Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Debilitate'

English Word: Debilitate

Key Russian Translations:

• ослаблять [ɐsɫɐˈblʲætʲ] - [Formal, Often used in medical or physical contexts]
• изнурять [ɪzˈnurʲætʲ] - [Formal/Informal, Emphasizes exhaustion or draining]

Frequency: Medium (used in specific contexts like health or energy depletion)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for "ослаблять"; C1 (Advanced) for "изнурять" due to nuanced usage

Pronunciation (Russian):

ослаблять: [ɐsɫɐˈblʲætʲ]

Note on ослаблять: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "я" sound is a soft vowel, common in Russian verbs.

изнурять: [ɪzˈnurʲætʲ]

Note on изнурять: Stress on the second syllable. The "р" is rolled, a typical feature of Russian pronunciation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To weaken physically or mentally

Translation(s) & Context:

• ослаблять - Often used for physical weakening, e.g., due to illness or lack of strength.
• изнурять - Suggests a more intense draining of energy or spirit, often over time.

Usage Examples:

• Болезнь сильно ослабила его тело.

  The illness greatly weakened his body.

• Долгие годы работы изнурили её.

  Years of hard work debilitated her.

• Недостаток сна может ослаблять иммунную систему.

  Lack of sleep can debilitate the immune system.

• Эмоциональные переживания изнуряют душу.

  Emotional experiences can debilitate the soul.

• Тяжёлые условия труда ослабляют здоровье рабочих.

  Harsh working conditions debilitate the workers' health.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

ослаблять (Imperfective Verb):

Note: Perfective form is "ослабить".

изнурять (Imperfective Verb): Similar conjugation pattern to "ослаблять". Perfective form is "изнурить".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "ослаблять":

• подрывать
• истощать

Note: "истощать" is closer to "изнурять" in emphasizing depletion.

Antonyms for "ослаблять":

• укреплять
• усиливать

Related Phrases:

• ослаблять здоровье - To debilitate health (common in medical contexts).
• изнурять себя работой - To debilitate oneself with work (emphasizes overexertion).

Usage Notes:

• "ослаблять" is more neutral and widely applicable to physical or abstract weakening, such as health or resolve.
• "изнурять" carries a stronger emotional or physical toll, often implying long-term exhaustion or suffering.
• Choose "ослаблять" for formal or scientific contexts, and "изнурять" for more dramatic or personal descriptions.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "изнурять" in neutral or mild contexts, e.g., saying "изнурять силы" for a minor effort.
  Correct: Use "ослаблять силы" for mild weakening. "Изнурять" implies severe exhaustion.
• Error: Incorrect verb aspect, e.g., using imperfective "ослаблять" when a completed action is meant.
  Correct: Use perfective "ослабить" for completed actions, e.g., "Он ослабил хватку" (He loosened his grip).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, expressions of weakening or exhaustion often carry a cultural weight tied to historical narratives of endurance and hardship. "Изнурять" might evoke imagery of long struggles, such as during wars or harsh winters, and is often used in literature to describe deep suffering.

Related Concepts:

• истощение (exhaustion)
• слабость (weakness)
• упадок сил (loss of strength)