Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'ail'

English Word: ail

Key Russian Translations:

• болеть [bɐˈlʲetʲ] - [Informal, Verb; Used in everyday health contexts]
• мучивать [muˈʧʲitʲ] - [Formal; Used for chronic or tormenting ailments]

Frequency: Medium (Common in health-related conversations but not as frequent as basic verbs like 'to be').

Difficulty: A2 (Elementary; Basic conjugation is straightforward for beginners, but contextual usage may require intermediate understanding).

Pronunciation (Russian):

болеть: [bɐˈlʲetʲ]

мучивать: [muˈʧʲitʲ]

Note on болеть: The stress is on the second syllable; be careful with the soft 'л' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. Variations in informal speech may soften the 'т'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To be ill or suffer from poor health (intransitive verb)

Translation(s) & Context:

• болеть - Used in informal daily conversations about personal health or minor illnesses.
• мучивать - Applied in formal or literary contexts for ongoing, severe ailments.

Usage Examples:

• Я часто болею простудой зимой.

  I often ail from a cold in the winter.

• Его старая рана мучила его всю ночь.

  His old wound ailed him all night.

• Дети болеют, но быстро выздоравливают.

  Children ail but recover quickly.

• Эта болезнь мучила её годами, не давая жить полной жизнью.

  This illness has been ailing her for years, preventing her from living fully.

• Он болеет, но продолжает работать.

  He is ailing but continues to work.

Meaning 2: To cause pain or distress (transitive verb, less common)

Translation(s) & Context:

• болеть - Rarely used transitively; more for self-experience in poetic or metaphorical contexts.
• мучивать - Common for describing something that causes ongoing distress.

Usage Examples:

• Эта новость мучила меня целый день.

  This news ailed me all day.

• Боль в ноге болит его во время бега.

  The pain in his leg ails him during running.

• Старые воспоминания мучили её в тишине ночи.

  Old memories ailed her in the quiet of the night.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are verbs and follow standard Russian conjugation patterns. 'Болеть' is an imperfective verb, while 'мучивать' can be both imperfective and perfective in derived forms. Here is a basic conjugation table for 'болеть' in the present tense:

For 'мучивать', it is irregular in some aspects: Present tense includes мучу (I torment), мучишь (You torment), etc. It does not change in aspect without prefixes, but perfective forms like 'замучить' exist for completed actions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • страдать (to suffer; more emotional than physical)
  • недомогать (to feel unwell; formal and less intense)
• Antonyms:
  • выздоравливать (to recover)
  • чувствовать себя хорошо (to feel well)

Note: 'Страдать' often implies deeper emotional distress, making it a nuanced synonym for 'болеть' in psychological contexts.

Related Phrases:

• болезнь мучает - A phrase meaning "the illness ails," often used for chronic conditions; refers to persistent health issues.
• сердце болит - Literally "the heart ails," idiomatically means "to feel heartache" in emotional contexts.
• мучающие боли - Means "tormenting pains," used in medical descriptions for severe, ongoing discomfort.

Usage Notes:

• While 'ail' is somewhat archaic in English, 'болеть' is a everyday verb in Russian for physical illness; prefer it for informal settings. 'Мучать' is better for formal or literary use when emphasizing torment.
• Be cautious with aspect: Russian verbs have perfective and imperfective forms, so 'болеть' is imperfective; use 'заболеть' for the onset of illness.
• In conversations, 'болеть' can also mean "to root for a team" (e.g., болеть за команду), which is unrelated to health—context is key.
• When choosing between translations, opt for 'болеть' for general ailing and 'мучать' for more intense, causative scenarios.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'болеть' transitively, e.g., saying "Я болю кого-то" instead of "Я мучаю кого-то."
  Correct: 'Болеть' is typically intransitive; use 'мучивать' for causing distress. Explanation: English learners often confuse verb transitivity, leading to awkward phrasing.
• Error: Incorrect stress or pronunciation, e.g., pronouncing 'болеть' as [boˈlet] instead of [bɐˈlʲetʲ].
  Correct: Focus on the soft 'л' and correct vowel sounds. Explanation: This can make the word unintelligible to native speakers.
• Error: Overusing 'болеть' in formal writing, where 'недомогать' might be more appropriate.
  Correct: Adapt to register; 'болеть' is casual. Explanation: Learners may not distinguish formality levels, affecting communication tone.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressions like 'болеть' are often tied to a stoic attitude toward health. For instance, during festivals or work, people might downplay ailing with phrases like 'Ничего, перетерпим' (Nothing, we'll endure it), reflecting historical resilience from challenging times like the Soviet era.

Related Concepts:

• лечить (to treat)
• выздоравливать (to recover)
• болезнь (illness)