Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'defecate'

English Word: defecate

Key Russian Translations:

• испражняться [ɪs.prə.ˈʐnat͡sə] - [Informal, Verb; Used in everyday or medical contexts]
• дефекация [dʲɪ.fʲɪ.ˈka.tsɨ.jə] - [Formal, Noun; Used in medical or scientific discussions]

Frequency: Low (This term is not commonly used in casual conversation; it's more prevalent in medical or biological contexts.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; Requires understanding of reflexive verbs and medical vocabulary. For 'дефекация' as a noun, it may be slightly easier at B1 due to its static form.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

испражняться: [ɪs.prə.ˈʐnat͡sə]

Note on испражняться: This is a reflexive verb, so the '-ся' ending indicates the action is performed on oneself. Pay attention to the soft 'ж' sound, which can be challenging for non-native speakers.

дефекация: [dʲɪ.fʲɪ.ˈka.tsɨ.jə]

Note on дефекация: The stress is on the third syllable; pronounce the 'ф' as a soft 'f' sound, common in borrowed words.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To discharge feces from the body

Translation(s) & Context:

• испражняться - Commonly used in informal health discussions or medical settings to describe the natural process; avoid in polite conversation.
• дефекация - Formal term for the physiological process; often found in medical texts or educational materials.

Usage Examples:

• Ему нужно испражняться регулярно для поддержания здоровья.

  He needs to defecate regularly to maintain his health.

• Дети учатся контролировать, когда они испражняются.

  Children learn to control when they defecate.

• Врачи советуют не игнорировать позывы к дефекации.

  Doctors advise not to ignore the urges to defecate.

• После операции он не мог испражняться без помощи.

  After the surgery, he couldn't defecate without assistance.

• Дефекация является важным процессом пищеварения.

  Defecation is an important process in digestion.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'испражняться' (a reflexive verb), it follows the standard conjugation patterns for Russian imperfective verbs. It is irregular in some aspects due to its reflexive nature. Below is a table of its key forms:

For 'дефекация' (a feminine noun, 1st declension), it has standard noun inflections and does not change in the nominative singular form. It is invariant in many contexts but inflects as follows in other cases:

• Nominative: дефекация
• Genitive: дефекации
• Dative: дефекации
• Accusative: дефекацию
• Instrumental: дефекацией
• Prepositional: дефекации

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • опорожняться (similar to испражняться, but more formal and less common)
  • сходить в туалет (informal equivalent, used in everyday language for a broader context)
• Antonyms:
  • удерживать (to hold back, as in suppressing the urge)

Related Phrases:

• ходить в туалет - A common phrase meaning "to go to the toilet," often used euphemistically for defecating in informal settings. (Implies routine bodily functions.)
• нарушение дефекации - Refers to "disruption of defecation," used in medical contexts for issues like constipation. (Highlights health-related applications.)
• регулярная дефекация - Means "regular defecation," emphasizing the importance of bowel habits in health discussions.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'испражняться' is a reflexive verb that directly corresponds to the English 'defecate' in medical or biological contexts, but it's not suitable for polite conversation—opt for euphemisms like 'сходить в туалет' in social settings. 'Дефекация' is more neutral and formal, often used in scientific writing. When choosing between translations, consider the context: use 'испражняться' for actions and 'дефекация' for processes. Grammatically, ensure correct reflexive endings for verbs to avoid sounding unnatural.

Common Errors:

• English learners often forget the reflexive '-ся' in 'испражняться', mistakenly saying 'испражнять' (which is incorrect and means something else). Correct: Use 'испражняться' for the reflexive action. Example of error: "Я испражнять" (wrong) vs. "Я испражняюсь" (correct). This changes the meaning entirely.
• Confusing it with similar verbs like 'опорожнять', which is transitive and requires an object, e.g., "опорожнять кишечник" (to empty the bowels). Error: Using 'опорожнять' without context, which might imply a different action.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, discussions about bodily functions like defecation are generally avoided in polite company, similar to English-speaking cultures. However, in medical or educational contexts, terms like 'дефекация' are used straightforwardly. This reflects a broader cultural emphasis on privacy and decorum regarding personal health, though public health campaigns may address it more openly.

Related Concepts:

• туалет (toilet)
• кишечник (intestine)
• констипация (constipation)