Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'decrease'

English Word: decrease

Key Russian Translations:

• уменьшение [ʊmʲɪnʲˈʂɛnʲɪjə] - [Neutral, Noun]
• снижение [snʲɪˈʐɛnʲɪjə] - [Formal, Noun]
• уменьшать [ʊmʲɪnʲˈʂatʲ] - [Neutral, Verb, Imperfective]
• снижать [snʲɪˈʐatʲ] - [Formal, Verb, Imperfective]

Frequency: High (commonly used in both formal and informal contexts)

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner to Intermediate, depending on grammatical usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

уменьшение: [ʊmʲɪnʲˈʂɛnʲɪjə]

Note on уменьшение: Stress falls on the third syllable. The soft 'ш' sound can be challenging for non-native speakers.

снижение: [snʲɪˈʐɛnʲɪjə]

Note on снижение: Stress on the second syllable. Pay attention to the voiced 'ж' sound.

уменьшать: [ʊmʲɪnʲˈʂatʲ]

снижать: [snʲɪˈʐatʲ]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Decrease as a Noun (a reduction in amount or size)

Translation(s) & Context:

• уменьшение - Used in general contexts to indicate a reduction (e.g., in quantity or size).
• снижение - Often used in formal or technical contexts (e.g., decrease in temperature or prices).

Usage Examples:

• Мы заметили уменьшение числа студентов в этом году.

  We noticed a decrease in the number of students this year.

• Снижение температуры ожидается к вечеру.

  A decrease in temperature is expected by evening.

• Уменьшение затрат стало нашей главной целью.

  The decrease in costs became our main goal.

2. Decrease as a Verb (to make or become smaller or fewer)

Translation(s) & Context:

• уменьшать - General use for reducing something (can be transitive or intransitive).
• снижать - More formal, often used in contexts like lowering prices, speed, or levels.

Usage Examples:

• Нужно уменьшать количество сахара в рационе.

  It is necessary to decrease the amount of sugar in the diet.

• Компания решила снижать цены на продукцию.

  The company decided to decrease the prices of its products.

• Интерес к этому предмету постепенно уменьшает.

  Interest in this subject is gradually decreasing.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

уменьшение (Noun, Neuter): Regular noun declension in singular and plural.

уменьшать (Verb, Imperfective): Regular conjugation in present, past, and future tenses.

Similar declension and conjugation patterns apply to снижение and снижать.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for уменьшение/уменьшать:

• сокращение (reduction, more formal)
• убывание (diminution, often abstract)

Antonyms for уменьшение/уменьшать:

• увеличение (increase, noun)
• увеличивать (to increase, verb)

Related Phrases:

• уменьшение в размере - decrease in size
• снижение уровня - decrease in level (e.g., water level or living standards)
• уменьшать скорость - to decrease speed

Usage Notes:

• уменьшение and снижение are often interchangeable as nouns, but снижение is preferred in formal or technical contexts (e.g., economics, meteorology).
• As verbs, уменьшать is more versatile and can be used reflexively (уменьшаться), while снижать often implies a deliberate or controlled reduction.
• Be mindful of verb aspects: уменьшить and снизить are perfective forms used for completed actions.

Common Errors:

1. Confusing уменьшение with снижение in formal writing. Example of error: Using уменьшение in a scientific report about temperature decrease (Correct: снижение температуры).

2. Incorrect verb aspect usage. Error: Saying Я уменьшаю цену вчера (incorrect tense/aspect). Correct: Я снизил цену вчера (I decreased the price yesterday).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, discussions about "decrease" (especially in economic contexts like снижение цен - price decrease) often carry significant cultural weight due to historical economic fluctuations. Such terms may evoke strong emotional responses in conversations.

Related Concepts:

• сокращение (reduction)
• падение (fall, drop)
• спад (decline, slump)