Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'yank'

English Word: yank

Key Russian Translations:

• дергать [dʲɪrˈɡatʲ] - [Informal, commonly used for sudden pulling actions]
• рвать [rʲvatʲ] - [Informal, implies tearing or forceful yanking]

Frequency: Medium (The verb 'yank' is not extremely common in everyday Russian conversation but appears in descriptive narratives or instructions.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of verb conjugations and context, though 'дергать' is straightforward for learners at this level. For 'рвать', it may vary to B2 due to its potential for more nuanced usage.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

дергать: [dʲɪrˈɡatʲ]

Note on дергать: The soft 'г' sound (as in [ɡatʲ]) can be tricky for English speakers; it's a palatalized consonant, similar to the 'g' in 'gem' but shorter. Stress falls on the second syllable.

рвать: [rʲvatʲ]

Note on рвать: The initial 'р' is a rolled 'r', which is standard in Russian; avoid pronouncing it as a soft English 'r'. Stress is on the first syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: To pull suddenly and with force (e.g., yanking a door or rope)

Translation(s) & Context:

• дергать - Used in everyday, informal contexts for quick, jerky movements, such as pulling a handle or tugging on something.
• рвать - Applied in contexts involving more violent or tearing actions, like yanking fabric or in metaphorical senses.

Usage Examples:

• Он дёргает дверь, чтобы открыть её быстрее. (He yanks the door to open it faster.)

  Translation: He yanks the door to open it faster. (This example shows the verb in a simple present tense, illustrating an urgent action.)

• Дети дергают верёвку во время игры. (The children yank the rope during the game.)

  Translation: The children yank the rope during the game. (Demonstrates plural subject and imperfective aspect in a playful context.)

• Не рви шнурок так сильно, он порвётся! (Don't yank the string so hard, it will break!)

  Translation: Don't yank the string so hard, it will break! (Highlights imperative form and potential consequences in a warning scenario.)

• Она рвёт письмо в гневе, дёргая его из конверта. (She yanks the letter out of the envelope in anger, tearing it.)

  Translation: She yanks the letter out of the envelope in anger, tearing it. (Combines both translations in a single sentence for emotional context.)

• В mechanic дёргает рычаг, чтобы завести машину. (The mechanic yanks the lever to start the machine.)

  Translation: The mechanic yanks the lever to start the machine. (Shows usage in a professional or technical setting.)

Secondary Meaning: Slang for an American person (if 'yank' is used in this sense, though less common)

Translation(s) & Context:

• янки [ˈjankʲi] - Used in historical or informal contexts, often with a neutral or slightly humorous connotation.

Usage Examples:

• В фильме главный герой — типичный янки из США. (In the movie, the main character is a typical Yank from the USA.)

  Translation: In the movie, the main character is a typical Yank from the USA. (Illustrates nominal usage in descriptive contexts.)

• Он шутил, что все янки любят гамбургеры. (He joked that all Yanks love hamburgers.)

  Translation: He joked that all Yanks love hamburgers. (Shows plural form in a light-hearted, stereotypical context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'дергать' (an imperfective verb), it follows the standard first-conjugation pattern in Russian. It is irregular in some aspects due to its stem changes. Below is a table of its key inflections:

For 'рвать' (also imperfective), it has similar conjugation but with stem variations in some forms (e.g., present: рву, рвёшь). It is more irregular. 'Янки' is a noun that does not inflect for gender but changes for case and number (e.g., nominative: янки; genitive: янки; plural: янки).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • тянуть (to pull, more general and less forceful; used in formal contexts)
  • трясти (to shake or yank, implying vibration)
• Antonyms:
  • отпускать (to release or let go)
  • фиксировать (to fix or hold steady)

Related Phrases:

• Дергать за рукав (To yank someone's sleeve) - A phrase used to get attention discreetly in social situations.
• Рвать с места (To yank from the spot) - Means to start suddenly, like a vehicle accelerating quickly.
• Янки в России (Yanks in Russia) - Refers to Americans visiting or living in Russia, often in cultural discussions.

Usage Notes:

'Yank' as a verb corresponds most closely to 'дергать' in informal Russian speech, but 'рвать' is preferred for actions involving potential damage. Be cautious with context: 'дергать' is aspectually imperfective, meaning it describes ongoing or repeated actions, while its perfective counterpart 'дернуть' might be more accurate for a single yank. For slang meanings like referring to Americans, 'янки' is neutral but can carry historical connotations from WWII or Cold War eras. Choose translations based on the intensity of the action—'дергать' for light pulls and 'рвать' for forceful ones.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'дергать' interchangeably with 'тянуть' without considering force. Incorrect: Он тянет дверь сильно (This implies steady pulling, not a yank). Correct: Он дергает дверь (This conveys the sudden jerk). Explanation: English learners often overlook the aspectual differences in Russian verbs, leading to imprecise descriptions.
• Mistake: Mispronouncing 'дергать' by softening the 'г' too much or stressing the wrong syllable. Incorrect: Pronouncing it as [dʲerˈɡaht] (with English 'r'). Correct: [dʲɪrˈɡatʲ] with a rolled Russian 'r'. Explanation: This can make the word sound unnatural and confuse native speakers.

Cultural Notes:

The term 'янки' historically derives from American English slang and was popularized in Russian during the 19th-20th centuries through literature and media, often portraying Americans in a stereotypical light (e.g., in Soviet films). It carries a mix of curiosity and mild humor in modern Russian culture, especially in discussions of international relations, but is not derogatory like some other terms.

Related Concepts:

• тянуть
• трясти
• янки-дудл (Yankee Doodle, a cultural reference)