Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'wipe'

English Word: wipe

Key Russian Translations:

• вытереть [vɨˈtʲerʲɪtʲ] - [Informal, Perfective Verb]
• протереть [prətʲɪˈrʲetʲ] - [Formal, Perfective Verb]
• удалить [ʊˈdalʲɪtʲ] - [Informal, Used in digital contexts like wiping data]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday conversations and technical contexts, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "to clean").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb aspects and context, but basic forms are accessible to intermediate learners. For 'удалить', it may be easier at A2 due to its tech-related usage).

Pronunciation (Russian):

вытереть: [vɨˈtʲerʲɪtʲ]

протереть: [prətʲɪˈrʲetʲ]

удалить: [ʊˈdalʲɪtʲ]

Note on вытереть: The 'т' sound can be softened in fast speech, making it [vɨˈtʲerʲɪtʲ] with a palatalized 't'. Pay attention to stress on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To clean or dry a surface by rubbing (e.g., wiping a table).

Translation(s) & Context:

• вытереть - Used in informal, everyday situations for quick wiping actions.
• протереть - Preferred in formal or thorough cleaning contexts, implying more effort.

Usage Examples:

• Я вытер стол бумажной салфеткой. (Ya vыter stol bумažnoj salfetkoj.)

  I wiped the table with a paper napkin. (This shows 'wipe' in a simple domestic context.)

• Она протерла окно, чтобы оно блестело. (Ona prоterla okno, chtoby ono blistelo.)

  She wiped the window to make it shine. (Illustrates a more deliberate, formal action.)

• Дети вытерли руки после еды. (Deti vыterli rуki posle edy.)

  The children wiped their hands after eating. (Demonstrates plural subject and routine usage.)

• Мы протрем мебель перед гостями. (My prоterem mebel' pered gostyami.)

  We will wipe the furniture before the guests arrive. (Shows future tense and preparatory context.)

Meaning 2: To remove or erase data (e.g., wiping a hard drive).

Translation(s) & Context:

• удалить - Common in digital or technical contexts, often implying permanent deletion.

Usage Examples:

• Я удалил все файлы с жесткого диска. (Ya udalil vse fayly s zhestkogo diska.)

  I wiped all the files from the hard drive. (This example focuses on data erasure in tech scenarios.)

• Перед продажей нужно удалить личные данные. (Pered prodazhey nuzhno udalit' lichnyye dannyye.)

  Before selling, you need to wipe personal data. (Highlights security and preemptive actions.)

• Система удалила временные файлы автоматически. (Sistema udalila vremennyye fayly avtomaticheski.)

  The system wiped temporary files automatically. (Shows passive voice and automated processes.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily verbs, which in Russian undergo aspectual and conjugational changes. 'Вытереть' and 'протереть' are perfective verbs, while 'удалить' can be used in both perfective and imperfective forms (e.g., imperfective 'удалять'). Russian verbs change based on tense, person, number, and aspect.

'Удалить' is regular in conjugation, while 'вытереть' and 'протереть' follow standard perfective patterns without irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • вытереть - очистить (ochistit') [more general, means to clean]
  • протереть - шлифовать (shlifovat') [implies polishing]
  • удалить - стереть (steret') [for data, means to erase]
• Antonyms:
  • напачкать (napachkat') [to dirty or stain]
  • загрязнить (zagryaznit') [to contaminate, especially in digital contexts]

Related Phrases:

• Вытереть пыль (vыteret' pyl') - To dust off; a common phrase for cleaning surfaces.
• Протереть стекла (prоteret' stekla) - To wipe the windows; used in household chores.
• Удалить данные (udalit' dannyye) - To wipe data; essential in IT security contexts.
• Вытереть слезы (vыteret' slezy) - To wipe away tears; idiomatic for comforting someone.

Usage Notes:

• Russian translations for 'wipe' depend on context: use 'вытереть' for physical actions and 'удалить' for digital ones. 'Протереть' is more formal and implies thoroughness, similar to 'to polish' in English.
• Aspect is key: perfective forms (like вытереть) indicate completed actions, while imperfective (e.g., вытирать) show ongoing processes—choose based on sentence intent.
• In formal writing or speech, opt for 'протереть' over 'вытереть' to sound more polished.
• When 'wipe' is metaphorical (e.g., wiping away tears), 'вытереть' works well, but ensure cultural appropriateness.

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse aspect: Using 'вытирать' (imperfective) when 'вытереть' (perfective) is needed, e.g., Incorrect: "Я вытирал стол вчера" (implying ongoing action), Correct: "Я вытер стол вчера" (completed action). Explanation: Russian requires precise aspect to convey action completion.
• Mixing translations: Saying 'удалить' for physical wiping, e.g., Incorrect: "Я удалил стол" (sounds like deleting a table), Correct: "Я вытер стол". Explanation: 'Удалить' is tech-specific; misuse can lead to confusion in context.
• Overlooking gender/number: In past tense, verbs agree with subject gender, e.g., Incorrect: "Она вытер" (wrong for feminine), Correct: "Она вытерла". Explanation: Always match verb endings to the subject's grammatical features.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like 'вытереть слезы' (to wipe away tears) often appear in literature and films to symbolize emotional release or comfort, reflecting a value on expressing vulnerability. In everyday life, wiping surfaces is tied to the cultural emphasis on cleanliness in homes, especially during holidays like New Year's, where thorough cleaning (e.g., протереть) is a tradition for good luck.

Related Concepts:

• очистить (ochistit')
• стирать (stirat')
• грязь (gряз')
• данные (dannyye)