Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'turning'

English Word: turning

Key Russian Translations:

• поворот [pɐˈvorət] - [Noun, Formal, Used in contexts like road turns or mechanical processes]
• поворачивание [pəvɐrəˈtɕɪvanʲɪje] - [Verb form, Informal, Plural forms possible, Used in descriptive actions]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday language, especially in driving or engineering contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun declensions and verb aspects for поворот, but slightly harder at B2 for поворачивание due to aspect variations)

Pronunciation (Russian):

поворот: [pɐˈvorət]

Note on поворот: The stress falls on the second syllable; be careful with the rolled 'r' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers.

поворачивание: [pəvɐrəˈtɕɪvanʲɪje]

Note on поворачивание: This is a gerund form; the 'ch' sound is soft, similar to the 'ch' in 'church', and it may vary slightly in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: The act of rotating or changing direction (e.g., in driving or mechanics).

Translation(s) & Context:

• поворот - Used in formal or technical contexts, such as describing a road bend or a machine operation.
• поворачивание - Applied in informal narratives, like describing ongoing actions in storytelling or instructions.

Usage Examples:

• Водитель осторожно взял поворот на мокрой дороге.

  The driver carefully took the turn on the wet road.

• Поворачивание ключа в замке открыло дверь.

  Turning the key in the lock opened the door.

• Этот поворот в фильме полностью изменил сюжет.

  This turning point in the movie completely changed the plot.

• Поворачивание руля требует точности в экстремальных ситуациях.

  Turning the wheel requires precision in extreme situations.

• После поворота налево вы увидите парк.

  After turning left, you'll see the park.

Meaning 2: A metaphorical turning point in events or ideas.

Translation(s) & Context:

• поворот - Often used in literary or abstract contexts, implying a significant change.

Usage Examples:

• Этот момент стал поворотом в его карьере.

  This moment became a turning point in his career.

• Поворачивание общественного мнения требует времени и усилий.

  Turning public opinion requires time and effort.

• В истории этот поворот привел к революции.

  In history, this turning point led to a revolution.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

поворот is a masculine noun in the second declension, which follows regular patterns. поворачивание is a verbal noun derived from the verb поворачивать, showing aspectual variations.

For поворачивание: It is invariant in most forms but can vary with verb aspects (e.g., imperfective поворачивать). No major irregularities, but always check context for perfective counterparts like повернуть.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: изгиб (izgib) - More about bends in shapes; повороток (povorotok) - A diminutive, informal variant for small turns.
• Antonyms: прямая (pryamaya) - Straight line or path, implying no turning.

Related Phrases:

• резкий поворот - Sharp turn; used metaphorically for sudden changes in life or events.
• поворот судьбы - Turning of fate; a common phrase in literature for pivotal moments.
• делать поворот - To make a turn; often in driving instructions, with a connotation of caution.

Usage Notes:

поворот directly corresponds to 'turning' as a noun in English, especially in physical or metaphorical senses, and is preferred in formal writing. Use поворачивание for ongoing actions to capture the dynamic aspect, similar to English gerunds. Be mindful of Russian's case system: поворот changes based on grammatical role (e.g., in genitive for possession). In informal speech, synonyms like изгиб might be chosen for variety. When multiple translations exist, select based on context—e.g., driving vs. abstract ideas.

• Grammar tip: Always pair with appropriate prepositions, like "на повороте" for "at the turning point."
• Context advice: In Russian culture, поворот often appears in narratives about change, so it's versatile in both literal and figurative use.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse поворот with поворачивать (the verb), leading to incorrect verb-noun mixes. For example, a common mistake is saying "Я поворот" instead of "Я делаю поворот" (I am turning), which should be "Я поворачиваю." Correct usage: Use поворот as a noun only, and explain the error by noting that Russian requires clear aspect distinctions—imperfective for ongoing actions.

• Error: Using поворот in a verb context, e.g., "Поворот машину" (incorrect for "Turn the car").
• Correction: Say "Поворачивай машину" and explain that the verb form must match the action's completeness.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian literature and culture, поворот often symbolizes life's unpredictability, as seen in works by authors like Tolstoy, where a "turning point" drives plot twists. This reflects a broader cultural emphasis on fate and resilience, making the word not just literal but deeply narrative in everyday Russian discourse.

Related Concepts:

• дорожный знак
• изменение
• направление