Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'wriggle'

English Word: wriggle

Key Russian Translations:

• извиваться [IPA: ɪzʲvʲɪˈvaʦə] - [Informal, often used for physical twisting movements]
• вертеться [IPA: vʲɪrˈtʲeʦə] - [Informal, implies more rapid or fidgety twisting]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday descriptions of movement, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "идти" – to go)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; requires understanding of verb conjugations. For 'извиваться', it's B1; for 'вертеться', it's A2 due to simpler forms.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

извиваться: [IPA: ɪzʲvʲɪˈvaʦə] (Stress on the third syllable; the 'з' is soft, making it sound like 'z' in 'zoo')

вертеться: [IPA: vʲɪrˈtʲeʦə] (Stress on the second syllable; note the palatalized 'т' for a softer sound)

Note on извиваться: This verb has vowel reductions in fast speech, so the 'и' in the first syllable may sound more like a schwa [ə].

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To move by twisting and turning the body (e.g., like a snake or in a confined space)

Translation(s) & Context:

• извиваться - Used in informal contexts for describing wriggling movements of animals or people, such as escaping or navigating obstacles.
• вертеться - Applied in everyday situations involving restless or fidgety twisting, like a child wriggling in discomfort.

Usage Examples:

• Змея извивается по земле, пытаясь скрыться от опасности.

  The snake wriggles on the ground, trying to hide from danger.

• Ребёнок вертится в постели, не в силах уснуть.

  The child wriggles in bed, unable to fall asleep.

• В узком тоннеле он извивается, чтобы пройти дальше.

  In the narrow tunnel, he wriggles to move further.

• Кот вертится на ковре, играя с клубком ниток.

  The cat wriggles on the carpet, playing with a ball of yarn.

• Под водой рыба извивается, ускользая от сети.

  Underwater, the fish wriggles, escaping from the net.

To twist or maneuver cleverly (figurative sense, e.g., in negotiations)

Translation(s) & Context:

• извиваться - Less common in figurative contexts, but can imply evasive maneuvering in conversations.

Usage Examples:

• В споре он извивается, чтобы избежать прямого ответа.

  In the argument, he wriggles to avoid giving a direct answer.

• Политик вертится, обходя щекотливые вопросы.

  The politician wriggles, sidestepping tricky questions.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'извиваться' and 'вертеться' are imperfective verbs, which undergo regular conjugations based on Russian verb patterns. 'Извиваться' is from the first conjugation group, while 'вертеться' follows similar rules. They are reflexive verbs (ending in '-ся'), so they include the reflexive particle in all forms.

Note: These verbs do not change in the infinitive form and are invariable in terms of gender or number in the infinitive. Past tense for 'извиваться' includes: извивался (masc.), извивалась (fem.), etc.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • ползти (polzt') - More crawling-focused, but similar for slow wriggling.
  • вилять (vilat') - Implies wagging or twisting, often for tails or evasive actions.
• Antonyms:
  • лежать (lezhat') - To lie still, implying no movement.
  • замереть (zameret') - To freeze or stop moving abruptly.

Related Phrases:

• Извиваться как змея - "To wriggle like a snake" (Used to describe sneaky or evasive movements in everyday or literary contexts.)
• Вертеться на одном месте - "To wriggle in one place" (Refers to fidgeting or turning without progress, often in frustration.)
• Извиваться из-под руки - "To wriggle out from under someone's hand" (Implies escaping control or restraint.)

Usage Notes:

'Wriggle' corresponds most closely to 'извиваться' for physical, twisting motions, but 'вертеться' is better for quicker, restless movements. In formal Russian, prefer 'извиваться' in descriptive writing or narratives. Be mindful of context: these verbs are often used in imperfective aspects to describe ongoing actions. When choosing between translations, select based on the intensity of movement—'извиваться' for deliberate wriggling, 'вертеться' for involuntary fidgeting.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'извиваться' interchangeably with 'ползти' (to crawl), leading to phrases like "Я извиваюсь по полу" when 'ползти' might be more accurate for crawling on hands and knees. Correct: "Я ползу по полу" (I crawl on the floor). Explanation: 'Извиваться' implies twisting, not straightforward crawling, which can make the sentence sound unnatural.
• Mistake: Omitting the reflexive '-ся' ending, e.g., saying "извивать" instead of "извиваться." Correct: Always include '-ся' for reflexive actions. Explanation: Without it, the verb loses its meaning of self-motion, altering the sentence entirely.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian literature, such as in works by Tolstoy or Chekhov, verbs like 'извиваться' are often used to depict characters' physical or emotional struggles, symbolizing evasion or survival in harsh environments. This reflects Russia's cultural emphasis on resilience and adaptability in folklore and proverbs.

Related Concepts:

• ползти (to crawl)
• вилять (to wag or twist)
• двигаться (to move)