подражать
podrazhat'
The Russian verb for to mimic is подражать (podrazhat').
In English, to mimic often carries a connotation of ridicule. In Russian, the word подражать is frequently used in a positive sense to mean emulating or following the example of someone.
Meaning: to imitate, especially in order to ridicule (verb)
Which one should you use?
While подражать is often used to express admiration and emulation, the verb ИМИТИРОВАТЬ is a more general and neutral way to say 'to mimic' in Russian.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb подражать requires the dative case for the object being imitated. For example, to say 'to imitate him', you would say подражать ему using the dative form rather than the accusative его.
How do you pronounce it?
podrazhat'
Did you know?
- The word подражать shares its root with доро́га, which means 'road' or 'way'.
- While подражать can be positive, Russians use the word пародировать when they specifically want to mimic someone for comic effect or ridicule.
- The neutral version, имитировать, is often used in technical or scientific contexts, such as 'imitating a sound' or 'mimicking a biological function'.
Examples in context
- Он умело имитировал голоса разных актеров.He skillfully imitated voices of various actors.
- Не надо подражать мне, это глупо.Ne nado podrazhat' mne, eto glupo.Don't mimic me, it's stupid.
Example conversation
Ekaterina and Dmitry are arguing about a joke.
- Дмитрий DmitryПосмотри, как говорит Екатерина!Posmotri, kak govorit Ekaterina!Look at how Ekaterina speaks!
- Екатерина EkaterinaДмитрий, не смей мне подражать!Dmitriy, ne smey mne podrazhat'!Dmitry, don't you dare mimic me!
- Дмитрий DmitryЯ просто шучу, не сердись.Ya prosto shuchu, ne serdis'.I'm just joking, don't be angry.
- Екатерина EkaterinaЭто совсем не смешно.Eto sovsem ne smeshno.It's not funny at all.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries подражать, CC BY-SA 4.0.
