Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'contamination'

English Word: contamination

Key Russian Translations:

• загрязнение [zəɡrʲɪzˈnʲenʲɪje] - [Formal, used in scientific and environmental contexts]
• заражение [zərʲɐˈʐenʲɪje] - [Formal, typically for biological or infectious contamination]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in environmental, medical, and technical discussions, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of scientific terminology and noun declensions, which can be challenging for learners at this level)

Pronunciation (Russian):

загрязнение: [zəɡrʲɪzˈnʲenʲɪje]

заражение: [zərʲɐˈʐenʲɪje]

Note on загрязнение: The stress falls on the third syllable (-не-), and the 'г' is pronounced as a voiced velar fricative [ɡ]. Be mindful of the palatalized consonants, which are common in Russian.

Note on заражение: Pronounce the 'ж' as a voiced palatal fricative [ʐ], similar to the 's' in "measure." This word may have slight regional variations in speed.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: The act or process of making something impure or unclean, often in an environmental context.

Translation(s) & Context:

• загрязнение - Used in formal discussions about pollution, such as water or air quality issues.
• заражение - Applied in contexts involving biological contamination, like disease spread.

Usage Examples:

• В городе наблюдается серьёзное загрязнение воздуха из-за промышленных выбросов.

  In the city, there is serious air contamination due to industrial emissions.

• Загрязнение рек химическими отходами угрожает местной фауне.

  Contamination of rivers with chemical waste threatens local wildlife.

• Для предотвращения заражения воды необходимо установить фильтры.

  To prevent water contamination, filters must be installed.

• Загрязнение почвы пестицидами стало распространённой проблемой в сельском хозяйстве.

  Contamination of soil with pesticides has become a widespread issue in agriculture.

Meaning 2: The presence of a harmful or unwanted substance in something.

Translation(s) & Context:

• загрязнение - Common in scientific reports, emphasizing the state of being contaminated.
• заражение - Often used metaphorically for infection in medical or metaphorical contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Анализ показал, что загрязнение образца радиацией превышает допустимый уровень.

  Analysis showed that contamination of the sample with radiation exceeds the permissible level.

• Заражение продуктов питания бактериями может привести к вспышке заболеваний.

  Contamination of food products with bacteria can lead to disease outbreaks.

• Загрязнение грунтовых вод нефтью требует немедленных мер по очистке.

  Contamination of groundwater with oil requires immediate cleanup measures.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are neuter nouns in Russian, which means they follow standard neuter declension patterns. Загрязнение and заражение are third-declension nouns and inflect based on case, number, and gender rules. They do not have irregular forms but require attention to the "soft" endings.

Note: These nouns do not change in the plural for all cases as regularly as some others, but the patterns above are standard. If the word is used in compounds, inflections may vary slightly.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • загрязнение - Often interchangeable with инфекция in biological contexts, but инфекция implies more direct harm.
  • заражение - Synonymous with контаминация (a direct borrowing), used in technical fields.
• Antonyms:
  • чистота (purity) - Emphasizes the absence of contaminants.
  • стерильность (sterility) - Specifically for medical contexts.

Related Phrases:

• Экологическое загрязнение - Environmental contamination; used in discussions about sustainability.
• Загрязнение воздуха - Air contamination; common in public health contexts.
• Заражение инфекцией - Infection contamination; refers to disease transmission.
• Предотвращение загрязнения - Prevention of contamination; a phrase in safety protocols.

Usage Notes:

"Загрязнение" directly corresponds to "contamination" in environmental and chemical contexts, while "заражение" is more aligned with biological or infectious meanings. In Russian, these words are typically used in formal or technical language; avoid them in casual conversation. Always consider the case endings based on sentence structure—e.g., use genitive for possession. When choosing between translations, opt for "загрязнение" for non-living substances and "заражение" for living organisms. Grammatically, these nouns require agreement in gender and number with associated adjectives.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using the nominative form in all cases, e.g., saying "из-за загрязнение" instead of "из-за загрязнения" (genitive).
  Correct: "Из-за загрязнения реки мы не можем пить воду." (Due to the contamination of the river, we can't drink the water.)
  Explanation: Russian requires case agreement; "из-за" governs the genitive case.
• Mistake: Confusing "загрязнение" and "заражение," e.g., using "загрязнение" for a disease.
  Correct: Use "заражение" for infections, as in "заражение вирусом" instead of "загрязнение вирусом."
  Explanation: This can lead to misunderstandings in medical contexts; "загрязнение" implies environmental impurity, not biological invasion.

Cultural Notes:

In Russia, terms like "загрязнение" are often linked to historical and ongoing environmental issues, such as the pollution from Soviet-era industrial sites or the Chernobyl disaster. This word carries connotations of national efforts in environmental protection, reflecting Russia's vast natural resources and the challenges of balancing industry with ecology.

Related Concepts:

• экология (ecology)
• загрязнитель (pollutant)
• инфекция (infection)
• очистка (cleaning or purification)