Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'whitewash'

English Word: whitewash

Key Russian Translations:

• белить [ˈbʲɛlʲɪtʲ] - [Verb, Informal, Used in everyday contexts like painting]
• белилка [bʲɪˈlʲilka] - [Noun, Feminine, Plural possible as белилки]
• замалчивать [zəmɐlʲˈtɕɪtʲ] - [Verb, Formal, Used in metaphorical contexts like covering up facts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in construction and metaphorical language, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "делать")

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and noun declensions; for 'замалчивать', it may reach B2 due to its formal nuance)

Pronunciation (Russian):

белить: [ˈbʲɛlʲɪtʲ]

белилка: [bʲɪˈlʲilka]

замалчивать: [zəmɐlʲˈtɕɪtʲ]

Note on белить: The soft 'л' sound (as in 'l' in "million") can be tricky for English speakers; stress on the first syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To paint or cover with a white substance (literal meaning).

Translation(s) & Context:

• белить - Used in contexts of home maintenance or construction, often informally in spoken Russian.

Usage Examples:

• Они белят стены в садовом домике каждое лето.

  They whitewash the walls in the garden house every summer.

• Мы должны белить забор, чтобы он выглядел чище.

  We should whitewash the fence to make it look cleaner.

• Белить потолок – это трудная работа без специальных инструментов.

  Whitewashing the ceiling is a tough job without proper tools.

• В деревне люди белят дома традиционным способом.

  In the village, people whitewash houses using traditional methods.

2. To cover up or conceal the truth (metaphorical meaning).

Translation(s) & Context:

• замалчивать - Used in formal or journalistic contexts, such as politics or media, to imply deliberate suppression of information.

Usage Examples:

• Правительство пытается замалчивать скандал, но правда выходит наружу.

  The government is trying to whitewash the scandal, but the truth is coming out.

• В отчете они замалчивают ключевые детали, чтобы защитить репутацию.

  In the report, they whitewash key details to protect their reputation.

• Не стоит замалчивать ошибки; лучше исправить их сразу.

  Don't whitewash mistakes; it's better to fix them right away.

• Журналисты обвиняют компанию в том, что она замалчивает экологические проблемы.

  Journalists accuse the company of whitewashing environmental issues.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'белить' (a verb of the first conjugation), it follows regular patterns with variations by tense, aspect, and person. It is imperfective.

For 'белилка' (a feminine noun, first declension), it declines regularly:

• Nominative: белилка
• Genitive: белилки
• Dative: белилке
• Accusative: белилку
• Instrumental: белилкой
• Prepositional: белилке

'замалчивать' is also a first-conjugation verb with similar inflection patterns to 'белить'.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: побелить (similar to белить but perfective), покрывать (to cover)

Note: 'побелить' implies a completed action, making it a nuanced alternative for 'белить' in certain contexts.

• Antonyms: загрязнять (to dirty), разоблачать (to expose)

Related Phrases:

• Побелить дом - A common phrase meaning "to whitewash the house," often used in rural or maintenance contexts.
• Замалчивать правду - Means "to whitewash the truth," referring to suppressing facts in formal discussions.
• Белилка для стен - Translates to "whitewash for walls," a practical phrase in construction.

Usage Notes:

'Белить' directly corresponds to the literal English meaning of whitewash as a painting action, but it's more common in Russian for traditional or DIY contexts. For the metaphorical sense, 'замалчивать' is preferred in formal writing or speech to avoid direct translation errors. Be cautious with verb aspects: use 'побелить' for completed actions. In everyday conversation, 'белить' might sound informal, while 'замалчивать' is better for professional settings. When choosing between translations, consider the context—literal vs. figurative—to ensure accurate conveyance.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing 'белить' with 'белить' in perfective form, e.g., saying "Я белить дом" instead of "Я белю дом" for present tense. Correct: Use proper conjugation like "Я белю дом." Explanation: Russian verbs require agreement with subject and tense; this mistake often stems from English's simpler verb system.
• Error: Using 'белить' for metaphorical meanings, e.g., "Они белят скандал" instead of "Они замалчивают скандал." Correct: "Они замалчивают скандал." Explanation: 'Белить' is literal; 'замалчивать' fits cover-ups, as mixing them can lead to confusion or unintended humor.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'белить' is tied to traditional rural practices, symbolizing renewal and cleanliness, as seen in springtime house maintenance. Metaphorically, 'замалчивать' reflects historical contexts like Soviet-era censorship, where covering up truths was common, helping users understand the word's deeper implications in modern Russian society.

Related Concepts:

• краска
• покрытие
• скандал