Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'contagious'

English Word: contagious

Key Russian Translations:

• заразный [zɐˈraznɨj] - [Formal, Adjective; Used in general health and medical contexts]
• инфекционный [ɪnfʲekˈt͡sɪonnɨj] - [Formal, Adjective; Primarily in medical or scientific contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in health-related discussions, news, and everyday conversations about illnesses)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; Involves understanding adjective inflections and contextual usage; For 'заразный', it's straightforward, but 'инфекционный' may require more advanced vocabulary knowledge)

Pronunciation (Russian):

заразный: [zɐˈraznɨj]

инфекционный: [ɪnfʲekˈt͡sɪonnɨj]

Note on заразный: The stress falls on the second syllable, which is common in Russian adjectives; Be cautious with the soft 'н' sound, which can be tricky for non-native speakers.

Note on инфекционный: Pronunciation varies slightly in fast speech, with the 'й' sound softening; Practice with native audio for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Relating to diseases or conditions that can be transmitted from one person to another

Translation(s) & Context:

• заразный - Used in everyday or formal contexts when describing infectious diseases, such as colds or viruses; Common in general conversation.
• инфекционный - Typically used in medical or scientific contexts, emphasizing bacterial or viral transmission; More precise in professional settings.

Usage Examples:

• Эта болезнь заразная и быстро распространяется среди людей.

  This disease is contagious and spreads quickly among people.

• Врачи рекомендуют избегать контакта с заразными пациентами.

  Doctors recommend avoiding contact with contagious patients.

• Грипп — это инфекционный вирус, который может вызвать эпидемию.

  The flu is a contagious virus that can cause an epidemic.

• Дети в саду были заражены заразным кашлем от одноклассника.

  The children in the kindergarten were infected with a contagious cough from a classmate.

• Инфекционный характер заболевания требует немедленной изоляции.

  The contagious nature of the illness requires immediate isolation.

Meaning 2: Figuratively, something that spreads easily, like emotions or ideas (e.g., contagious laughter)

Translation(s) & Context:

• заразный - Informally used for non-medical contexts, such as emotions; Less common but effective in everyday speech.
• инфекционный - Rarely used figuratively; Stick to заразный for this meaning to avoid sounding overly technical.

Usage Examples:

• Её заразный смех заставил всех в комнате рассмеяться.

  Her contagious laughter made everyone in the room laugh.

• Энтузиазм тренера был заразным и мотивировал всю команду.

  The coach's contagious enthusiasm motivated the entire team.

• Заразная энергия толпы во время концерта была незабываемой.

  The contagious energy of the crowd during the concert was unforgettable.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'заразный' and 'инфекционный' are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow standard patterns, but 'заразный' is a regular hard-stem adjective, while 'инфекционный' is also regular but may vary slightly due to its borrowed origin.

For 'заразный' (regular adjective):

For 'инфекционный' (similar pattern, but with soft endings):

These adjectives do not change in comparative forms unless modified (e.g., более заразный for 'more contagious').

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • инфекционный (more technical, often used interchangeably in medical contexts; differs by emphasizing infection over general contagion)
  • вирусный (specifically for viral transmission, narrower than заразный)
• Antonyms:
  • невредный (harmless, non-infectious)
  • незаразный (non-contagious, directly opposite)

Related Phrases:

• заразная болезнь - A contagious disease; Used in health discussions to refer to illnesses that spread easily.
• инфекционный контроль - Infection control; Common in medical settings for preventing the spread of diseases.
• заразный вирус - A contagious virus; Often used in news about outbreaks.

Usage Notes:

Choose 'заразный' for everyday contexts, as it directly mirrors the English 'contagious' in both literal and figurative uses. 'Инфекционный' is more formal and should be reserved for scientific or medical writing to avoid sounding overly technical in casual speech. Be mindful of Russian adjective agreement with nouns; for example, always match gender, number, and case. In figurative senses, 'заразный' can add emotional depth, but it's less common than in English.

• Grammar tip: When used with verbs, ensure proper aspect (e.g., заражать for the act of infecting).
• Context guidance: In Russian media, 'заразный' is preferred for public health warnings.

Common Errors:

One common mistake is failing to inflect the adjective correctly, e.g., saying "заразный болезнь" instead of "заразная болезнь" (for feminine nouns). Correct usage: Use the proper form based on the noun's gender and case. Another error is confusing it with 'инфекционный' in non-medical contexts, which might make speech sound unnatural—e.g., incorrect: "Его смех инфекционный" (should be "заразный" for laughter). Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree fully, so always check the noun's properties to avoid grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'заразный' often evoke historical contexts such as epidemics in Russian history (e.g., the plague or more recent pandemics), emphasizing community resilience and the importance of collective health measures. This can add a layer of gravity to discussions, reflecting Russia's emphasis on social solidarity during crises.

Related Concepts:

• эпидемия (epidemic)
• вирус (virus)
• карантин (quarantine)