Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Cripple'

English Word: Cripple

Key Russian Translations:

• калека [ˈkalʲɪkə] - [Informal, Slightly Derogatory]
• инвалид [ɪnˈvalʲɪt] - [Formal, Neutral]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "инвалид"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "калека" due to its nuanced tone

Pronunciation (Russian):

калека: [ˈkalʲɪkə]

Note on калека: Stress falls on the first syllable. The "е" is pronounced as a soft "ye" sound.

инвалид: [ɪnˈvalʲɪt]

Note on инвалид: Stress on the second syllable. The "и" sounds are short and crisp.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A person with a physical disability

Translation(s) & Context:

• инвалид - Used in formal or neutral contexts to refer to someone with a disability.
• калека - Informal and often carries a negative or pitying connotation; less common in modern usage.

Usage Examples:

• Он стал инвалидом после аварии.

  He became disabled after the accident.

• Государство помогает инвалидам с работой.

  The state helps disabled people with employment.

• Не называй его калекой, это грубо.

  Don’t call him a cripple, it’s rude.

• Она заботится о своем брате-инвалиде.

  She takes care of her disabled brother.

• В старости он чувствовал себя калекой.

  In old age, he felt like a cripple.

2. To impair or disable (figurative or literal)

Translation(s) & Context:

• калечить - Verb form, used for causing physical or emotional harm.
• подорвать - Often used figuratively, e.g., to cripple someone’s confidence or economy.

Usage Examples:

• Война искалечила его жизнь.

  The war crippled his life.

• Этот кризис подорвал экономику страны.

  This crisis crippled the country’s economy.

• Неудачи могут калечить душу.

  Failures can cripple the soul.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

инвалид (Noun, Masculine):

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	инвалид	инвалиды
Genitive	инвалида	инвалидов
Dative	инвалиду	инвалидам
Accusative	инвалида	инвалидов
Instrumental	инвалидом	инвалидами
Prepositional	об инвалиде	об инвалидах

калека (Noun, Common Gender): Declines similarly to masculine nouns but can refer to both genders. Often used in singular.

калечить (Verb, Imperfective): Regular conjugation in present, past, and future tenses. Example: кале́чу, кале́чишь, кале́чит.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for инвалид:

• нетрудоспособный
• увечный

Note: "нетрудоспособный" emphasizes inability to work; "увечный" is more archaic and focuses on physical injury.

Antonyms for инвалид:

• здоровый

Related Phrases:

• инвалид войны - War veteran with disabilities.
• калечить судьбу - To ruin or cripple someone’s fate/life.
• подорвать силы - To cripple one’s strength or energy.

Usage Notes:

• "инвалид" is the most neutral and widely accepted term for someone with a disability in formal and everyday contexts. It aligns closely with the English "disabled person."
• "калека" should be used cautiously as it can sound derogatory or overly emotional. It’s often associated with pity or outdated language.
• When using the verb "калечить," it can apply to both physical harm and metaphorical damage, while "подорвать" is primarily figurative.

Common Errors:

Error 1: Using "калека" in formal contexts or to someone’s face, which can be offensive.

Wrong: Этот человек — калека. (This person is a cripple.)

Correct: Этот человек — инвалид. (This person is disabled.)

Error 2: Incorrect verb usage of "калечить" when a figurative term like "подорвать" is more appropriate.

Wrong: Кризис искалечил экономику. (The crisis crippled the economy — sounds overly dramatic.)

Correct: Кризис подорвал экономику. (The crisis undermined/crippled the economy.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms related to disability like "инвалид" are often used in official contexts, such as government programs for social support. However, there is a growing awareness of using person-first language (e.g., "человек с инвалидностью" — a person with a disability) in modern, inclusive discourse, especially among younger generations and activists.

Related Concepts:

• нетрудоспособность
• увечье
• реабилитация