Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'anile'

English Word: anile

Key Russian Translations:

• старческий /ˈstɑːrtʃɪskʲɪj/ - [Formal] (used in formal or medical contexts to describe age-related decline)
• дряхлый /ˈdrʲæxlɨj/ - [Informal] (used in everyday speech for physical frailty due to old age)

Frequency: Low (This word and its translations are not commonly used in everyday conversation; more prevalent in literary or medical texts.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate for "старческий" and C1 for "дряхлый", as the latter involves nuanced connotations of physical decay and is less straightforward for learners.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

старческий: /ˈstɑːrtʃɪskʲɪj/ (Stress on the first syllable; note the palatalized 'tʃ' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers.)

Note on старческий: The 'ч' in this word is pronounced as a soft 'ch' sound, similar to 'ch' in "church", but with a Russian palatalization that makes it lighter.

дряхлый: /ˈdrʲæxlɨj/ (Stress on the first syllable; the 'рʲ' indicates a palatalized 'r', which is a common Russian feature.)

Note on дряхлый: This word has a guttural quality due to the 'х' sound, akin to the Scottish 'ch' in "loch", and may vary slightly in informal speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Describing physical or mental decline due to old age

Translation(s) & Context:

• старческий - Used in formal contexts like medical reports or literature to denote age-related weakness without implying complete helplessness.
• дряхлый - Applied in informal settings to describe extreme frailty, often with a tone of pity or humor.

Usage Examples:

• В старческом возрасте многие люди сталкиваются с проблемами памяти. (V starcheskom vozraste mnogie lyudi stolkayutsya s problemami pamyati.)

  In anile age, many people face memory problems. (This example shows the word in a neutral, descriptive context related to aging.)

• Его дряхлый вид напугал всех в комнате. (Yego dryakhlyy vid napugal vsekh v komnate.)

  His anile appearance frightened everyone in the room. (Here, it highlights physical frailty in a dramatic narrative.)

• Старческий маразм часто встречается у пожилых людей. (Starcheskiy marazm chasto vstrechaetsya u pozhilykh lyudey.)

  Senility, or anile dementia, is common among the elderly. (This demonstrates usage in a medical or psychological context.)

• Дряхлый старик еле смог подняться по лестнице. (Dryakhlyy starik yele smog podnyatsya po lestrnitse.)

  The anile old man could barely climb the stairs. (This example illustrates informal, everyday application with a focus on physical limitations.)

• Из-за старческого недомогания он отказался от поездки. (Iz-za starcheskogo nedomoganiya on otkazalsya ot poezdki.)

  Due to his anile infirmity, he declined the trip. (This shows the word in a decision-making context, emphasizing health decline.)

Secondary Meaning: Figurative use for outdated or obsolete ideas

Translation(s) & Context:

• старческий - Rarely used figuratively in intellectual discussions to critique outdated concepts.

Usage Examples:

• Его идеи кажутся старческими в современном мире. (Yego idei kazhutsya starcheskimi v sovremennom mire.)

  His ideas seem anile in the modern world. (This example extends the word metaphorically to ideas.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For adjectives like "старческий" and "дряхлый", Russian adjectives inflect based on gender, number, and case. "Старческий" follows regular adjectival patterns, while "дряхлый" is also regular but can vary slightly in informal use.

Note: These forms change according to the noun they modify. For example, in the genitive case, it becomes "старческого" for masculine singular.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • пожилой (/pəˈʒɪləj/ - Similar to "elderly", but less intense; used for general old age.)
  • стареющий (/staˈrʲenʲɪj/ - Implies the process of aging, with a focus on transition.)
• Antonyms:
  • молодой (/mələˈdoj/ - Meaning "young", contrasting with age-related decline.)
  • энергичный (/ɛnʲɛrˈɡʲɪt͡ɕnɨj/ - Meaning "energetic", emphasizing vitality over frailty.)

Related Phrases:

• Старческий маразм (starcheskiy marazm) - Anile dementia; a phrase used in medical contexts to describe age-related cognitive decline.
• Дряхлый вид (dryakhlyy vid) - Anile appearance; refers to the physical signs of extreme old age in everyday descriptions.
• Старческая немощь (starcheskaya nemoshch') - Anile infirmity; a formal expression for weakness due to aging, often in literary works.

Usage Notes:

"Anile" corresponds most closely to "старческий" in formal English-Russian translation, especially in contexts like psychology or literature, where it avoids overly negative connotations. However, "дряхлый" is better for informal or vivid descriptions. Be cautious with register: "старческий" is neutral and academic, while "дряхлый" can sound pejorative. In Russian grammar, these adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify, which is a key difference from English. When choosing between translations, opt for "старческий" in professional settings and "дряхлый" in casual narratives for more natural expression.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "старческий" interchangeably with "пожилой" without considering intensity. Incorrect: Он пожилой и забывчивый. (This implies simple old age.) Correct: Он старческий и забывчивый. (This emphasizes decline.) Explanation: "Пожилой" means merely "elderly," not necessarily frail, so learners often understate the severity.
• Mistake: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "старческий женщина" instead of "старческая женщина." Incorrect: Старческий женщина. Correct: Старческая женщина. Explanation: Russian requires gender agreement, which English speakers might overlook, leading to grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "старческий" carry a subtle respect for the elderly, often linked to historical reverence for wisdom in old age, as seen in literature by authors like Tolstoy. However, "дряхлый" can reflect a more pragmatic or humorous view of aging, influenced by Soviet-era realism that depicted the hardships of life, helping users understand the emotional depth beyond mere translation.

Related Concepts:

• пожилой
• стареющий
• немощь