дрейф
drejf[drʲejf]
The English word 'drift' is translated into Russian as дрейф (drejf).
The noun дрейф refers to the tendency of an act, argument, course of conduct or the like. Object aimed at or intended. Intention. To express the continuous action of drifting, such as a ship or a person, the standard verb is дрейфовать.
Meaning: the tendency of an act, argument, course of conduct, or the like, object aimed at or intended, intention (noun)
Which one should you use?
While дрейф is the standard noun, there are related verbs that describe different types of movement: отклоня́ться, отклони́ться or сходи́ть describe gently deviating from the intended direction of travel and сноси́ться or носи́ться describe moving haphazardly without any destination.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular noun дрейф changes to the genitive singular form дрейфа when used after the word феномен (phenomenon) to indicate the phenomenon of drift. The plural form of the noun is дрейфы.
How do you pronounce it?
drejf
Did you know?
- In modern Russian youth culture, дрифт (drift) has largely replaced дрейф when referring to the high-speed driving technique where a car skids through a turn.
- The word дрейф entered the Russian language as a borrowing from the Dutch word drijven, meaning 'to drive' or 'to float'.
- In a technical context, Russians distinguish between дрейф and снос, using the latter specifically for lateral movement caused by wind rather than water currents.
Examples in context
- Весной дрейф льдов значительно ускорился.In the spring, the ice drift accelerated significantly.This sentence describes the acceleration of ice drift.Tatoeba #4081290 by odexed, translation #10761078 by AlanF_US
- Теория тектоники плит – это геологическая теория, объясняющая феномен дрейфа континентов.The theory of plate tectonics is a geological theory that explains the phenomenon of continental drift.This sentence uses the genitive form дрейфа to explain the phenomenon of continental drift.Tatoeba #3010495 by odexed, translation #10761074 by AlanF_US
- Многие люди дрейфуют по жизни без цели.Many people drift through life without a purpose.This sentence uses the verb form to describe people drifting through life.Tatoeba #2197872 by Lenin_1917, translation #1608 by papabear
- Физики исследуют явление дрейфа в частицах.Physicists study the phenomenon of drift in particles.
Example conversation
Alexander and Olga are discussing a confusing business proposal.
- Александр AleksandrЯ не совсем понимаю общий дрейф этого проекта.Ya ne sovsem ponimayu obshchiy dreyf etogo proyekta.I don't quite understand the general drift of this project.
- Ольга OlgaОн направлен на сокращение расходов, Александр.On napravlen na sokrashcheniye raskhodov, Aleksandr.It is aimed at cutting costs, Alexander.
- Александр AleksandrЗначит, дрейф документа это экономия?Znachit, dreyf dokumenta eto ekonomiya?So, the drift of the document is economy?
- Ольга OlgaДа, Ольга подтвердит, что это главная цель.Da, Olga podtverdit, chto eto glavnaya tsel.Yes, Olga will confirm that this is the main goal.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry дрейф, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries дрейф, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
