Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'deficit'

English Word: deficit

Key Russian Translations:

• дефицит [dʲɪfʲɪˈt͡sɨt] - [Formal, Commonly used in economic contexts]
• недостаток [nʲɪdɐˈstatək] - [Neutral, General use for lack or shortage]

Frequency: Medium (often used in economic and general contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

дефицит: [dʲɪfʲɪˈt͡sɨt]

Note on дефицит: Stress falls on the last syllable, a common pattern in borrowed words.

недостаток: [nʲɪdɐˈstatək]

Note on недостаток: Stress on the second syllable; the 'о' in the stressed syllable is pronounced as [a].

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Economic Shortfall or Deficit

Translation(s) & Context:

• дефицит - Primarily used in financial, budgetary, or economic contexts (e.g., budget deficit).

Usage Examples:

• Дефицит бюджета составил 5 миллиардов рублей.

  The budget deficit amounted to 5 billion rubles.

• Правительство пытается сократить дефицит.

  The government is trying to reduce the deficit.

• Дефицит торговли отрицательно влияет на экономику.

  The trade deficit negatively affects the economy.

2. General Lack or Shortage

Translation(s) & Context:

• недостаток - Used for a general lack or insufficiency (e.g., lack of resources, qualities).

Usage Examples:

• У него недостаток опыта в этой области.

  He has a deficit of experience in this field.

• Недостаток воды стал серьёзной проблемой.

  The deficit of water has become a serious problem.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

дефицит (Noun, Masculine, Inanimate):

недостаток (Noun, Masculine, Inanimate): Follows similar declension patterns as a second-declension masculine noun.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for дефицит:

• недостаток
• нехватка

Note: "нехватка" is often used for tangible shortages (e.g., goods), while "дефицит" is more formal and economic.

Antonyms for дефицит/недостаток:

• избыток
• профицит

Related Phrases:

• дефицит бюджета - Budget deficit (economic context).
• дефицит товаров - Shortage of goods (common in historical Soviet context).
• недостаток внимания - Lack of attention (personal or abstract context).

Usage Notes:

• "дефицит" is the preferred term in formal, economic, or technical discussions, especially regarding budgets or trade. It is a direct borrowing from Latin via European languages.
• "недостаток" is more versatile and can refer to abstract deficiencies (e.g., lack of skills or qualities) as well as tangible shortages.
• Be mindful of context when choosing between the two; using "дефицит" for personal shortcomings might sound overly formal or awkward.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "дефицит" for personal or non-economic shortages. Incorrect: "У меня дефицит времени." Correct: "У меня недостаток времени." (I have a lack of time.)
• Error: Misplacing stress in pronunciation. Incorrect stress on "дефицит" as [ˈdʲefɪt͡sɨt]. Correct: [dʲɪfʲɪˈt͡sɨt]. Explanation: Stress is on the last syllable.

Cultural Notes:

In Soviet and post-Soviet contexts, "дефицит" carries a historical connotation of widespread shortages of goods (e.g., food, clothing) during the planned economy era. It often evokes nostalgia or criticism of that period among Russian speakers.

Related Concepts:

• нехватка
• профицит
• экономика