Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Adulterate'

English Word: adulterate

Key Russian Translations:

• фальсифицировать [falʲsʲɪfʲɪˈtsɨrəvətʲ] - [Formal, Often used in legal or official contexts]
• подмешивать [pədmʲɪˈʂɨvətʲ] - [Informal, Used for mixing in impurities or inferior substances]
• разбавлять [rəzbavˈlʲætʲ] - [Neutral, Commonly used for diluting liquids]

Frequency: Medium (These terms are moderately common in specific contexts like food safety or chemistry)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for "фальсифицировать"; B1 (Beginner-Intermediate) for "подмешивать" and "разбавлять"

Pronunciation (Russian):

фальсифицировать: [falʲsʲɪfʲɪˈtsɨrəvətʲ]

Note on фальсифицировать: Stress falls on the fifth syllable ("ци"). The "ф" is pronounced as a voiceless labiodental fricative.

подмешивать: [pədmʲɪˈʂɨvətʲ]

Note on подмешивать: Stress on the third syllable ("ши"). The "ш" sound is a retroflex fricative, distinct from English "sh".

разбавлять: [rəzbavˈlʲætʲ]

Note on разбавлять: Stress on the third syllable ("ляв"). The "лʲ" is a palatalized "l", softer than in English.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To make something impure by adding inferior or improper substances

Translation(s) & Context:

• фальсифицировать - Often used in formal contexts, e.g., falsifying food products or documents.
• подмешивать - Refers to physically mixing something inferior into a substance, often with a negative connotation.

Usage Examples:

• Они фальсифицировали вино, добавляя дешевые ингредиенты.

  They adulterated the wine by adding cheap ingredients.

• Некоторые компании подмешивают воду в молоко, чтобы увеличить объем.

  Some companies adulterate milk by mixing in water to increase volume.

• Этот продукт был фальсифицирован и изъят из продажи.

  This product was adulterated and withdrawn from sale.

2. To dilute a liquid by adding water or another substance

Translation(s) & Context:

• разбавлять - Commonly used for diluting liquids like drinks or solutions, often neutral in tone.

Usage Examples:

• Он разбавлял сок водой, чтобы уменьшить сладость.

  He adulterated the juice with water to reduce the sweetness.

• Не разбавляй краску слишком сильно, иначе она потеряет цвет.

  Don’t adulterate the paint too much, or it will lose its color.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

фальсифицировать (Verb, Imperfective): Follows regular first conjugation patterns. Below is the present tense conjugation:

Person	Singular	Plural
1st	фальсифицирую	фальсифицируем
2nd	фальсифицируешь	фальсифицируете
3rd	фальсифицирует	фальсифицируют

подмешивать (Verb, Imperfective): Also follows regular first conjugation. Similar structure as above.

разбавлять (Verb, Imperfective): Regular first conjugation verb with similar patterns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for фальсифицировать:

• подделывать (to forge or counterfeit, often used for documents or products)
• искажать (to distort, often used for information)

Synonyms for разбавлять:

• разводить (to dilute or dissolve, often interchangeable)

Antonyms:

• очищать (to purify or clean)
• концентрировать (to concentrate)

Related Phrases:

• фальсифицировать продукты - To adulterate food products (often in the context of fraud).
• подмешивать примеси - To mix in impurities (used for physical adulteration).
• разбавлять водой - To dilute with water (common in everyday contexts like cooking).

Usage Notes:

• "фальсифицировать" is the most formal of the three and often implies intentional deceit or fraud, especially in legal or commercial contexts.
• "подмешивать" has a more physical connotation, implying the act of mixing something inferior into a substance, often with a negative tone.
• "разбавлять" is neutral and commonly used for diluting liquids, without necessarily implying deceit.
• Choose the translation based on context: use "фальсифицировать" for fraudulent acts, "подмешивать" for physical mixing with negative intent, and "разбавлять" for neutral dilution.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "разбавлять" in contexts of fraud or deceit.
  Incorrect: Они разбавляли продукты на рынке (They diluted products at the market, implying fraud).
  Correct: Они фальсифицировали продукты на рынке (They adulterated products at the market, implying fraud).
  Explanation: "разбавлять" does not carry the negative connotation of deceit; it is neutral and should be used for simple dilution.
• Error: Misusing "фальсифицировать" for casual dilution.
  Incorrect: Я фальсифицировал сок водой (I adulterated juice with water, sounding overly formal).
  Correct: Я разбавил сок водой (I diluted juice with water).
  Explanation: "фальсифицировать" implies fraud and is inappropriate for neutral or harmless actions.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of adulteration, especially in food products, carries significant weight due to historical issues with food safety and trust in markets. Terms like "фальсифицировать" are often used in media and legal discussions about consumer protection.

Related Concepts:

• подделка (counterfeit)
• обман (deception)
• качество (quality)