Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Autopsy'

English Word: Autopsy

Key Russian Translations:

• вскрытие [ˈfskrɨtʲɪjə] - [Formal, Medical]
• аутопсия [ɐʊˈtopsʲɪjə] - [Formal, Less Common, Scientific]

Frequency: Medium (used primarily in medical or legal contexts)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for "вскрытие"; C1 (Advanced) for "аутопсия" due to its rarity

Pronunciation (Russian):

вскрытие: [ˈfskrɨtʲɪjə]

Note on вскрытие: Stress falls on the first syllable. The "в" is pronounced as a voiced fricative, similar to English "v."

аутопсия: [ɐʊˈtopsʲɪjə]

Note on аутопсия: Stress on the second syllable. The initial "ау" diphthong is uncommon and may feel foreign to some speakers.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Medical Examination of a Deceased Body

Translation(s) & Context:

• вскрытие - Commonly used in medical and legal contexts to refer to a post-mortem examination.
• аутопсия - Rarely used, more academic or scientific, often in historical or specialized texts.

Usage Examples:

• Вскрытие показало причину смерти.

  The autopsy revealed the cause of death.

• Судебное вскрытие проводится по решению суда.

  A forensic autopsy is conducted by court order.

• Вскрытие тела было необходимо для расследования.

  The autopsy of the body was necessary for the investigation.

• В старых текстах часто упоминается аутопсия как метод исследования.

  In old texts, autopsy is often mentioned as a research method.

• Аутопсия редко используется в современной практике.

  Autopsy (as "аутопсия") is rarely used in modern practice.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

вскрытие (noun, neuter gender):

аутопсия (noun, feminine gender):

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for вскрытие:

• аутопсия (less common, academic)
• некропсия (very rare, scientific)

Note: "вскрытие" is the most widely used term in modern Russian, while others are niche or outdated.

Antonyms:

• None directly applicable (conceptually opposite terms are not lexicalized in Russian for this word).

Related Phrases:

• судебное вскрытие - Forensic autopsy (used in legal contexts).
• провести вскрытие - To perform an autopsy (common collocation).
• результаты вскрытия - Autopsy results (used in medical reports).

Usage Notes:

• "вскрытие" is the standard and most frequently used term for "autopsy" in Russian, especially in medical, legal, or everyday contexts.
• "аутопсия" is a direct borrowing from Latin/Greek and is rarely used outside of academic or historical discussions. It may sound overly formal or outdated to native speakers.
• Be mindful of the context: "вскрытие" can also mean "opening" (e.g., вскрытие письма = opening a letter), though the context usually clarifies the meaning.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "аутопсия" in everyday conversation. Incorrect: Я слышал, что аутопсия показала причину смерти. Correct: Я слышал, что вскрытие показало причину смерти. Explanation: "аутопсия" is too formal and uncommon for casual or even most professional contexts.
• Error: Misusing "вскрытие" in non-medical contexts without clarification. Incorrect: Вскрытие было сложным (ambiguous). Correct: Вскрытие тела было сложным. Explanation: Specify the object if the context isn't clear, as "вскрытие" can refer to opening something else.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, discussions about autopsies are often considered sensitive and are usually restricted to medical or legal professionals. Unlike in some Western contexts where autopsies might be casually mentioned in media or fiction, in Russia, the topic is treated with more discretion and formality.

Related Concepts:

• патологоанатомия (pathological anatomy)
• судебная медицина (forensic medicine)
• причина смерти (cause of death)