Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Depreciate'

English Word: Depreciate

Key Russian Translations:

• обесцениваться [ɐbʲɪsʲt͡sɨˈnʲivətʲsə] - [Formal, Reflexive Verb]
• обесценивать [ɐbʲɪsʲt͡sɨˈnʲivətʲ] - [Formal, Transitive Verb]
• дешеветь [dʲɪʂɨˈvʲetʲ] - [Informal, Often for Physical Items]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for "обесцениваться" and "обесценивать"; B1 (Lower Intermediate) for "дешеветь"

Pronunciation (Russian):

обесцениваться: [ɐbʲɪsʲt͡sɨˈnʲivətʲsə]

Note on обесцениваться: Stress falls on the fourth syllable. The reflexive ending "-ся" is pronounced softly.

обесценивать: [ɐbʲɪsʲt͡sɨˈnʲivətʲ]

дешеветь: [dʲɪʂɨˈvʲetʲ]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To lose value over time (e.g., currency, assets)

Translation(s) & Context:

• обесцениваться - Used for abstract or financial depreciation, such as currency or value over time.
• дешеветь - Often refers to tangible items losing market value, like goods or products.

Usage Examples:

• Рубль продолжает обесцениваться из-за экономического кризиса.

  The ruble continues to depreciate due to the economic crisis.

• После выпуска новой модели телефоны быстро дешевеют.

  After the release of a new model, phones quickly depreciate.

• Их валюта обесценилась почти на 20% за год.

  Their currency depreciated by almost 20% over the year.

2. To belittle or devalue (e.g., someone's efforts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• обесценивать - Used in a figurative sense to mean diminishing the worth of something or someone.

Usage Examples:

• Он постоянно обесценивает мои усилия на работе.

  He constantly depreciates my efforts at work.

• Не стоит обесценивать чужие достижения.

  You shouldn’t depreciate others’ achievements.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

обесцениваться (Reflexive Verb, Imperfective): Regular conjugation in present, past, and future tenses. Reflexive ending "-ся" remains in all forms.

обесценивать (Transitive Verb, Imperfective): Regular conjugation without reflexive ending.

дешеветь (Intransitive Verb, Imperfective): Regular conjugation, often used impersonally.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "обесцениваться/обесценивать":

• уменьшаться в цене
• терять ценность

Note: "уменьшаться в цене" is more literal and less formal than "обесцениваться".

Antonyms for "обесцениваться":

• дорожать
• возрастать в цене

Related Phrases:

• обесценивание валюты - Currency depreciation.
• дешеветь на глазах - To depreciate noticeably or rapidly (literally, "before one's eyes").
• обесценивать труд - To depreciate someone's work or effort.

Usage Notes:

• "обесцениваться" is primarily used for abstract or financial contexts (e.g., currency, value), while "дешеветь" is more common for physical items losing market value.
• "обесценивать" is transitive and used when someone actively diminishes the value of something or someone, often in a figurative sense.
• Be mindful of the reflexive vs. non-reflexive forms ("обесцениваться" vs. "обесценивать") as they affect the grammatical structure of the sentence.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "дешеветь" in formal financial contexts. Incorrect: "Валюта дешевеет." Correct: "Валюта обесценивается." Explanation: "дешеветь" is too informal for currency depreciation and is better suited for goods or products.
• Error: Forgetting the reflexive particle "-ся" in "обесцениваться" when no direct object is involved. Incorrect: "Ценность обесценивает." Correct: "Ценность обесценивается."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of "обесценивание" (depreciation) is often discussed in the context of economic instability, as many Russians have experienced significant currency depreciation during crises. The term carries a heavier emotional weight in such contexts compared to English.

Related Concepts:

• инфляция (inflation)
• девальвация (devaluation)
• падение курса (currency decline)