Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'detritus'

English Word: detritus

Key Russian Translations:

• детрит [ˈdɛtrɪt] - [Formal, used in scientific or geological contexts]
• мусор [ˈmusər] - [Informal, everyday language for general waste]
• отходы [ɐtˈxɔdɨ] - [Formal, broader context for waste materials]

Frequency: Low (Primarily used in specialized fields like geology or biology; not common in everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate for 'детрит' due to its scientific nature; A2 for 'мусор' as it's basic vocabulary)

Pronunciation (Russian):

детрит: [ˈdɛtrɪt]

мусор: [ˈmusər]

отходы: [ɐtˈxɔdɨ]

Note on детрит: The stress is on the first syllable; the 'т' sound is soft and can be challenging for English speakers due to Russian palatalization.

Note on мусор: The 'у' is pronounced like the 'oo' in "book," with a short vowel sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Waste or debris resulting from the disintegration of organic or inorganic matter (e.g., in geological or environmental contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• детрит - Used in formal, scientific discussions, such as describing sediment in rivers or ecosystems.
• мусор - Applied in informal settings for everyday waste, but less precise for geological detritus.

Usage Examples:

• В реке скапливается детрит от эрозии скал, что приводит к изменению экосистемы.

  In the river, detritus accumulates from the erosion of rocks, leading to changes in the ecosystem.

• Геологи изучают детрит в почве, чтобы понять историю региона.

  Geologists study detritus in the soil to understand the region's history.

• После урагана улицы были завалены мусором и детритом с деревьев.

  After the hurricane, the streets were littered with garbage and detritus from the trees.

• Детрит в океане служит пищей для микроорганизмов.

  Detritus in the ocean serves as food for microorganisms.

Meaning 2: Figurative or metaphorical waste, such as remnants of something decayed or useless

Translation(s) & Context:

• отходы - Used in broader contexts, including metaphorical ones, like waste in manufacturing or society.
• мусор - Informal for metaphorical "junk" in daily life.

Usage Examples:

• В старом доме накопились отходы прошлых лет, превратившись в бесполезный детрит.

  In the old house, the waste from past years had accumulated, turning into useless detritus.

• Её речь была полна отходов идей, как детрит в реке мыслей.

  Her speech was full of wasted ideas, like detritus in a river of thoughts.

• Мусор информационный часто мешает найти ценную информацию, подобно детриту в данных.

  Informational garbage often hinders finding valuable information, much like detritus in data.

• Отходы цивилизации, включая детрит пластика, загрязняют океаны.

  The waste of civilization, including plastic detritus, pollutes the oceans.

• В литературе детрит символизирует утраченное прошлое.

  In literature, detritus symbolizes a lost past.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'детрит' is a masculine noun (from Latin origin, often treated as indeclinable in modern Russian due to its foreign root). It does not change in most cases but can follow basic patterns in scientific contexts:

'мусор' is a masculine noun with regular declension:

'отходы' is a plural-only noun and does not have a singular form; it remains largely unchanged but agrees in case.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • остатки (ostatki) - Remnants, often used for leftovers.
  • обломки (oblomki) - Fragments, specifically for broken pieces.
• Antonyms:
  • ресурсы (resursy) - Resources, implying value and utility.
  • чистота (chistota) - Cleanliness, in opposition to waste.

Related Phrases:

• Детрит морского дна - Sea floor detritus; refers to accumulated waste on the ocean bottom.
• Мусорный детрит - Garbage detritus; used for mixed waste in urban environments.
• Отходы производства - Production waste; common in industrial contexts.

Usage Notes:

When translating 'detritus' to Russian, choose 'детрит' for precise scientific or geological contexts to maintain formality. 'Мусор' is more casual and suitable for everyday conversations about trash. Be aware of grammatical gender: 'детрит' is masculine, so it affects adjectives and verbs (e.g., "этот детрит" for "this detritus"). In metaphorical uses, 'отходы' can capture broader implications but avoid it in informal speech to prevent sounding overly formal.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'детрит' in everyday contexts where 'мусор' is more appropriate, e.g., saying "Убери детрит с стола" instead of "Убери мусор с стола." Correct: 'Мусор' fits better for household waste. Explanation: 'Детрит' implies a scientific or natural process, which can sound unnatural in casual settings.

• Error: Incorrect declension, e.g., using 'детрит' in the genitive as 'детрит' instead of 'детрита.' Correct: Always decline based on case, as shown in the inflections table. Explanation: Russian nouns require case agreement, and skipping it can lead to grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like 'мусор' often extend to metaphorical uses in literature and media, symbolizing societal decay or environmental issues, as seen in works by authors like Chekhov. 'Детрит' reflects Russia's emphasis on scientific exploration, given the country's history in geology and environmental studies during the Soviet era.

Related Concepts:

• Эрозия (erosiya)
• Осадки (osadki)
• Загрязнение (zagryazneniye)