Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'corrode'

English Word: corrode

Key Russian Translations:

• разъедать [rɐzʲɪˈjɛdətʲ] - [Formal, Often used for chemical corrosion]
• корродировать [kərɐˈdʲirəvətʲ] - [Technical, Scientific contexts]
• ржаветь [rʐɐˈvʲetʲ] - [Informal, Specifically for rusting of metals]

Frequency: Medium (used in specific contexts like science or everyday rusting)

Difficulty: B1-B2 (Intermediate; varies by term - "ржаветь" is easier at B1, while "корродировать" is B2)

Pronunciation (Russian):

разъедать: [rɐzʲɪˈjɛdətʲ]

Note on разъедать: Stress falls on the third syllable; the "ъ" is a silent hard sign affecting pronunciation of "е".

корродировать: [kərɐˈdʲirəvətʲ]

Note on корродировать: A borrowed term; stress on the third syllable, pronounced with a rolled "р".

ржаветь: [rʐɐˈvʲetʲ]

Note on ржаветь: Stress on the second syllable; "ж" is a distinct retroflex sound in Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To destroy or damage by chemical action (e.g., acid corrosion)

Translation(s) & Context:

• разъедать - Used for chemical processes like acid eating away at a surface.
• корродировать - More technical, often used in scientific or industrial contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Кислота разъедает металл за считанные минуты.

  The acid corrodes the metal in a matter of minutes.

• Этот материал корродирует под воздействием влаги.

  This material corrodes under the influence of moisture.

• Соль разъедает поверхность машины зимой.

  Salt corrodes the surface of the car in winter.

2. To rust or deteriorate (specifically metals)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ржаветь - Refers specifically to rusting, common in everyday speech about metal objects.

Usage Examples:

• Старый велосипед начал ржаветь после дождя.

  The old bicycle started to corrode (rust) after the rain.

• Трубы в подвале ржавеют из-за высокой влажности.

  The pipes in the basement are corroding (rusting) due to high humidity.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

разъедать (Verb, Imperfective): Follows regular conjugation for verbs ending in -ать. Used for ongoing or repeated action.

Person	Present Tense	Past Tense (Masc/Fem/Neut/Pl)
Я (I)	разъедаю	разъедал / разъедала / разъедало / разъедали
Ты (You, sing.)	разъедаешь	-
Он/Она/Оно (He/She/It)	разъедает	-

корродировать (Verb, Imperfective/Perfective pair uncommon): Borrowed term, conjugates regularly but rarely used in colloquial speech.

ржаветь (Verb, Imperfective): Regular conjugation, often used in present and past tenses to describe rusting processes.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for разъедать/корродировать (chemical corrosion):

• разрушать (to destroy, broader term)
• разлагать (to decompose, chemical context)

Synonyms for ржаветь (rusting):

• окисляться (to oxidize, more technical)

Antonyms:

• защищать (to protect, as in protecting from corrosion)
• консервировать (to preserve, prevent deterioration)

Related Phrases:

• ржаветь на глазах - "to rust before one's eyes" (used figuratively for rapid deterioration)
• разъедать металл - "to corrode metal" (common collocation for chemical corrosion)
• корродировать под воздействием - "to corrode under the influence of" (technical phrasing)

Usage Notes:

• "разъедать" is the most versatile term for corrosion by chemical means (e.g., acid) and can be used metaphorically (e.g., guilt corroding the soul).
• "корродировать" is strictly technical, often found in engineering or chemistry contexts, and may sound unnatural in casual conversation.
• "ржаветь" is specific to rusting of metals and is the most common term in everyday speech for visible deterioration due to oxidation.
• Choose the term based on context: use "ржаветь" for rust, "разъедать" for general or metaphorical corrosion, and "корродировать" for scientific discussions.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "ржаветь" for non-metal corrosion. Incorrect: "Кислота ржавеет камень." (Acid rusts the stone.)

  Correction: Use "разъедать" instead: "Кислота разъедает камень." (Acid corrodes the stone.)

  Explanation: "ржаветь" implies rusting, which is specific to metals; for other materials, "разъедать" is appropriate.

• Error: Overusing "корродировать" in casual speech. Incorrect: "Мой велосипед корродирует." (My bike is corroding.)

  Correction:

  Explanation: "корродировать" sounds overly formal and out of place in everyday contexts.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, the concept of "ржаветь" (rusting) often carries a metaphorical weight, symbolizing neglect or decay, especially in literature or proverbs. For instance, old machinery or abandoned objects "rusting away" can evoke a sense of nostalgia or loss of past glory, reflecting Russia's historical relationship with industrial decline in certain periods.

Related Concepts:

• оксид (oxide)
• коррозия (corrosion, as a noun)
• разрушение (destruction)