Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'whizz'

English Word: whizz

Key Russian Translations:

• визг [vɪzg] - [Informal, used for sounds]
• промчаться [prəmˈtʃatʂə] - [Verb, Formal, used for quick movement or action]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in descriptive contexts like literature or everyday speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires basic understanding of Russian nouns and verbs, but "визг" is simpler while "промчаться" involves verb conjugation)

Pronunciation (Russian):

визг: [vɪzg]

Note on визг: The 'з' sound is a voiced fricative, similar to 'z' in English "zoo", and the word is stressed on the first syllable. Be mindful of the soft 'г' at the end.

промчаться: [prəmˈtʃatʂə]

Note on промчаться: The 'ч' is a voiceless palatal fricative, like 'ch' in "church", and the word has a rolling 'р'. Stress falls on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A buzzing or whizzing sound (e.g., the noise of something moving rapidly).

Translation(s) & Context:

• визг - Used in informal or descriptive contexts for sharp, high-pitched sounds, such as a bullet or wind.

Usage Examples:

• Визг пули пронёсся над головой, заставив всех пригнуться.

  The whizz of the bullet flew over our heads, making everyone duck.

• Слышался визг ветра в старом доме ночью.

  You could hear the whizz of the wind in the old house at night.

• Визг колёс на повороте напугал пешеходов.

  The whizz of the wheels on the turn scared the pedestrians.

• Его визг от радости эхом разнёсся по парку.

  His whizz of joy echoed through the park (e.g., a joyful exclamation with a whizzing quality).

2. To move quickly or with a whizzing motion (e.g., as a verb for rapid action).

Translation(s) & Context:

• промчаться - Used in formal or narrative contexts for vehicles, people, or objects moving swiftly, often implying excitement or urgency.

Usage Examples:

• Машина промчалась по шоссе, оставляя позади облако пыли.

  The car whizzed down the highway, leaving a cloud of dust behind.

• Дети промчались через сад, смеясь и крича.

  The children whizzed through the garden, laughing and shouting.

• Поезд промчался мимо станции, не останавливаясь.

  The train whizzed past the station without stopping.

• Мяч промчался по полю и влетел в ворота.

  The ball whizzed across the field and into the goal.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "визг" (a masculine noun), it follows standard Russian noun declension patterns. It is a third-declension noun and changes based on case and number.

For "промчаться" (a verb, perfective aspect of "промчаться"), it is an imperfective verb that conjugates based on tense, person, and number. It is irregular in some forms due to its prefix.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: жужжание (buzzing, more for continuous sounds), свист (whistle, for sharper sounds)
• Antonyms: тишина (silence, implies the absence of sound)

Related Phrases:

• визг шин - Squeal of tires; A common phrase for the sound of braking vehicles in urban settings.
• промчаться вихрем - To whizz like a whirlwind; Used metaphorically for extremely fast, chaotic movement.
• визг в ушах - Whizz in the ears; Refers to a ringing or buzzing sensation, often from excitement or danger.

Usage Notes:

"Визг" is primarily a noun for auditory sensations and is best used in descriptive or informal contexts, while "промчаться" is a verb suited for action narratives. Choose "визг" when emphasizing sound effects in English sentences involving "whizz" as a noun. For verbal uses, "промчаться" aligns with fast motion but may require aspect adjustments in Russian (e.g., pair with imperfective forms for ongoing actions). Be aware of gender agreement for "визг" as a masculine noun and proper verb conjugation for "промчаться" based on subject.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "визг" for slow or non-auditory movements, e.g., saying "визг машины по полю" for a car moving slowly. Correct: Use "промчаться" for motion, as in "машина промчалась по полю". Explanation: "Визг" specifically denotes sound, not speed alone.
• Mistake: Incorrect conjugation of "промчаться", e.g., saying "я промчался" for a female speaker. Correct: "я промчалась" for feminine subjects. Explanation: Russian verbs agree in gender, number, and person, which English learners often overlook.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and literature, words like "визг" often appear in depictions of wartime or adventurous scenes, such as in Tolstoy's works, symbolizing chaos or urgency. "Промчаться" evokes a sense of dynamism in folklore, representing heroic feats or the thrill of speed in modern contexts like racing or urban life.

Related Concepts:

• свист
• грохот
• лететь