Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Blackout'

English Word: Blackout

Key Russian Translations:

• отключение [ɐtkʲlʲuˈtʃʲenʲɪjə] - [Neutral, Often used for power or electricity]
• затемнение [zətʲɪmˈnʲenʲɪjə] - [Formal, Often used for wartime light control]
• потеря сознания [pɐˈtʲerʲə ˈsoznənʲɪjə] - [Neutral, Medical or informal for fainting]

Frequency: Medium (varies by context; "отключение" is more common)

Difficulty: B1 (Beginner-Intermediate for "отключение"; B2 for "затемнение" and "потеря сознания")

Pronunciation (Russian):

отключение: [ɐtkʲlʲuˈtʃʲenʲɪjə]

Note on отключение: Stress falls on the third syllable; the "ч" is pronounced as a soft "ch".

затемнение: [zətʲɪmˈnʲenʲɪjə]

Note on затемнение: Stress on the third syllable; "е" sounds softer after "н".

потеря сознания: [pɐˈtʲerʲə ˈsoznənʲɪjə]

Note on потеря сознания: Two-word phrase; stress on the second syllable of each word.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Power or Service Interruption (e.g., electricity, signal)

Translation(s) & Context:

• отключение - Used for power cuts, internet disconnection, or service interruptions.

Usage Examples:

• Вчера было отключение электричества на три часа.

  There was a power blackout for three hours yesterday.

• Из-за шторма произошло отключение интернета.

  Due to the storm, there was an internet blackout.

• Отключение воды запланировано на завтра.

  A water blackout is scheduled for tomorrow.

2. Wartime Light Control or Obscuration

Translation(s) & Context:

• затемнение - Refers to blackout as a wartime measure to prevent enemy detection.

Usage Examples:

• Во время войны было введено затемнение в городе.

  During the war, a blackout was enforced in the city.

• Затемнение помогло скрыть город от авиации.

  The blackout helped hide the city from aircraft.

3. Loss of Consciousness or Memory

Translation(s) & Context:

• потеря сознания - Used for fainting or momentary loss of consciousness/memory.

Usage Examples:

• У него была потеря сознания после удара.

  He experienced a blackout after the blow.

• После стресса у неё случилась потеря сознания.

  She had a blackout after the stress.

• Я испытал потерю сознания на несколько секунд.

  I had a blackout for a few seconds.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

отключение (Noun, Neuter):

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	отключение	отключения
Genitive	отключения	отключений
Dative	отключению	отключениям
Accusative	отключение	отключения
Instrumental	отключением	отключениями
Prepositional	об отключении	об отключениях

затемнение (Noun, Neuter): Follows similar declension patterns as "отключение".

потеря сознания (Noun Phrase): "потеря" (feminine) declines as a noun, "сознания" (genitive of "сознание", neuter) changes based on case.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for отключение (power blackout):

• сбой
• перерыв

Note: "сбой" often implies a glitch or malfunction, while "перерыв" suggests a temporary break.

Antonyms for отключение:

• подключение
• включение

Related Phrases:

• отключение электроэнергии - Power blackout.
• внезапное отключение - Sudden blackout (of services).
• полное затемнение - Complete blackout (wartime context).
• потеря сознания на время - Temporary blackout (loss of consciousness).

Usage Notes:

• "отключение" is the most common translation for service interruptions like power or internet blackouts. It is neutral and widely understood.
• "затемнение" is a more specific and formal term, mostly used in historical or military contexts for obscuring lights.
• "потеря сознания" is a phrase used in medical or personal contexts for fainting or memory blackouts. It cannot be used for power outages.
• Choose the translation based on context; using "затемнение" for a power cut would sound unnatural to native speakers.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "затемнение" for power outages. Incorrect: "Произошло затемнение электричества." Correct: "Произошло отключение электричества." (Explanation: "затемнение" refers to light obscuration, not power cuts.)
• Error: Using "потеря сознания" for non-medical blackouts. Incorrect: "Потеря сознания интернета." Correct: "Отключение интернета." (Explanation: "потеря сознания" is strictly for loss of consciousness.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "затемнение" carries historical significance due to its association with World War II, when blackouts were enforced to protect cities from bombings. Mentioning "затемнение" may evoke memories of wartime stories for older generations.

Related Concepts:

• перебой
• авария
• обморок