Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'whimper'

English Word: whimper

Key Russian Translations:

• хныкать /xɨˈnɨkatʲ/ - [Informal, often used for children or animals]
• вздыхать /vzʲdʲiˈxatʲ/ - [More general, can imply sighing or soft complaining]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday conversations, especially in narratives or descriptions of emotions, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "плакать").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian verb conjugations and contextual nuances, suitable for learners beyond beginner level).

Pronunciation (Russian):

хныкать: /xɨˈnɨkatʲ/ (The 'х' is a guttural sound like in Scottish 'loch'; stress on the second syllable. Note the palatalization of the final 'tʲ'.)

вздыхать: /vzʲdʲiˈxatʲ/ (Emphasize the 'х' as a breathy exhalation; the 'ʲ' indicates softening of the preceding consonant.)

Note on хныкать: This verb can have regional variations in pronunciation, with the initial 'х' sometimes softer in southern Russian dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To make a low, whining or complaining sound, often softly (Verb form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• хныкать - Used in informal contexts, such as describing a child's cry or subtle dissatisfaction.
• вздыхать - Applied in more emotional or literary contexts, implying a sigh mixed with whimpering.

Usage Examples:

• Ребёнок хныкал всю ночь, потому что ему было больно. (The child whimpered all night because he was in pain.)

  English Translation: The child whimpered all night because he was in pain.

• Она хныкала под одеялом, не желая вставать рано утром. (She whimpered under the blanket, not wanting to get up early in the morning.)

  English Translation: She whimpered under the blanket, not wanting to get up early in the morning.

• Собака вздыхала и хныкала, ожидая хозяина. (The dog sighed and whimpered, waiting for its owner.)

  English Translation: The dog sighed and whimpered, waiting for its owner.

• Вздыхая тихо, он хныкал о потерянных возможностях. (Sighing softly, he whimpered about lost opportunities.)

  English Translation: Sighing softly, he whimpered about lost opportunities.

Meaning 2: A low, whining sound (Noun form, less common)

Translation(s) & Context:

• хныканье - Informal noun form, used in everyday or familial contexts to describe the sound.

Usage Examples:

• Его хныканье разбудило всю семью. (His whimper woke up the whole family.)

  English Translation: His whimper woke up the whole family.

• Хныканье щенка было едва слышным в шуме улицы. (The whimper of the puppy was barely audible amid the street noise.)

  English Translation: The whimper of the puppy was barely audible amid the street noise.

• В тишине ночи послышалось лёгкое хныканье. (In the silence of the night, a faint whimper was heard.)

  English Translation: In the silence of the night, a faint whimper was heard.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For хныкать (a first conjugation verb), it follows regular patterns but has imperfective aspect. Here's a table of its key inflections:

For вздыхать, it is also a first conjugation verb with similar patterns. The noun form хныканье is neuter and does not inflect irregularly: Nominative - хныканье; Genitive - хныканья; etc.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • плакать (plakat') - More general crying, but can overlap in emotional contexts.
  • стонать (stonat') - Groaning or moaning, often with pain.
• Antonyms:
  • кричать (krichat') - To shout loudly, the opposite of a soft whimper.
  • молчать (molchat') - To be silent, contrasting with any sound emission.

Related Phrases:

• Хныкать как ребёнок - (To whimper like a child; used to describe immature complaining.)
• Вздыхать с тоской - (To sigh/whimper with longing; implies emotional depth in storytelling.)
• Хныканье в подушку - (Whimpering into a pillow; a phrase for suppressed crying, often in emotional distress.)

Usage Notes:

хныкать is the most direct translation for "whimper" in informal settings, especially for sounds made by children or animals, and corresponds closely to the English verb's emotional nuance. However, вздыхать might be preferred in literary or poetic contexts where sighing is involved. Be mindful of aspect: Use the imperfective form for ongoing actions. In formal writing, opt for more neutral verbs to avoid sounding colloquial.

• Contextual choice: If the whimper is complaint-like, pair it with adverbs like "тихо" (quietly).
• Grammar note: Always conjugate based on subject; it's a regular verb, making it easier for intermediates.

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse хныкать with плакать (to cry loudly), using it interchangeably. Error: "Он плакал тихо" instead of "Он хныкал". Correct: "Он хныкал" for a soft whimper, as плакать implies more intense crying. Explanation: Хныкать specifies a whining quality, so use it for subtle sounds to avoid overstating emotion.
• Another mistake is incorrect conjugation, e.g., saying "хныкаетс" instead of "хныкает". Correct form: Ensure the verb ends with the proper suffix based on person and number.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like хныкать often appear in folklore or children's stories to depict vulnerability or innocence, such as in tales where characters express quiet distress. This reflects a broader cultural emphasis on emotional expression through sounds, as seen in Russian literature by authors like Chekhov, where subtle whimpers symbolize deeper psychological states.

Related Concepts:

• плач (plach) - Crying
• стон (ston) - Groaning
• вздох (vdokh) - Sigh