Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'aids'

English Word: aids

Key Russian Translations:

• СПИД [spʲid] - [Formal, Abbreviation for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome]
• помощь [ˈpɒmɒʂː] - [General, Means 'help' or 'assistance']
• средства [ˈsrʲetstvə] - [Plural, Refers to 'means' or 'tools' as aids]

Frequency: Medium (varies by context; "СПИД" is common in medical contexts, "помощь" is very common in general usage)

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner-Intermediate; "помощь" is A2, "СПИД" and "средства" are B1 due to specific contexts)

Pronunciation (Russian):

СПИД: [spʲid]

Note on СПИД: This is a direct transliteration of the English acronym AIDS, pronounced with a Russian accent. Stress is on the single syllable.

помощь: [ˈpɒmɒʂː]

Note on помощь: Stress falls on the first syllable. The final consonant cluster can be tricky for non-native speakers.

средства: [ˈsrʲetstvə]

Note on средства: Stress on the first syllable. The 'р' and 'д' sounds are distinct and should not be blended.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. AIDS (Medical Condition - HIV/AIDS)

Translation(s) & Context:

• СПИД - Used in medical, formal, and informal contexts to refer to the disease AIDS.

Usage Examples:

• СПИД является серьёзной глобальной проблемой.

  AIDS is a serious global problem.

• Многие организации борются со СПИДом.

  Many organizations are fighting against AIDS.

• Он узнал о своём диагнозе СПИД.

  He learned about his AIDS diagnosis.

2. Aids (Help or Assistance)

Translation(s) & Context:

• помощь - Refers to help or support in general contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Мне нужна ваша помощь в этом деле.

  I need your help in this matter.

• Она всегда оказывает помощь нуждающимся.

  She always provides aid to those in need.

• Помощь пришла вовремя.

  Help arrived just in time.

3. Aids (Tools or Means)

Translation(s) & Context:

• средства - Refers to tools, resources, or means that assist in achieving something.

Usage Examples:

• Учебные средства помогают студентам лучше понимать материал.

  Teaching aids help students understand the material better.

• Это эффективные средства для обучения.

  These are effective aids for learning.

• У нас есть все необходимые средства для работы.

  We have all the necessary aids for work.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

СПИД: This is an indeclinable noun in Russian, borrowed directly from English. It does not change form regardless of case or number.

помощь: Feminine noun, declines according to the 3rd declension pattern.

Case	Singular
Nominative	помощь
Genitive	помощи
Dative	помощи
Accusative	помощь
Instrumental	помощью
Prepositional	помощи

средства: Neuter noun, plural form of "средство". Commonly used in plural to refer to 'means' or 'aids'.

Case	Plural
Nominative	средства
Genitive	средств
Dative	средствам
Accusative	средства
Instrumental	средствами
Prepositional	средствах

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for помощь (help):

• поддержка
• содействие
• услуга

Note: "поддержка" often implies emotional or moral support, while "содействие" is more formal and implies assistance in achieving a goal.

Antonyms for помощь (help):

• препятствие
• помеха

Related Phrases:

• оказать помощь - To render help or assistance.
• просить о помощи - To ask for help.
• учебные средства - Teaching aids or materials.
• технические средства - Technical aids or tools.

Usage Notes:

• "СПИД" is a direct borrowing from English and is used exclusively for the medical condition. It has no other meanings in Russian.
• "помощь" is a general term for help and is the most common translation for 'aids' in the context of assistance. It is often used with verbs like "оказать" (to provide) or "просить" (to ask for).
• "средства" is used in the context of tools or resources and is always plural when referring to 'aids' in this sense. Be cautious not to confuse it with financial 'means' (also "средства").

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "СПИД" to mean 'help'. Wrong: "Мне нужен СПИД" (I need AIDS). Correct: "Мне нужна помощь" (I need help). Explanation: "СПИД" only refers to the disease, not assistance.
• Error: Using "средства" in singular form for 'aids' as tools. Wrong: "Это средство для обучения". Correct: "Это средства для обучения". Explanation: "средства" is typically plural in this context.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian-speaking cultures, discussing "СПИД" (AIDS) can still carry a stigma, especially in less urban areas. It is often addressed in formal or medical contexts rather than casual conversation. When referring to 'help' ("помощь"), Russians value mutual aid and community support, and asking for or offering help is seen as a sign of trust.

Related Concepts:

• ВИЧ (HIV)
• болезнь (disease)
• поддержка (support)
• инструменты (tools)