Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'turn'

English Word: turn

Key Russian Translations:

• поворачивать [pɐvɐˈratɕɪtʲ] - [Verb, Informal, Used in everyday contexts for rotating or changing direction]
• поворот [pɐˈvorət] - [Noun, Formal, Refers to a physical turn or bend]
• очередь [ɐˈtɕɛrʲɪdʲ] - [Noun, Informal, Used for one's turn in a sequence or line]

Frequency: High (The word 'turn' is commonly used in Russian in everyday speech, especially in contexts like driving, daily routines, or queuing.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate for поворачивать and поворот; A2 for очередь, based on CEFR, as basic forms are straightforward but inflections add complexity.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

поворачивать: [pɐvɐˈratɕɪtʲ]

поворот: [pɐˈvorət]

очередь: [ɐˈtɕɛrʲɪdʲ]

Note on поворачивать: The soft 'ч' sound ([tɕ]) can be challenging for English speakers; it's similar to the 'ch' in 'church' but softer. Stress falls on the third syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To rotate or change direction (Verb form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• поворачивать - Used in informal contexts for physical rotation, such as turning a wheel or changing direction while walking or driving.

Usage Examples:

• Поверни налево на следующем перекрестке. (Poverni nalevo na sleduyushchem perekrestke.)

  Turn left at the next intersection. (This example shows the verb in an imperative form for giving directions.)

• Он поворачивает голову, чтобы посмотреть. (On povorachivaet golovu, chtoby posmotret'.)

  He turns his head to look. (Illustrates the verb in a simple present tense for daily actions.)

• Машина поворачивает на повороте. (Mashina povorachivaet na povorote.)

  The car is turning at the bend. (Demonstrates use in a vehicular context with related vocabulary.)

• Не поворачивай слишком резко! (Ne povorachivay slishkom zhestko!)

  Don't turn too sharply! (Shows the verb in a negative imperative for warnings.)

A change of direction or bend (Noun form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• поворот - Used in formal or navigational contexts, such as in roads or paths.

Usage Examples:

• На этом повороте всегда бывают пробки. (Na etom povorote vsegda byvayut probki.)

  There are always traffic jams at this turn. (This highlights the noun in a traffic-related context.)

• Поворот реки создает красивый вид. (Povorot reki sozdaet krasivyy vid.)

  The turn of the river creates a beautiful view. (Illustrates metaphorical or natural uses.)

• Берегись острого поворота! (Beregis' ostrago povorota!)

  Watch out for the sharp turn! (Shows the noun in a warning context.)

• После поворота начинается подъем. (Posle povorota nachinaetsya pod"em.)

  After the turn, the ascent begins. (Demonstrates sequencing in descriptions.)

One's opportunity or sequence (Noun form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• очередь - Used in informal social contexts, like waiting in line or taking turns.

Usage Examples:

• Подождите свою очередь в очереди. (Podozhdite svoyu ochered' v ocheredi.)

  Wait for your turn in the line. (This example emphasizes queuing in everyday situations.)

• Теперь моя очередь говорить. (Teper' moya ochered' govorit'.)

  Now it's my turn to speak. (Illustrates turn-taking in conversations.)

• В игре каждый имеет свою очередь. (V igre kazhdyy imeyet svoyu ochered'.)

  In the game, everyone has their turn. (Shows use in recreational contexts.)

• Не пропускайте чужую очередь. (Ne propuskayte chuzhuyu ochered'.)

  Don't skip someone else's turn. (Highlights etiquette in social settings.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For поворачивать (verb, imperfective): This is an irregular verb in Russian, following patterns of motion verbs. It conjugates based on tense, aspect, and person. Below is a basic conjugation table for present tense:

Person	Singular	Plural
1st (I)	поворачиваю	поворачиваем
2nd (You)	поворачиваешь	поворачиваете
3rd (He/She/It)	поворачивает	поворачивают

For поворот (noun, masculine): It declines as a standard third-declension noun. It is invariable in plural for some cases but follows regular patterns:

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	поворот	повороты
Genitive	поворота	поворотов
Dative	повороту	поворотам

For очередь (noun, feminine): It is mostly invariable in plural and follows first-declension patterns, with no significant irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • вертеть (for поворачивать, implying spinning)
  • изгиб (for поворот, a bend or curve)
  • право (for очередь, in the sense of right or opportunity, with a slight formal nuance)
• Antonyms:
  • остановиться (for поворачивать, meaning to stop)
  • прямой (for поворот, meaning straight)
  • пропустить (for очередь, meaning to skip or let pass)

Related Phrases:

• Сделать поворот (Sdelat' povorot) - To make a turn (Used in driving contexts to indicate maneuvering.)
• Дождаться своей очереди (Dozdat'sya svoyey ocheredi) - To wait for one's turn (Common in queuing or turn-based activities, emphasizing patience.)
• Поворачивать голову (Povorachivat' golovu) - To turn one's head (A phrase for looking around, often in social interactions.)

Usage Notes:

The English word 'turn' corresponds closely to Russian verbs like поворачивать for actions involving rotation, but English speakers should note that Russian often requires specifying direction (e.g., left or right) more explicitly. For 'очередь', it's ideal for informal settings like lines or games, but in formal contexts, alternatives like 'право' might be better. Always consider aspect in verbs—use perfective forms like 'повернуть' for completed actions. When choosing between translations, opt for поворачивать in dynamic contexts and поворот for static ones.

Common Errors:

• Confusing verb aspects: English learners often use the imperfective поворачивать when a perfective like повернуть is needed for a completed action. Error: "Я поворачиваю книгу" (incorrect for a single action). Correct: "Я повернул книгу" (I turned the book). This happens because English doesn't distinguish aspects as clearly.
• Misapplying inflections: Forgetting to change the noun ending, e.g., saying "в поворот" instead of "в повороте" for locative case. Error: "Я иду в поворот" (I go to the turn). Correct: "Я иду в повороте" (I go at the turn). Explanation: Russian cases indicate relationships, which English prepositions handle differently.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'очередь' (queue) reflects a historical emphasis on patience and order, stemming from Soviet-era experiences with long lines for goods. This can symbolize resilience, but in modern contexts, it's often a source of humor in media, highlighting everyday frustrations.

Related Concepts:

• изгиб
• вертеться
• право