Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'wiggle'

English Word: wiggle

Key Russian Translations:

• вилять [vʲɪˈlʲatʲ] - [Informal, often used for wagging or shaking movements like a tail]
• извиваться [ɪzʲvʲɪˈvasʲt͡sə] - [Neutral, used for twisting or wriggling motions]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday descriptions of movement, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "идти")

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugation and context, as per CEFR standards)

Pronunciation (Russian):

вилять: [vʲɪˈlʲatʲ]

извиваться: [ɪzʲvʲɪˈvasʲt͡sə]

Note on вилять: The stress is on the second syllable; be careful with the soft 'л' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers. Pronunciation can vary slightly in fast speech.

Note on извиваться: This is a reflexive verb, so the '-ся' ending affects pronunciation; it softens the final consonant.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To move with quick, small, back-and-forth motions, often like a tail or body part.

Translation(s) & Context:

• вилять - Used in informal contexts, such as describing animal movements or playful actions.
• извиваться - Applied in neutral or descriptive contexts, like physical exertion or flexibility.

Usage Examples:

• Собака виляет хвостом, когда видит хозяина.

  The dog wiggles its tail when it sees its owner.

• Ребёнок извивается на кровати, пытаясь уснуть.

  The child is wiggling on the bed, trying to fall asleep.

• В ветреный день листья виляют на деревьях.

  On a windy day, the leaves wiggle on the trees.

• Танцор извивается под музыку, показывая свою гибкость.

  The dancer is wiggling to the music, showing their flexibility.

• Змея виляет телом, пробираясь через траву.

  The snake wiggles its body as it moves through the grass.

Meaning 2: To fidget or shift position restlessly.

Translation(s) & Context:

• извиваться - Common in contexts involving discomfort or impatience.

Usage Examples:

• Он извивается на стуле во время длинной лекции.

  He is wiggling in his chair during the long lecture.

• Дети извиваются в очереди, ожидая мороженого.

  The children are wiggling in line, waiting for ice cream.

• Пациент извивается на кушетке у врача.

  The patient is wiggling on the examination table at the doctor's.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are verbs, so they follow standard Russian verb conjugation patterns. "Вилять" is an imperfective verb, while "извиваться" is a reflexive imperfective verb. Russian verbs change based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Below is a table for key inflections:

Note: These verbs are regular in most aspects but require attention to the reflexive particle '-ся' in "извиваться," which remains unchanged across forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Качаться (to swing or sway; similar but implies broader motion)
  • Трястись (to shake; used for more vigorous wiggling)
• Antonyms:
  • Замереть (to freeze or stop moving)
  • Лежать неподвижно (to lie still)

Related Phrases:

• Вилять хвостом - Literally "to wiggle the tail"; used idiomatically to mean showing excitement or submission, like a dog. (Common in animal behavior descriptions.)
• Извиваться как змея - "To wiggle like a snake"; refers to flexible or evasive movements in contexts like dancing or escaping. (Often used metaphorically for agility.)
• Вилять задом - "To wiggle the rear"; informal phrase for playful or flirtatious movements. (Context: social or humorous situations.)

Usage Notes:

• "Вилять" is more specific to lateral or tail-like movements and is often informal, making it a good match for casual English "wiggle" in everyday contexts, but avoid it in formal writing.
• "Извиваться" is versatile and can correspond to "wiggle" in physical or emotional restlessness; it's reflexive, so always include the '-ся' ending, which English learners might forget.
• In Russian, choose between translations based on context: use "вилять" for animalistic or simple motions, and "извиваться" for human or complex actions. Pay attention to aspect (imperfective here) for ongoing actions.
• These verbs are aspectually imperfective, meaning they describe incomplete or repeated actions, aligning well with the dynamic nature of "wiggle" in English.

Common Errors:

• Error: Omitting the reflexive '-ся' in "извиваться," e.g., saying "извивать" instead. Correct: Always use "извиваться" as it's inherently reflexive. Explanation: This changes the meaning to "to twist something else," which isn't the intended sense of "wiggle."
• Error: Using "вилять" in formal contexts, like academic writing. Correct: Opt for "извиваться" or more neutral synonyms. Explanation: "Вилять" can sound too colloquial and might imply a specific type of motion not always accurate.
• Error: Confusing conjugation, e.g., saying "я виляет" instead of "я виляю." Correct: Follow standard first-conjugation patterns. Explanation: English speakers often struggle with Russian verb endings, so practice with tables to avoid subject-verb agreement errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like "вилять хвостом" are often used in literature or folklore to depict animal behaviors symbolizing loyalty or excitement, as seen in stories by writers like Tolstoy. This reflects a broader appreciation for nature and animalistic expressions in Russian narratives, helping users understand the vivid, descriptive style of Russian language.

Related Concepts:

• Качание (swaying)
• Дрожь (trembling)
• Гибкость (flexibility)