Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'twitch'

English Word: twitch

Key Russian Translations:

• дергаться [dʲɪrˈɡat͡sə] - [Verb, Informal, Reflexive]
• судорога [sʊˈdorəɡə] - [Noun, Feminine, Singular]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday conversations about physical sensations or medical contexts, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "идти").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate for verbs like дергаться due to conjugation; A2 for nouns like судорога, as it involves basic gender and case awareness).

Pronunciation (Russian):

дергаться: [dʲɪrˈɡat͡sə]

Note on дергаться: This is a reflexive verb with a soft 'г' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers due to the palatalization; stress falls on the second syllable. Variations in informal speech may soften the 'т' sound.

Audio: []

судорога: [sʊˈdorəɡə]

Note on судорога: The 'о' in the second syllable is pronounced as a short 'o', and the word ends with a soft 'г'. No major variations, but ensure correct stress on the third syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

As a verb: To make a sudden, involuntary jerking movement

Translation(s) & Context:

• дергаться - Used in informal or everyday contexts to describe reflexive or involuntary actions, such as muscle spasms; common in casual speech or medical descriptions.

Usage Examples:

• Моя нога дергается от усталости.

  My leg is twitching from fatigue. (Shows reflexive use in a physical context.)

• Ребёнок дергается во сне, как будто ему снится кошмар.

  The child is twitching in his sleep, as if he's having a nightmare. (Illustrates use in emotional or dream-related scenarios.)

• Его глаз дергается под стрессом.

  His eye is twitching under stress. (Demonstrates habitual or stress-induced twitching.)

• Кот дергается, когда его гладят по ушам.

  The cat twitches when you pet its ears. (Applies to animal behavior in informal settings.)

As a noun: A sudden, quick pull or spasm

Translation(s) & Context:

• судорога - Typically used in formal or medical contexts to refer to cramps or spasms; less common in casual talk but precise for health-related discussions.

Usage Examples:

• У него была судорога в ноге после пробежки.

  He had a twitch in his leg after the run. (Context: Physical exercise and health.)

• Судорога лица может быть признаком нервного расстройства.

  A facial twitch can be a sign of a nervous disorder. (Medical or psychological context.)

• Эта судорога прошла быстро, но была очень неприятной.

  This twitch passed quickly but was very unpleasant. (Describes temporary sensations.)

• Врач диагностировал судорогу как безобидный спазм.

  The doctor diagnosed the twitch as a harmless spasm. (Formal medical usage.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For дергаться (verb, reflexive): This is an imperfective verb that conjugates based on tense, person, and number. It follows standard Russian verb patterns but includes the reflexive particle '-ся'. Irregularities are minimal, but pay attention to aspect (imperfective only).

For судорога (noun, feminine): This is a first-declension noun with regular inflections for case and number. It changes based on grammatical case but remains straightforward.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: подёргиваться (similar but more subtle, often for lighter movements), сокращаться (used for contractions, especially in medical contexts)
• Antonyms: оставаться неподвижным (to remain still, contrasting with any movement)

Related Phrases:

• Нервный тик - A nervous twitch; often used in psychological contexts to describe involuntary facial movements.
• Мышца дергается - The muscle is twitching; a common phrase in everyday health discussions.
• Судорога в глазу - Eye twitch; refers to minor spasms and is culturally linked to stress or fatigue.

Usage Notes:

The English word "twitch" corresponds most closely to "дергаться" in verbal forms and "судорога" in nominal forms, but always consider context: use "дергаться" for reflexive, involuntary actions in informal settings, while "судорога" is better for formal or medical descriptions. Be aware of Russian's reflexive verbs—don't omit the "-ся" particle, as it changes the meaning. For learners, choose "дергаться" over similar verbs like "дергать" (which is transitive and means "to pull"). Grammar note: Nouns like "судорога" require agreement in gender, number, and case, so ensure adjectives and verbs match accordingly.

Common Errors:

• Common mistake: Confusing "дергаться" (reflexive, for self-movement) with "дергать" (transitive, for pulling something else). Incorrect: "Я дергать ногу" (This implies pulling someone else's leg). Correct: "Я дергаюсь" (I am twitching). Explanation: Russian distinguishes reflexive and non-reflexive forms, so always add "-ся" for internal actions.
• Another error: Misinflecting "судорога" in cases, e.g., using nominative in all contexts. Incorrect: "О судорога" (wrong prepositional case). Correct: "О судороге". Explanation: Proper case usage is crucial for sentence flow in Russian.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like "судорога" or "дергаться" are often associated with folklore or superstition; for example, a persistent twitch might be linked to old beliefs about "evil eye" or stress from daily life in fast-paced urban environments like Moscow. This reflects a broader cultural tendency to blend medical and mystical explanations for physical phenomena.

Related Concepts:

• Тремор (tremor)
• Спазм (spasm)
• Нервозность (nervousness)