Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'decrepit'

English Word: decrepit

Key Russian Translations:

• дряхлый [ˈdrʲæxlɨj] - [Adjective, used for people or things in a state of physical decay, often informal or descriptive]
• ветхий [ˈvʲetxʲij] - [Adjective, used for objects like buildings that are old and dilapidated, typically formal or literary]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in descriptive texts, literature, and everyday conversation about age and decay, but not as frequent as basic adjectives like "старый").

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate, as it requires understanding of nuanced adjectives and their contextual usage; for "дряхлый", it's B2 due to emotional connotations, while "ветхий" is also B2 for its literary applications).

Pronunciation (Russian):

дряхлый: [ˈdrʲæxlɨj]

Note on дряхлый: The initial 'др' sound involves a rolled 'р' which can be challenging for non-native speakers; stress on the first syllable, and it's a soft adjective with palatalization.

Audio: []

ветхий: [ˈvʲetxʲij]

Note on ветхий: The 'х' is a voiceless velar fricative, similar to the 'ch' in Scottish "loch"; stress on the first syllable, and it maintains a consistent hard consonant pattern.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Physically worn out or dilapidated (typically for objects or structures)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ветхий - Used in formal, literary, or descriptive contexts, such as describing old architecture or historical sites, emphasizing structural weakness.

Usage Examples:

• Этот ветхий дом стоит на холме и выглядит, как будто вот-вот обрушится.

  This decrepit house stands on the hill and looks as if it's about to collapse.

• Ветхий забор вокруг сада давно нуждается в замене.

  The decrepit fence around the garden has long needed replacing.

• Городские власти сносят ветхие здания, чтобы построить новые.

  City authorities are demolishing decrepit buildings to construct new ones.

• В музее выставлены ветхие артефакты из древней эпохи.

  The museum displays decrepit artifacts from ancient times.

Meaning 2: Weakened by old age or infirmity (typically for people or living things)

Translation(s) & Context:

• дряхлый - Used in informal or empathetic contexts, often with a connotation of pity or age-related decline, such as in personal descriptions or narratives.

Usage Examples:

• Дряхлый старик еле передвигался по улице, опираясь на палку.

  The decrepit old man could barely walk down the street, leaning on a cane.

• Её дряхлый пёс всё ещё пытается играть, несмотря на возраст.

  Her decrepit dog is still trying to play, despite its age.

• В деревне живут дряхлые жители, которые помнят войну.

  In the village, there are decrepit residents who remember the war.

• Дряхлый профессор продолжал вести лекции, полные мудрости.

  The decrepit professor continued to give lectures full of wisdom.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "дряхлый" and "ветхий" are adjectives in Russian, which inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern for hard-stem adjectives, with some irregularities in certain forms. Below is a table outlining their key inflections:

These adjectives are regular for hard stems but may vary slightly in poetic or archaic usage. They do not change for short forms in modern standard Russian.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: старинный (old, antique; often for historical items, with a nuance of value), старый (old; more general and neutral)
• Antonyms: новый (new; implies freshness and modernity), крепкий (strong; emphasizes durability and health)

Note: "Старинный" can sometimes carry a positive connotation, unlike the negative decay implied by "decrepit," so choose based on context.

Related Phrases:

• ветхий дом - A decrepit house; often used in real estate or literary descriptions to indicate structural issues.
• дряхлый старик - A decrepit old man; common in narratives to evoke sympathy or characterize age.
• ветхие руины - Decrepit ruins; refers to ancient, decaying structures with historical context.

Usage Notes:

"Дряхлый" is best for living beings or organic decay, aligning closely with "decrepit" in personal contexts, while "ветхий" suits inanimate objects like buildings. In formal writing, prefer "ветхий" for its literary tone. Be mindful of gender agreement in sentences, as Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender, number, and case. When choosing between translations, opt for "дряхлый" in everyday or emotional scenarios and "ветхий" in historical or architectural ones to ensure precise correspondence with English "decrepit."

• Grammar note: These adjectives can be used predicatively (e.g., "Дом ветхий") or attributively (e.g., "ветхий дом"), but always agree with the noun.
• Context tip: In Russian culture, these words might carry a melancholic undertone, so use them sparingly in positive descriptions.

Common Errors:

English learners often mistake "decrepit" for a direct synonym of "old," translating it as "старый" (old), which is too neutral and lacks the decay implication. For example:

• Incorrect: Он старый. (This just means "He is old," without conveying weakness.)
• Correct: Он дряхлый. (This properly indicates he is decrepit, emphasizing frailty.)
• Another error is forgetting adjective agreement: Incorrectly saying "дряхлый женщина" instead of "дряхлая женщина" for a feminine noun, which disrupts sentence structure.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian literature and culture, words like "ветхий" often appear in contexts symbolizing the passage of time, decay, and historical weight, as seen in works by authors like Tolstoy. For instance, "ветхий" might evoke images of old Russian estates, reflecting themes of nostalgia and the impermanence of life, which can deepen the user's understanding of how "decrepit" functions in Russian storytelling.

Related Concepts:

• старинный
• старческий
• развалины