Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'untwist'

English Word: untwist

Key Russian Translations:

• распутать [rɐˈsputətʲ] - [Informal, Used for untangling physical objects like knots or wires]
• развернуть [rɐzvʲɪrˈnutʲ] - [Formal, Used for unfolding or straightening twisted materials]
• открутить [ɐtkrʊˈtitʲ] - [Informal, Used specifically for unscrewing or twisting open, e.g., a lid]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday contexts involving physical manipulation, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "to take").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for распутать and открутить; A2 (Elementary) for развернуть, as they involve basic verb conjugations but require context-specific usage.

Pronunciation (Russian):

распутать: [rɐˈsputətʲ]

развернуть: [rɐzvʲɪrˈnutʲ]

открутить: [ɐtkrʊˈtitʲ]

Note on распутать: The stress is on the second syllable; be careful with the soft 't' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers due to its palatalization.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To untangle or loosen something twisted, e.g., wires or knots.

Translation(s) & Context:

• распутать - Used in informal, everyday situations involving physical untangling, such as in DIY or crafts.
• развернуть - Applied in more formal or literal contexts, like unfolding fabric or straightening objects.

Usage Examples:

• Я распутал провода, чтобы подключить компьютер. (Ya rasputal provoda, chtoby podkljuchit' komp'juter.)

  I untwisted the wires to connect the computer. (This example shows the verb in a practical, everyday context with direct object.)

• Она развернула веревку, чтобы она не спуталась. (Ona razvernula verevku, chtoby ona ne sputalas'.)

  She untwisted the rope so it wouldn't get tangled. (Illustrates the verb in a preventive scenario, emphasizing future avoidance.)

• Мы распутали узлы на рыболовной леске во время рыбалки. (My rasputali uzly na rybolovnoy leske vo vremya rybalki.)

  We untwisted the knots on the fishing line during fishing. (Demonstrates plural subject and action in a recreational setting.)

• Разверни этот клубок пряжи, прежде чем вязать. (Razverni etot klubok prjazi, prezhde chem vjzat'.)

  Untwist this ball of yarn before knitting. (Shows imperative form in a creative, instructional context.)

Meaning 2: To unscrew or twist open, e.g., a bottle or screw.

Translation(s) & Context:

• открутить - Common in mechanical or household contexts, often implying rotation.

Usage Examples:

• Открути крышку бутылки, чтобы налить воду. (Otkruti kryshku butylki, chtoby nalit' vodu.)

  Unscrew the bottle cap to pour water. (This highlights the verb in a simple, daily routine with an imperative command.)

• Он открутил болт, чтобы починить дверь. (On otkrutil bolt, chtoby pochinit' dver'.)

  He untwisted the bolt to fix the door. (Shows the verb with a direct object in a repair scenario.)

• Мы открутили старые лампочки в лампе. (My otkrutili starые lampochki v lampe.)

  We untwisted the old lightbulbs in the lamp. (Illustrates plural action and objects in a maintenance context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily verbs, which in Russian undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Below is a table for the infinitive forms provided:

Note: These verbs are regular in their conjugations but have imperfective counterparts for ongoing actions. If the verb is used in a non-changing context, such as in infinitive form, it remains unchanged.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • расплести (rasplesti) - Similar to распутать but specifically for braids or weaves; used in contexts like hair or fabric.
  • распутывать (raspityvat') - The imperfective form, implying ongoing action.
• Antonyms:
  • запутать (zaputat') - To tangle or complicate.
  • закрутить (zakrutit') - To twist or screw tight.

Related Phrases:

• распутать узел - To untie a knot; used in problem-solving or literal untangling scenarios.
• открутить крышку - To unscrew a cap; common in everyday object manipulation, like opening a jar.
• развернуть сверток - To unwrap a package; implies revealing or straightening something folded.

Usage Notes:

"Untwist" directly corresponds to Russian verbs like распутать or открутить, but selection depends on context: use распутать for general untangling and открутить for rotational actions. Be mindful of aspect in Russian—perfective forms (like распутать) indicate completed actions, while imperfective (raspityvat') denote ongoing ones. In formal writing, prefer развернуть for metaphorical uses, such as in literature. English learners should note that Russian verbs often require a direct object and may change based on gender and number in past tense.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using распутать interchangeably with открутить without considering the action type. For example, saying "распутать бутылку" (rasputat' butylku) instead of "открутить бутылку" (otkrutit' butylku).

  Correct: открутить бутылку. Explanation: Распутать implies untangling, not unscrewing, which can confuse the intended meaning and sound unnatural to native speakers.

• Error: Neglecting verb aspect, e.g., using the perfective распутать for an ongoing action like "I am untwisting the wires" (incorrectly as "Я распутываю").

  Correct: Я распутываю (for ongoing). Explanation: Russian requires matching aspect to the context; perfective is for completed actions, so use imperfective for processes.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, verbs like распутать often appear in contexts of resourcefulness, such as in folk tales where characters untangle problems (e.g., in stories by Pushkin). This reflects a cultural emphasis on practicality and problem-solving in daily life, where untangling literal or metaphorical knots symbolizes overcoming obstacles.

Related Concepts:

• узел (uzel) - Knot
• спутать (sputat') - To tangle
• закрутка (zakrutka) - Twist or coil