Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'wait'

English Word: wait

Key Russian Translations:

• ждать [ˈʐdatʲ] - [Informal, Imperfective aspect, Used for ongoing waiting]
• подождать [pədɐˈʐdatʲ] - [Formal or Informal, Perfective aspect, Used for waiting a short time or in commands]

Frequency: High - 'ждать' and 'подождать' are commonly used in everyday Russian conversations, appearing frequently in spoken and written language.

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner) for basic forms; B1 (Intermediate) for full conjugations and aspect distinctions, as understanding imperfective vs. perfective aspects can be challenging for new learners.

Pronunciation (Russian):

ждать: [ˈʐdatʲ]

подождать: [pədɐˈʐdatʲ]

Note on ждать: The initial 'ж' sound is a voiced palatal fricative, similar to the 's' in 'measure' in English, but can be tricky for beginners. Stress falls on the first syllable.

Note on подождать: The prefix 'по-' adds a perfective meaning; pronounce the 'д' softly, and note the stress on the third syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To remain in a place or state until a particular time, event, or person arrives (general waiting)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ждать - Used in informal, everyday contexts for ongoing actions, such as waiting for someone or something indefinitely.
• подождать - Used when asking someone to wait briefly, often in polite or formal situations.

Usage Examples:

• Я жду автобуса уже полчаса. (Ya zhdu avtobusa uzhe polchasa.)

  I have been waiting for the bus for half an hour already. (This shows ongoing waiting in a daily context.)

• Подождите, пожалуйста, я сейчас вернусь. (Podozhdite, pozhaluysta, ya seychas vernus'.)

  Please wait, I'll be right back. (Demonstrates polite command in a social interaction.)

• Мы ждём гостей на ужин. (My zhdyom gostey na uzhin.)

  We are waiting for guests for dinner. (Illustrates waiting for people in a home setting.)

• Не подождёшь меня у входа? (Ne podozhdyosh' menya u vhoda?)

  Won't you wait for me at the entrance? (Shows a request in an informal conversation.)

Meaning 2: To delay action or be patient until a condition is met (implying anticipation)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ждать - In contexts involving expectation, such as waiting for news or results.
• подождать - For short-term delays, like in queues or phone calls.

Usage Examples:

• Я жду твоего звонка. (Ya zhdu tvoyego zvonnka.)

  I'm waiting for your call. (This highlights anticipation in personal communication.)

• Подождите на линии, оператор ответит через минуту. (Podozhdite na linii, operator otvetit cherez minutu.)

  Please hold the line; the operator will answer in a minute. (Common in professional or customer service scenarios.)

• Дети ждут Рождества с нетерпением. (Deti zhdyut Rozhdestva s neterpeniem.)

  Children are waiting for Christmas with excitement. (Shows emotional anticipation in a cultural context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'ждать' is an imperfective verb, while 'подождать' is its perfective counterpart. Russian verbs change based on tense, aspect, person, and number. 'ждать' follows the first conjugation pattern but has some irregularities.

Note: These verbs do not change for gender in the infinitive or future forms but agree with the subject in past tense.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • ожидать [ɐʐɨˈdatʲ] - More formal, implies expectation; often used in official contexts.
  • дожидаться [dəʐɨˈdatʲsʲə] - Similar to ждать but emphasizes waiting for someone specific.
• Antonyms:
  • уходить [uˈxodʲɪtʲ] - To leave or go away.
  • спешить [ˈspʲeʂɪtʲ] - To hurry, implying the opposite of waiting.

Related Phrases:

• Подождите, пожалуйста - Please wait (Used in polite requests, e.g., in shops or on the phone).
• Ждать у моря погоды - To wait for the weather by the sea (Idiom meaning to wait indefinitely for something uncertain; equivalent to "to wait for the other shoe to drop" in English).
• Не стоит ждать чуда - Don't wait for a miracle (A common phrase for not relying on luck).

Usage Notes:

The English word 'wait' often translates to 'ждать' for ongoing actions and 'подождать' for completed or short-term ones. In Russian, always consider the aspect: imperfective ('ждать') for descriptions, and perfective ('подождать') for results. Use 'подождать' in formal situations or commands, like answering the phone. Beginners should note that Russian verbs require agreement with subject gender in the past tense, which has no direct equivalent in English.

• When choosing between translations, opt for 'ждать' in narratives and 'подождать' in instructions.
• Commonly paired with adverbs like 'долго' (long) or 'немного' (a little).

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse the imperfective and perfective aspects. For example, they might say "Я подожду автобус" when meaning ongoing waiting, which is incorrect; the right form is "Я жду автобус." Another error is forgetting past tense gender agreement: saying "Я ждал" for a female speaker should be "Я ждала." Correct usage: Use 'ждать' for continuous actions and pair it with time expressions for clarity.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, waiting is a common theme in literature and daily life, reflecting patience as a virtue. Phrases like 'Ждать у моря погоды' highlight a cultural resignation to uncertainty, often tied to Russia's historical context of long winters and bureaucratic delays, encouraging endurance over haste.

Related Concepts:

• терпение (patience)
• ожидание (expectation)
• за hold-up (delay, but in Russian: задержка)