплей (Kaplya za kapley) - Meaning: Drop by drop; an idiomatic phrase for slow accumulation.

Usage Notes:

"Trickle" as "капать" is best for imperfective, ongoing actions, while its perfective counterpart might be "капнуть" for a single drop. Use "струйка" for nouns to emphasize a gentle flow, especially in descriptive writing. Be mindful of context: "капать" is informal and common in spoken Russian, but in formal writing, opt for more precise terms. When choosing between translations, select based on whether the English "trickle" is verbal or nominal.

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse "капать" with "капнуть", using "капать" for a single event. Correct: Use "капнуть" for one-time drops (e.g., "Капнула вода" instead of "Капает вода" for a sudden drip).
• Another error is incorrect declension of "струйка", such as using it in the wrong case (e.g., saying "в струйка" instead of "в струйке"). Explanation: Always decline based on sentence role; for example, in dative case, it should be "струйке".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like "капля за каплей" often symbolize patience or gradual change, as seen in folklore and literature (e.g., in stories about water wearing away stone). This reflects a broader cultural emphasis on endurance in harsh environments like Russia's climate.

Related Concepts:

• Капля (kaplya)
• Поток (potok)
• Течь (tech')