Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Debase'

English Word: debase

Key Russian Translations:

• унижать [unɪˈʒatʲ] - [Formal, Verb, Used in contexts of lowering dignity or value]
• обесценивать [əbʲɪsˈt͡sɛnʲɪvatʲ] - [Formal/Informal, Verb, Often used for devaluing currency or worth]
• принижать [prʲɪnʲɪˈʒatʲ] - [Formal, Verb, Used for belittling or degrading someone/something]

Frequency: Medium (These terms are moderately common in formal and written contexts)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate - Requires understanding of context and nuance for correct usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

унижать: [unɪˈʒatʲ]

Note on унижать: Stress falls on the second syllable. The 'ж' sound is a voiced fricative, similar to the 's' in 'measure'.

обесценивать: [əbʲɪsˈt͡sɛnʲɪvatʲ]

Note on обесценивать: Stress on the third syllable. The prefix 'обес-' can be tricky for non-native speakers due to the soft 'б'.

принижать: [prʲɪnʲɪˈʒatʲ]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To lower in value, quality, or character (e.g., currency, standards)

Translation(s) & Context:

• обесценивать - Commonly used in economic contexts (e.g., devaluing currency) or metaphorically for ideas/achievements.

Usage Examples:

• Инфляция обесценивает наши сбережения.

  Inflation debases our savings.

• Его слова обесценивают все наши усилия.

  His words debase all our efforts.

• Этот шаг может обесценить репутацию компании.

  This move could debase the company's reputation.

2. To humiliate or degrade someone morally or socially

Translation(s) & Context:

• унижать - Used when referring to personal dignity or social standing.
• принижать - Often implies belittling someone's worth or achievements.

Usage Examples:

• Он постоянно унижает своих подчинённых.

  He constantly debases his subordinates.

• Не стоит принижать её заслуги перед всеми.

  You shouldn’t debase her achievements in front of everyone.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All primary translations (унижать, обесценивать, принижать) are imperfective verbs. They follow regular conjugation patterns for their respective verb groups in Russian. Below is the conjugation table for унижать (1st conjugation) as an example:

Note: Perfective forms (e.g., унизить for унижать) exist and are used for completed actions. Similar patterns apply to обесценивать (perfective: обесценить) and принижать (perfective: принизить).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for унижать:

• оскорблять (to insult)
• ущемлять (to infringe or demean)

Note: оскорблять is stronger and implies direct insult, while ущемлять often relates to rights or dignity.

Antonyms for унижать:

• возвышать (to elevate)
• восхвалять (to praise)

Related Phrases:

• унижать достоинство - To debase someone’s dignity (used in formal or legal contexts).
• обесценивать труд - To debase someone’s work/effort (common in discussions of recognition).
• принижать значение - To debase the importance (often used in debates or critiques).

Usage Notes:

• While all three translations can overlap in meaning, обесценивать is the most appropriate for material or abstract devaluation (e.g., currency, ideas). Use унижать for personal humiliation and принижать for belittling someone’s worth or achievements.
• These verbs often require an accusative object in Russian sentences (e.g., унижать кого-то - to debase someone).
• Be mindful of aspect: imperfective forms (listed above) describe ongoing or habitual actions, while perfective forms indicate a completed act.

Common Errors:

• Mixing up унижать and обесценивать: English speakers often use унижать in economic contexts, which sounds unnatural. Incorrect: *Инфляция унижает деньги.* Correct: Инфляция обесценивает деньги (Inflation debases money).
• Incorrect aspect usage: Using imperfective verbs for one-time actions. Incorrect: *Он унижает её вчера.* Correct: Он унизил её вчера (He debased her yesterday).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, personal dignity and respect are highly valued. Using terms like унижать in casual contexts can be seen as overly harsh or offensive. Such words are often reserved for serious criticism or formal discussions. Additionally, devaluing someone’s work or effort (обесценивать) is considered particularly negative in professional settings.

Related Concepts:

• оскорбление (insult)
• презрение (contempt)
• девальвация (devaluation, economic term)