Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'warn'

English Word: warn

Key Russian Translations:

• предупреждать [prʲɪ.dʊˈprʲe.ʐdʲɪtʲ] - [Verb, Formal/Informal, Used in everyday warnings]
• предупредить [prʲɪ.dʊˈprʲe.ʐdʲɪtʲ] - [Verb, Perfective aspect, Informal, Used for completed actions of warning]

Frequency: Medium (Common in daily conversations, news, and safety instructions)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb aspects, but basic conjugation is straightforward for learners at this level)

Pronunciation (Russian):

предупреждать: [prʲɪ.dʊˈprʲe.ʐdʲɪtʲ]

предупредить: [prʲɪ.dʊˈprʲe.ʐdʲɪtʲ] (Note: The stress is on the third syllable; be careful with the soft 'р' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers)

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To inform someone in advance about a possible danger or problem

Translation(s) & Context:

• предупреждать - Used in ongoing or repeated warnings, such as in safety briefings or general advice.
• предупредить - Used for a single, completed warning, often in urgent situations like emergencies.

Usage Examples:

• Пожалуйста, предупредите меня, если погода ухудшится. (Please warn me if the weather gets worse.)

  Translation: Please warn me if the weather gets worse. (This example shows the verb in a conditional context.)

• Родители всегда предупреждают детей о опасностях на улице. (Parents always warn children about dangers on the street.)

  Translation: Parents always warn children about dangers on the street. (Illustrates habitual action with an imperfective verb.)

• Водитель предупредил пассажиров о предстоящей задержке. (The driver warned passengers about the upcoming delay.)

  Translation: The driver warned passengers about the upcoming delay. (Demonstrates use in professional or public settings.)

• Я должен предупредить вас заранее о изменениях в плане. (I should warn you in advance about changes in the plan.)

  Translation: I should warn you in advance about changes in the plan. (Shows polite, advisory usage.)

• Полиция предупредила жителей о возможном наводнении. (The police warned residents about the possible flood.)

  Translation: The police warned residents about the possible flood. (Example in a formal, official context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "предупреждать" (imperfective verb) and "предупредить" (perfective verb), both follow standard Russian verb conjugation patterns. These are first-conjugation verbs with irregularities in some forms.

Note: These verbs do not change based on gender in the infinitive form but adjust in past tense as shown.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • предостерегать (to caution, often with a sense of advising against something)
  • оповещать (to notify, more formal and official)
• Antonyms:
  • ободрять (to encourage)
  • успокаивать (to reassure)

Related Phrases:

• Предупредить заранее (To warn in advance) - Used for giving notice before an event occurs.
• Выдать предупреждение (To issue a warning) - Common in official or legal contexts, like weather alerts.
• Предупреждение о опасности (Warning about danger) - A phrase for safety instructions or signs.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "предупреждать" is imperfective and focuses on the ongoing process of warning, while "предупредить" is perfective and emphasizes the completion of the action. English speakers should choose based on context: use imperfective for habitual actions and perfective for specific instances. Both can be formal or informal, but in polite speech, pair with words like "пожалуйста" for politeness.

• Always consider verb aspect to match the English tense accurately.
• In formal writing, "предупредить" is preferred for direct commands or announcements.

Common Errors:

One common mistake is confusing the imperfective "предупреждать" with the perfective "предупредить," leading to incorrect aspect usage. For example, an English learner might say "Я предупреждал тебя" when meaning a single past event, but if it's completed, it should be "Я предупредил тебя." Incorrect: "Я предупреждал тебя вчера" (implies ongoing); Correct: "Я предупредил тебя вчера" for a one-time warning. Another error is mispronouncing the soft consonants, which can alter the word's meaning.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, warnings like "предупреждать" are often used in contexts involving safety, such as in transportation or natural disasters, reflecting a societal emphasis on preparedness due to historical events like wars and environmental challenges. This word carries a practical, no-nonsense connotation in everyday life.

Related Concepts:

• опасность (danger)
• предосторожность (caution)
• сигнал тревоги (alarm signal)