Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'wash'

English Word: wash

Key Russian Translations:

• мыть [ˈmɨtʲ] - [Informal, General use for washing objects or oneself]
• стирать [stʲɪˈratʲ] - [Informal, Specifically for washing clothes or fabrics]
• мойка [ˈmojkə] - [Formal, Noun form referring to a washing process, e.g., car wash]

Frequency: High (especially 'мыть' and 'стирать' are commonly used in everyday Russian conversations and texts).

Difficulty: Intermediate (B1 level for 'мыть' due to verb conjugations; A2 for 'стирать' as it follows regular patterns; 'мойка' is Beginner, A1, as a simple noun).

Pronunciation (Russian):

мыть: [ˈmɨtʲ]

стирать: [stʲɪˈratʲ]

мойка: [ˈmojkə]

Note on мыть: The 'ы' sound ([ɨ]) can be challenging for English speakers; it's similar to a high, back vowel, and the soft 'тʲ' requires palatalization. Pronounce it with a slight emphasis on the first syllable.

Note on стирать: Stress on the second syllable; the 'тʲ' is softened, which is common in Russian verbs.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To clean something with water and soap (Verb, general washing)

Translation(s) & Context:

• мыть - Used in everyday contexts for washing hands, dishes, or surfaces; informal and versatile.
• стирать - Specifically for laundry; used in domestic or routine settings.

Usage Examples:

• Я мою руки перед едой. (I wash my hands before eating.)

  Translation: I wash my hands before eating. (This example shows the verb in present tense for personal hygiene.)

• Мама стирает бельё каждую неделю. (Mom washes the laundry every week.)

  Translation: Mom washes the laundry every week. (Illustrates use in a habitual action context.)

• Дети любят мыть машину в выходные. (The kids like to wash the car on weekends.)

  Translation: The kids like to wash the car on weekends. (Demonstrates use with objects in a playful scenario.)

• Мы моем посуду после ужина. (We wash the dishes after dinner.)

  Translation: We wash the dishes after dinner. (Shows plural subject and routine activity.)

• Он стирает рубашку в стиральной машине. (He washes the shirt in the washing machine.)

  Translation: He washes the shirt in the washing machine. (Highlights modern appliance usage.)

Meaning 2: A process or facility for washing (Noun, e.g., car wash)

Translation(s) & Context:

• мойка - Used for facilities like car washes; formal in written contexts, such as signs or instructions.

Usage Examples:

• Я еду на автомойку. (I'm going to the car wash.)

  Translation: I'm going to the car wash. (This shows 'мойка' as a location in a simple sentence.)

• Эта мойка работает круглосуточно. (This wash operates 24/7.)

  Translation: This wash operates 24/7. (Illustrates 'мойка' in a descriptive context.)

• Мойка автомобиля стоит 500 рублей. (The car wash costs 500 rubles.)

  Translation: The car wash costs 500 rubles. (Demonstrates use in a transactional scenario.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'мыть' (verb, irregular conjugation):

Note: 'Мыть' is irregular and changes stem in some forms. For 'стирать' (regular verb), it follows standard patterns: стираю, стираешь, стирает, etc. 'Мойка' is a feminine noun and inflects as: мойка (nom.), мойки (gen.), мойке (dat.), etc., with plural: мойки.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • чистить (to clean, more general; differs from мыть by implying removal of dirt without water)
  • ополаскивать (to rinse, similar to мыть but focused on final cleaning step)
• Antonyms:
  • пачкать (to dirty or soil)
  • грязнить (to make dirty, often in a messy context)

Related Phrases:

• Мыть руки (Wash hands) - A common phrase for hygiene practices.
• Стирать в машине (Wash in the machine) - Refers to using a washing machine for laundry.
• Автомойка (Car wash facility) - A fixed phrase for professional car cleaning services.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'мыть' is the most direct equivalent to the English 'wash' for general purposes, but choose 'стирать' for clothing to match specific contexts. Be mindful of formality: 'мыть' is neutral but can sound informal, while 'мойка' is often used in professional or nominal settings. Grammatically, Russian verbs like these require agreement with subject gender and number, which differs from English. For learners, start with present tense forms and expand to past for better fluency.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'мыть' interchangeably with 'стирать' for clothes. Incorrect: "Я мою одежду" (though understandable, it's not precise). Correct: "Я стираю одежду". Explanation: 'Стирать' specifically implies laundering, while 'мыть' might suggest hand-washing only.

• Error: Forgetting gender agreement in past tense, e.g., saying "Она мыла" as "Он мыла". Correct: "Он мыл". Explanation: Russian past tense verbs change based on the subject's gender, unlike English.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like 'мыть руки' are tied to hygiene routines, often emphasized in daily life and public health campaigns. Historically, during Soviet times, communal laundries and simple 'мойки' were common, reflecting a practical approach to cleanliness in shared spaces.

Related Concepts:

• чистота (cleanliness)
• гигиена (hygiene)
• стиральный порошок (washing powder)