Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Detrimental'

English Word: Detrimental

Key Russian Translations:

• вредный [ˈvrʲednɨj] - [Formal, Informal, General Use]
• пагубный [ˈpaɡʊbnɨj] - [Formal, Often Negative Connotation]
• ущербный [ʊˈɕːerb.nɨj] - [Formal, Used for Damage or Deficiency]

Frequency: Medium (Common in formal and written contexts)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for "вредный"; C1 (Advanced) for "пагубный" and "ущербный"

Pronunciation (Russian):

вредный: [ˈvrʲednɨj]

Note on вредный: Stress falls on the first syllable. The 'р' is rolled, typical in Russian pronunciation.

пагубный: [ˈpaɡʊbnɨj]

Note on пагубный: Stress on the first syllable. The 'у' is pronounced as a short 'oo' sound.

ущербный: [ʊˈɕːerb.nɨj]

Note on ущербный: Stress on the second syllable. The 'щ' sound is a soft 'shch' unique to Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Causing Harm or Damage (General Sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• вредный - Used for general harm, applicable to health, environment, or behavior.
• пагубный - Stronger negative connotation, often used for severe or destructive harm.

Usage Examples:

• Курение вредно для здоровья.

  Smoking is detrimental to health.

• Его пагубное влияние разрушило семью.

  His detrimental influence destroyed the family.

• Вредные привычки трудно искоренить.

  Detrimental habits are hard to eradicate.

2. Causing Loss or Deficiency (Specific Contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ущербный - Used specifically for something flawed, deficient, or causing material/financial loss.

Usage Examples:

• Этот договор оказался ущербным для компании.

  This contract turned out to be detrimental to the company.

• Его ущербное решение привело к убыткам.

  His detrimental decision led to losses.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

вредный (Adjective): Declines according to Russian adjective rules based on gender, number, and case.

Case	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Plural
Nominative	вредный	вредная	вредное	вредные
Genitive	вредного	вредной	вредного	вредных

пагубный (Adjective): Follows similar declension patterns as "вредный".

ущербный (Adjective): Also declines as a regular adjective, with similar patterns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for вредный:

• опасный (dangerous)
• токсичный (toxic)

Note: "опасный" is broader and often implies danger, while "токсичный" is more specific to toxicity, including metaphorical use.

Antonyms for вредный:

• полезный (useful)
• безвредный (harmless)

Related Phrases:

• вредные привычки - Detrimental habits (e.g., smoking, overeating).
• пагубное влияние - Detrimental influence (often used for destructive impact on people or society).
• ущербное решение - Detrimental decision (used for decisions causing loss or harm).

Usage Notes:

• "вредный" is the most versatile and commonly used translation for "detrimental", suitable for both formal and informal contexts.
• "пагубный" carries a stronger, often moral or severe connotation, and is more common in written or formal language.
• "ущербный" is typically used in specific contexts of deficiency or material loss, less common in everyday speech.
• Be mindful of adjective agreement in Russian; the form changes based on the noun it modifies (gender, number, case).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "пагубный" in casual conversation for minor harm. Incorrect: Этот сок пагубный (This juice is detrimental). Correct: Этот сок вредный (This juice is harmful).
• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement. Incorrect: Вредный еда (should be "вредная еда" for feminine noun "еда").

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, the concept of "вредный" is often associated with health and lifestyle discussions, reflecting a cultural emphasis on well-being. For instance, Russians might frequently label certain foods or habits as "вредный" in everyday conversations, especially in parenting or health advice contexts.

Related Concepts:

• опасность (danger)
• ущерб (damage/loss)
• вред (harm)