Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'veer'

English Word: veer

Key Russian Translations:

• повернуть [pɐˈvornʊtʲ] - [Verb, Informal, Used in directional or navigational contexts]
• свернуть [svʲɪrˈnutʲ] - [Verb, Informal, Plural forms may apply in group actions]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday conversations about driving, sailing, or sudden changes, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "идти").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and directional prepositions. For 'повернуть', it's B1; for 'свернуть', it's also B1 due to similar structures.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

повернуть: [pɐˈvornʊtʲ]

Note on повернуть: The stress falls on the second syllable ("vor"), which can be tricky for English speakers used to stress patterns in words like "veer". Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

свернуть: [svʲɪrˈnutʲ]

Note on свернуть: The initial "sv" cluster is soft and palatalized, similar to the "sv" in "svelte" but with a Russian flair; common in imperative forms.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To change direction suddenly, often used in contexts like driving, sailing, or metaphorical shifts.

Translation(s) & Context:

• повернуть - Typically used for intentional turns, such as in driving; context: formal or informal descriptions of movement.
• свернуть - Used for abrupt deviations, like veering off a path; context: more casual or narrative scenarios.

Usage Examples:

• Водитель повернул машину вправо, чтобы избежать препятствия.

  The driver veered the car to the right to avoid the obstacle.

• Корабль свернул с курса из-за шторма.

  The ship veered off course due to the storm.

• В разговоре он повернул тему на политику.

  In the conversation, he veered the topic towards politics.

• Она свернула с главной дороги и поехала по проселку.

  She veered from the main road and drove along the country lane.

• Самолет повернул влево для посадки.

  The plane veered left for landing.

Meaning 2: To deviate or shift metaphorically, e.g., in opinions or plans.

Translation(s) & Context:

• повернуть - In metaphorical use, for shifting focus; context: discussions or writing.
• свернуть - For abrupt changes in plans; context: informal storytelling.

Usage Examples:

• Разговор повернул в неожиданное русло.

  The conversation veered into an unexpected direction.

• Он свернул с первоначального плана из-за новых идей.

  He veered from the original plan due to new ideas.

• Ее мысли повернули к воспоминаниям детства.

  Her thoughts veered towards childhood memories.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'повернуть' and 'свернуть' are verbs of the first conjugation in Russian, which means they follow regular patterns but can have irregularities in perfective aspects. 'Повернуть' is the perfective form of 'поворачивать', and 'свернуть' is perfective of 'сворачивать'.

These verbs do not change irregularly but require attention to aspect (perfective for completed actions). They are invariant in some forms like the infinitive.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • изменить курс (izmenit' kurs) - More formal, used in navigation.
  • отклониться (otklonit'sya) - Emphasizes deviation, with subtle connotation of error.
• Antonyms:
  • продолжить (prodolzhit') - To continue straight without change.
  • остановиться (ostanovit'sya) - To stop, implying no movement or shift.

Related Phrases:

• повернуть голову (povernut' golovu) - To turn one's head; meaning: A quick glance or attention shift.
• свернуть с пути (svernut' s puti) - To veer off the path; meaning: To deviate from a plan or journey, often metaphorically in life decisions.
• повернуть вспять (povernut' vspiat') - To turn back; meaning: To reverse direction, used in regrets or changes of mind.

Usage Notes:

The English word 'veer' corresponds most closely to 'повернуть' for sudden directional changes, but in Russian, context dictates the verb choice—use 'свернуть' for more abrupt or unplanned shifts. Be mindful of aspect: 'повернуть' is perfective, implying a completed action, while its imperfective counterpart 'поворачивать' suits ongoing actions. In formal writing, pair these with prepositions like 'вправо' (to the right) for clarity. When multiple translations exist, choose based on nuance: 'повернуть' for controlled veering, 'свернуть' for instinctive ones.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing 'повернуть' with 'поворачивать' and using the perfective form for ongoing actions. Correct: Use 'поворачивать' for continuous veering, e.g., "Он поворачивает машину" (He is veering the car) instead of "Он повернул машину" for a one-time action.

• Error: Omitting prepositions, leading to ambiguity, e.g., saying "повернуть" without direction. Correct: Say "повернуть направо" (veer to the right) to specify; without it, the sentence may sound incomplete.

• Error: Using 'свернуть' interchangeably with 'повернуть' in metaphorical contexts. Correct: 'Свернуть' implies a sharper break, as in "свернуть с дороги" (veer off the road), while 'повернуть' is milder; this can change the intended meaning.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'повернуть' or 'свернуть' often appear in literature and folklore to symbolize life choices, such as in stories where characters veer from their paths, reflecting themes of fate and destiny. For instance, in Russian proverbs, veering might represent adaptability in harsh winters or rural travels, emphasizing resilience over rigidity.

Related Concepts:

• направление (napravleniye) - Direction
• курс (kurs) - Course (as in navigation)
• изменение (izmeneniye) - Change