Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'backache'

English Word: backache

Key Russian Translations:

• боль в спине [bolʲ v ˈspinʲɪ] - [Informal, Common in everyday health discussions]
• спинная боль [ˈspinnəjə bolʲ] - [Formal, Used in medical contexts or written descriptions]

Frequency: Medium (This term is commonly encountered in health-related conversations but not as frequent as basic daily vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, according to CEFR standards, as it involves basic medical terminology that requires familiarity with noun phrases and everyday expressions. For 'боль в спине', it's B1; for 'спинная боль', it might lean towards B2 due to more formal structure.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

боль в спине: [bolʲ v ˈspinʲɪ]

спинная боль: [ˈspinnəjə bolʲ]

Note on боль в спине: The stress is on the first syllable of 'спине' [ˈspinʲɪ], which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalized 'лʲ' sound in 'болʲ'. Practice the soft 'л' as in 'million' in English.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Pain in the back area (general discomfort or ache in the spine region).

Translation(s) & Context:

• боль в спине - Commonly used in informal settings, such as casual conversations about personal health or symptoms.
• спинная боль - Preferred in formal contexts, like medical consultations or written reports, to describe chronic or specific spinal issues.

Usage Examples:

• У меня сильная боль в спине после вчерашней тренировки.

  I have a severe backache after yesterday's workout. (This example shows the phrase in a casual, personal context describing recent pain.)

• Из-за сидячей работы у него часто бывает спинная боль.

  Because of his sedentary job, he often gets backache. (Illustrates use in a habitual or explanatory sentence, highlighting causes.)

• Врачи рекомендуют упражнения для облегчения боли в спине.

  Doctors recommend exercises to relieve backache. (Demonstrates the phrase in an advisory or health-related context.)

• Её спинная боль стала хронической, и она обратилась к специалисту.

  Her backache has become chronic, and she consulted a specialist. (Shows formal usage in a narrative about ongoing health issues.)

• После подъёма тяжестей у меня возникла острая боль в спине.

  After lifting heavy weights, I developed a sharp backache. (Exemplifies the phrase in a situational, immediate pain description.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'Боль в спине' and 'спинная боль' are phrases involving nouns that follow standard Russian inflection patterns. 'Боль' is a feminine noun (from the first declension), and 'спина' is also feminine. They inflect based on case, number, and gender agreements.

For 'боль' (pain):

For 'спина' (back):

In 'боль в спине', the phrase remains relatively stable but adjusts for case (e.g., 'боли в спине' in genitive). 'Спинная боль' uses an adjective 'спинная', which agrees in gender, number, and case with 'боль'. These are regular inflections, so no irregularities to note.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • спинной дискомфорт (slight discomfort in the back; less intense than 'боль')
  • боль в пояснице (specifically lower back pain; used for more localized issues)
• Antonyms:
  • здоровье (health; general opposite, implying absence of pain)
  • комфорт (comfort; contrasting with physical discomfort)

Related Phrases:

• лечить боль в спине (to treat backache) - Refers to methods or therapies for alleviating spinal pain.
• профилактика спинной боли (prevention of backache) - Involves exercises or lifestyle changes to avoid the condition.
• хроническая боль в спине (chronic backache) - Describes long-term, recurring pain issues.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'боль в спине' is the most straightforward translation for 'backache' and is preferred in informal speech, while 'спинная боль' adds a more precise, medical tone. English speakers should note that Russian often requires the use of prepositions and cases, so 'в спине' indicates location. Choose 'боль в спине' for everyday contexts and 'спинная боль' for formal writing. Be aware of gender agreement: adjectives like in 'спинная' must match the feminine noun 'боль'.

• Grammar tip: Always use the correct case; for example, in questions like "Где боль?" (Where is the pain?), it becomes "Боль в спине".
• Context guidance: In medical dialogues, pair with verbs like 'болит' (hurts) for dynamic descriptions.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse 'боль в спине' with 'боль в животе' (stomachache), leading to mix-ups in body part references. For instance, incorrectly saying "У меня боль в животе" when meaning backache. Correct usage: Use "боль в спине" specifically for the back. Another error is forgetting case agreement, e.g., saying "боль спина" instead of "боль в спине", which is grammatically incorrect because it lacks the preposition and proper case. Explanation: Russian requires prepositions for location, so always include 'в' for 'in the back' to convey the right meaning.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, backache is often linked to lifestyle factors like long hours of manual labor or sedentary office work, reflecting broader societal issues such as urbanization and industrialization. Terms like 'боль в спине' are commonly discussed in health campaigns, emphasizing the importance of physical activity in daily life, which stems from historical contexts like Soviet-era emphasis on fitness.

Related Concepts:

• головная боль (headache)
• суставная боль (joint pain)
• физическая терапия (physical therapy)