Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'weave'

English Word: weave

Key Russian Translations:

• ткать [ˈtkatʲ] - [Formal, used for textile or fabric weaving]
• плести [ˈplʲesʲtʲi] - [Informal, used for braiding or interlacing materials like hair or baskets]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in contexts like crafts, textiles, and everyday descriptions, but not as frequent as basic verbs in casual speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and context-specific usage, varying slightly by translation—e.g., ткать is straightforward for fabric-related topics, while плести may involve more nuanced applications)

Pronunciation (Russian):

ткать: [ˈtkatʲ] (The 'т' is a voiceless alveolar stop, and the 'к' is a voiceless velar stop; stress on the first syllable.)

Note on ткать: Be cautious with the soft sign 'ь' at the end, which palatalizes the preceding 'т', making it sound softer. This is a common challenge for English speakers.

плести: [ˈplʲesʲtʲi] (The initial 'п' is a voiceless bilabial stop, and there are palatalized consonants throughout; stress on the first syllable.)

Note on плести: The verb often has a rolling or fluid pronunciation due to its consonants, which can vary slightly in fast speech. Practice with native audio for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To interlace threads or materials (as a verb, primary meaning)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ткать - Used in formal or technical contexts, such as describing the process of weaving fabric in manufacturing or art.
• плести - Applied in informal, everyday situations, like braiding hair or weaving baskets, often with a creative or manual connotation.

Usage Examples:

• Она ткет красивый ковёр из шерсти. (Ona tket krasivyy kovyor iz shersti.)

  She weaves a beautiful rug from wool. (This example shows ткать in a formal, artisanal context.)

• Дети плетут венки из цветов в парке. (Deti pletut venki iz tsvetov v parke.)

  The children are weaving wreaths from flowers in the park. (Illustrates плести in an informal, playful setting with children.)

• В фабрике ткут ткань для одежды. (V fabrike tkut tkanyu dlya odezhdy.)

  In the factory, they weave fabric for clothing. (Demonstrates ткать in an industrial context, highlighting its formal usage.)

• Он плетёт корзину из ивовых прутьев. (On pletot korzinu iz ivovykh prutyev.)

  He is weaving a basket from willow branches. (Shows плести in a hands-on, creative activity.)

• Мастер плетёт сложный узор на ковре. (Master pletot slozhnyy uzor na krovre.)

  The master is weaving a complex pattern on the carpet. (Combines elements, showing versatility in descriptive narratives.)

A pattern or method of weaving (as a noun)

Translation(s) & Context:

• переплетение - Used in artistic or technical discussions, referring to the structure or design of woven items.

Usage Examples:

• Это переплетение нитей создаёт уникальный дизайн. (Eto perepleteniye nitey sozdaёт unikalʹnyy dizayn.)

  This weave of threads creates a unique design. (Focuses on the noun form in a creative context.)

• В музее выставлено древнее переплетение тканей. (V muzeye vystavleno drevneye perepleteniye tkancy.)

  In the museum, an ancient weave of fabrics is displayed. (Historical context for the noun.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both ткать and плести are verbs, so they follow Russian conjugation patterns for imperfective verbs. ткать is imperfective and has regular conjugations, while плести is also imperfective but may show slight irregularities in certain forms. Below is a table for key inflections:

Note: These verbs do not change for gender in the past tense but do for number and person in present and future. If the word is used as a noun (e.g., переплетение), it is a neuter noun and declines as follows: Nominative - переплетение; Genitive - переплетения; etc., with no irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • ткать: вивать (vivatʹ) - Similar for twisting or weaving, but often used for vines or ropes.
  • плести: свивать (svivatʹ) - Means to twist or braid, with a slight emphasis on coiling.
• Antonyms:
  • расплетать (raspletatʹ) - To unravel or untangle, opposite of weaving or braiding.
  • разрушать (razrushatʹ) - To destroy or dismantle, in a broader sense for structured weaving.

Related Phrases:

• ткать полотно - To weave a canvas (refers to creating a large fabric piece, often in artistic contexts).
• плести косы - To braid hair (a common everyday phrase for personal grooming).
• переплетение узоров - Interweaving of patterns (used in design or textile discussions, with a connotation of complexity).

Usage Notes:

When translating "weave" to Russian, choose ткать for contexts involving textiles or machinery, as it directly corresponds to industrial weaving. Use плести for more manual or creative acts like braiding. Be mindful of the imperfective aspect in Russian verbs, which emphasizes ongoing actions—e.g., "I weave" would typically be in present tense. In formal writing, ткать is preferred, while плести suits informal speech. If the context involves patterns, consider noun forms like переплетение for precision.

Common Errors:

• Confusing ткать and плести: English learners often use ткать incorrectly for braiding hair, saying "Я тку волосы" instead of "Я плету волосы." Correct: Use плести for braiding to avoid sounding unnatural.
• Incorrect conjugation: For example, saying "Он ткать" (wrong form) instead of "Он ткёт." Explanation: Russian verbs must agree with subject in person and number; always conjugate properly based on the table above.
• Overgeneralizing: Learners might translate "weave a story" literally as "ткать историю," which is incorrect. Instead, use плести or a phrase like "создавать повествование" for metaphorical uses.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, weaving (ткать) has historical significance in folk arts, such as the creation of traditional sarafans or rugs, often symbolizing community and heritage. Phrases like плести косы are tied to daily life and folklore, appearing in stories where braiding represents unity or protection, as in fairy tales.

Related Concepts:

• ткань (fabric)
• узор (pattern)
• плетение (braiding)