Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Casualty'

English Word: Casualty

Key Russian Translations:

• жертва [ˈʐertvə] - [Neutral, Singular]
• пострадавший [pəstrɐˈdaʂːɨj] - [Formal, Often used for injured persons]
• потеря [pɐˈtʲerʲə] - [Neutral, Often used for losses in war or abstract contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in news, reports, and formal contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "жертва" and "потеря"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "пострадавший" due to formal usage

Pronunciation (Russian):

жертва: [ˈʐertvə]

Note on жертва: The stress is on the first syllable. The "ж" sound is a voiced retroflex fricative, which may be challenging for English speakers.

пострадавший: [pəstrɐˈdaʂːɨj]

Note on пострадавший: Stress falls on the third syllable. The rolled "р" and the soft "ш" sound require practice.

потеря: [pɐˈtʲerʲə]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A person killed or injured in a war or accident

Translation(s) & Context:

• жертва - Used for victims of accidents, disasters, or violence.
• пострадавший - Often refers to someone injured or affected, especially in formal reports.

Usage Examples:

• В результате аварии было много жертв.

  There were many casualties as a result of the accident.

• Пострадавшие были доставлены в больницу.

  The casualties were taken to the hospital.

• Жертвы войны не должны быть забыты.

  The casualties of war should not be forgotten.

2. A loss or damage (abstract)

Translation(s) & Context:

• потеря - Refers to losses in a broader or abstract sense, such as casualties in terms of numbers or resources.

Usage Examples:

• Армия понесла тяжелые потери.

  The army suffered heavy casualties.

• Эти потери невозможно восполнить.

  These casualties cannot be replaced.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

жертва (feminine noun): Follows the first declension pattern.

пострадавший (participle/adjective): Declines as an adjective based on gender and number.

потеря (feminine noun): Follows regular first declension rules, similar to "жертва".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for жертва:

• погибший (deceased victim)
• потерпевший (sufferer, often in legal contexts)

Antonyms for жертва:

• спасённый (saved person)
• выживший (survivor)

Related Phrases:

• жертва обстоятельств - "victim of circumstances" (used metaphorically for someone suffering due to external factors)
• тяжёлые потери - "heavy casualties" (often used in military contexts)
• пострадавший в аварии - "casualty of an accident" (common in news reports)

Usage Notes:

• "жертва" is the most general term for a casualty as a victim and can be used in various contexts, from accidents to crimes.
• "пострадавший" is more formal and often used in official reports or legal contexts to denote someone who has suffered injury or harm.
• "потеря" is typically used for abstract or collective losses, especially in military or statistical contexts, rather than individual victims.
• Be mindful of the context when choosing between these translations, as they are not always interchangeable.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "жертва" to refer to abstract losses in a military context.
  Incorrect: Армия понесла много жертв.
  Correct: Армия понесла много потерь.
  Explanation: "жертва" refers to individual victims, while "потеря" is used for collective or abstract casualties.
• Error: Misusing "пострадавший" in informal speech.
  Incorrect: Мой друг пострадавший в драке.
  Correct: Мой друг пострадал в драке.
  Explanation: "пострадавший" is a participle and often requires a more formal structure; in casual speech, use the verb "пострадать".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the word "жертва" often carries a strong emotional weight, especially when referring to victims of historical events like World War II. It is frequently used in memorials and literature to evoke empathy and respect.

Related Concepts:

• трагедия (tragedy)
• катастрофа (catastrophe)
• несчастье (misfortune)