Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'wilt'

English Word: wilt

Key Russian Translations:

• увядать (/uˈvʲædətʲ/) - [Verb, Informal, Used in everyday descriptions of plants or objects losing vitality]
• вянуть (/ˈvʲænʊtʲ/) - [Verb, Formal, Often used in literary or poetic contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in botanical, agricultural, and descriptive language, but not in casual everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and basic vocabulary related to nature, with slight variations between translations)

Pronunciation (Russian):

увядать: /uˈvʲædətʲ/

вянуть: /ˈvʲænʊtʲ/

Note on увядать: The stress is on the second syllable, and the 'в' sound is softened (palatalized) before the vowel, which is a common feature in Russian verbs. Pay attention to the infinitive ending for correct pronunciation in context.

Note on вянуть: This word has a softer initial consonant, making it sound more fluid; it's often used in formal speech, so practice the emphasis on the first syllable.

Audio: []

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To become limp or droop, especially due to lack of water (commonly applied to plants)

Translation(s) & Context:

• увядать - Used in informal, descriptive contexts, such as gardening or everyday observations.
• вянуть - Applied in more formal or literary settings, emphasizing a gradual process of deterioration.

Usage Examples:

• Цветок увядает без воды в жару.

  The flower is wilting without water in the heat.

• Листья деревьев вянут во время засухи.

  The leaves of the trees are wilting during the drought.

• Если не поливать, овощи в саду быстро увядают.

  If you don't water them, the vegetables in the garden wilt quickly.

• В сухом климате цветы вянут даже под тенью.

  In a dry climate, flowers wilt even in the shade.

• Растения в горшке увядают, если забыть о поливе.

  Plants in a pot wilt if you forget to water them.

Meaning 2: To lose strength or vitality metaphorically (e.g., in people or ideas)

Translation(s) & Context:

• увядать - Informal, often in metaphorical expressions related to fatigue or decline.
• вянуть - Formal, used in literary or emotional contexts to describe fading energy.

Usage Examples:

• Его энтузиазм увядает под давлением работы.

  His enthusiasm is wilting under the pressure of work.

• Идея вянут, когда нет поддержки.

  Ideas wilt when there's no support.

• Человек увядает от одиночества в старости.

  A person wilts from loneliness in old age.

• В обществе без вдохновения таланты вянут.

  Talents wilt in a society without inspiration.

• Энергия команды увядает к концу матча.

  The team's energy is wilting by the end of the match.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are verbs, which follow Russian conjugation patterns. Russian verbs inflect based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Here, увядать and вянуть are imperfective verbs, meaning they describe ongoing actions.

For увядать (infinitive):

For вянуть (similar pattern, but with slight phonetic variations):

These verbs do not have irregular forms but follow standard first-conjugation patterns in Russian.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • ослабевать (to weaken; more general and less specific to wilting)
  • увядать (as above, but can be synonymous in certain contexts with вянуть)
• Antonyms:
  • расти (to grow; implies vitality and expansion)
  • цвететь (to bloom; suggests flourishing and health)

Related Phrases:

• увядать от жажды - [Wilt from thirst; used for plants or metaphorically for people in dry conditions]
• вянуть на глазах - [Wilt before one's eyes; implies rapid deterioration in emotional or physical states]
• цветы увядают в вазе - [Flowers wilt in a vase; a common phrase for describing decay in arrangements]

Usage Notes:

The English word "wilt" corresponds closely to Russian verbs like увядать and вянуть, but choose увядать for informal, everyday contexts and вянуть for formal or literary ones. Be mindful of aspect in Russian: these are imperfective verbs, so they describe ongoing processes. In sentences, they often pair with prepositions like "от" (from) to indicate causes, e.g., "от жары" (from heat). When translating, ensure the context matches—wilt is literal for plants but metaphorical for people, which aligns with Russian usage.

Common Errors:

• Confusing conjugation: Learners often misuse past tense forms, e.g., saying "увядает" instead of "увял" for a completed action. Correct: Use "увял" for "wilted" in the past. Error example: "Цветок увядает вчера" (incorrect); Correct: "Цветок увял вчера" (The flower wilted yesterday).
• Mixing synonyms: Using вянуть in informal speech, which sounds overly formal. Error example: "Моя энергия вянут" (awkward); Correct: "Моя энергия увядает" for casual talk.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like увядать and вянуть often appear in literature and poetry (e.g., in works by Pushkin) to symbolize the fleeting nature of life or beauty, reflecting themes of transience and the harsh Russian climate. This can evoke a sense of melancholy, as seen in folk tales where wilting flowers represent lost youth or unfulfilled dreams.

Related Concepts:

• засуха (drought)
• цветение (blooming)
• ослабление (weakening)