Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'writhe'

English Word: writhe

Key Russian Translations:

• извиваться (/ɪzˈvʲi.və.t͡sə/) - [Informal, Verb, Used for twisting or writhing movements, e.g., in pain or excitement]
• корчиться (/ˈkor.t͡ɕɪ.t͡sə/) - [Informal, Verb, Used specifically for writhing in pain or agony]

Frequency: Medium (Common in descriptive literature and everyday speech when discussing physical movements, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "идти" (to go))

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; involves understanding verb conjugations and contexts. For 'извиваться', it's B1; for 'корчиться', it's also B1 due to similar inflection patterns)

Pronunciation (Russian):

извиваться: /ɪzˈvʲi.və.t͡sə/ (Stress on the second syllable; the 'в' sound is softened before vowels, which is a common feature in Russian pronunciation)

Note on извиваться: Be cautious with the palatalized 'вʲ' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers; it sounds like a soft 'v' as in "view". Variations may occur in fast speech.

корчиться: /ˈkor.t͡ɕɪ.t͡sə/ (Stress on the first syllable; the 'ч' is a voiceless palatal fricative, similar to 'ch' in 'church')

Note on корчиться: The initial 'к' is pronounced sharply; this verb often implies more intense, involuntary movements.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: To twist the body in a snakelike or convulsive manner, often due to pain, discomfort, or excitement

Translation(s) & Context:

• извиваться - Used in contexts involving voluntary or involuntary twisting, such as in dance or agony (e.g., in informal storytelling or descriptions)
• корчиться - Applied in more painful or extreme situations, like physical injury (e.g., in medical or emotional narratives)

Usage Examples:

• Он извивается от боли на земле. (He writhes in pain on the ground.)

  English Translation: He writhes in pain on the ground. (This example shows the verb in a simple present tense, describing an immediate physical reaction.)

• Змея извивается по траве. (The snake writhes through the grass.)

  English Translation: The snake writhes through the grass. (Here, it demonstrates the verb in a neutral context, highlighting movement in nature.)

• Она корчится от смеха, не в силах остановиться. (She writhes with laughter, unable to stop.)

  English Translation: She writhes with laughter, unable to stop. (This illustrates 'корчиться' in an emotional, non-painful context, showing its versatility.)

• Ребёнок извивается в объятиях матери. (The child writhes in his mother's arms.)

  English Translation: The child writhes in his mother's arms. (Example of use in familial or everyday scenarios, with imperfective aspect.)

• Под пыткой он корчится, но не сдаётся. (Under torture, he writhes but does not give in.)

  English Translation: Under torture, he writhes but does not give in. (This highlights 'корчиться' in a dramatic, historical context.)

Secondary Meaning: To move in a twisting or convoluted way, metaphorically (e.g., in abstract or figurative speech)

Translation(s) & Context:

• извиваться - In metaphorical uses, such as describing winding paths or complex ideas (e.g., in literature or casual conversation)

Usage Examples:

• Река извивается через лес. (The river writhes through the forest.)

  English Translation: The river writhes through the forest. (Figurative use to describe natural formations.)

• Его аргументы извиваются, чтобы избежать правды. (His arguments writhe to avoid the truth.)

  English Translation: His arguments writhe to avoid the truth. (Metaphorical application in debate or rhetoric.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'извиваться' and 'корчиться' are imperfective verbs in Russian, which means they describe ongoing or repeated actions. Russian verbs undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. These verbs are irregular in some forms due to Russian's complex verbal system.

Note: These verbs do not change in gender or number in the past tense like adjectives do, but they follow standard first conjugation patterns with some irregularities in stem changes.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • вилять (vilat') - (Twisting or wagging, often for tails or evasive movements; less intense than извиваться)
  • свертываться (svertyvatsya) - (To coil or curl up, similar in physical contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • застывать (zastyvat') - (To freeze or become rigid)
  • покой (pokoy) - (Peace or stillness, as a noun antonym)

Related Phrases:

• Извиваться от боли - (To writhe in pain; used in medical or emotional contexts to describe suffering)
• Корчиться в агонии - (To writhe in agony; a dramatic phrase often in literature for extreme distress)
• Извиваться змеёй - (To writhe like a snake; metaphorical for sneaky or winding movements)

Usage Notes:

'Writhe' corresponds most closely to 'извиваться' in neutral contexts and 'корчиться' when emphasizing pain. In Russian, these verbs are typically used in imperfective aspect for ongoing actions, so choose based on the situation—e.g., use 'извиваться' for everyday descriptions and 'корчиться' for more intense scenarios. Be mindful of formal vs. informal settings; these are neutral but can sound vivid in speech. When translating, consider the aspect: Russian often requires perfective counterparts like 'извиться' for completed actions.

• Grammar tip: Always conjugate based on subject; English speakers may forget the reflexive endings (e.g., -ся).
• Choice guidance: Opt for 'корчиться' if the writhing implies suffering, as it's more specific than 'извиваться'.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse the reflexive particle '-ся' in verbs like 'извиваться', treating it as optional. For example, saying "он извивает" (incorrect) instead of "он извивается" (correct), which omits the reflexive nature and changes the meaning. Another error is confusing it with 'крутиться' (to spin), leading to phrases like "он крутится от боли" (He spins in pain), which doesn't convey writhing. Correct usage: Always include '-ся' for these verbs and pair with appropriate adverbs like 'от боли' for context.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian literature, such as in works by Tolstoy or Dostoevsky, verbs like 'корчиться' are often used to depict intense emotional or physical suffering, reflecting Russia's historical emphasis on human endurance and realism in storytelling. This can add a dramatic flair in cultural contexts, like describing characters in folk tales who 'writhe' under hardship, symbolizing resilience.

Related Concepts:

• свёртываться (svertyvatsya) - (To coil or fold)
• изгибаться (izgibatsya) - (To bend or curve)
• трястись (tryastis') - (To shake or tremble)