Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'disease'

English Word: disease

Key Russian Translations:

• болезнь [bɐˈlʲezʲnʲ] - [Formal, Singular]
• заболевание [zəbɐlʲɪˈvanʲɪje] - [Formal, Medical Context]

Frequency: High (Commonly used in everyday conversations, medical discussions, and media in Russian-speaking regions)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires basic understanding of Russian noun declensions and vocabulary, per CEFR standards. For 'болезнь', it's straightforward; for 'заболевание', it may be slightly more challenging due to its length and formal usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

болезнь: [bɐˈlʲezʲnʲ]

заболевание: [zəbɐlʲɪˈvanʲɪje]

Note on болезнь: The stress is on the second syllable; the 'л' is palatalized, which is a common feature in Russian nouns. Pronounce it with a soft 'l' sound for authenticity.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. General medical condition or illness

Translation(s) & Context:

• болезнь - Used in everyday contexts for common or non-specific illnesses, such as colds or chronic conditions.
• заболевание - Preferred in formal or medical settings for more precise diagnoses, like in hospitals or scientific reports.

Usage Examples:

• У меня простая болезнь, но она мешает мне работать.

  I have a simple disease, but it's interfering with my work.

• Эта болезнь передается через воздух и может быть опасной.

  This disease is transmitted through the air and can be dangerous.

• Врачи диагностировали у него хроническое заболевание.

  Doctors diagnosed him with a chronic disease.

• Болезнь распространилась по всему региону из-за плохой гигиены.

  The disease spread throughout the region due to poor hygiene.

• Ее заболевание требует немедленного лечения в клинике.

  Her disease requires immediate treatment at the clinic.

2. Figurative or metaphorical use (e.g., social or societal issues)

Translation(s) & Context:

• болезнь - Used metaphorically in informal discussions, such as for societal problems like corruption.

Usage Examples:

• Коррупция — это болезнь нашего общества.

  Corruption is a disease of our society.

• Эта политическая болезнь разрушает страну.

  This political disease is destroying the country.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'Болезнь' is a feminine noun (3rd declension), which undergoes regular inflection based on case and number. 'Заболевание' is also a neuter noun with standard inflections. Below is a table for 'болезнь' inflections; 'заболевание' follows similar patterns but is less variable in everyday use.

Note: 'Заболевание' is invariant in some contexts but inflects as: Nominative singular - заболевание; Genitive singular - заболевания; etc. It does not change in plural as frequently.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • недуг (nʲɪˈduk) - Similar to 'болезнь' but often implies a more chronic or severe condition.
  • инфекция (ɪnʲfʲekˈtsɨjə) - Used specifically for infectious diseases.
• Antonyms:
  • здоровье (zɐˈdrofʲjə) - Health, the opposite of disease in a general sense.
  • излечение (ɪzʲlʲɪˈt͡ɕenʲɪje) - Cure or recovery, contrasting with ongoing illness.

Related Phrases:

• Заболевание сердца - Heart disease; a common medical phrase referring to cardiovascular issues.
• Инфекционная болезнь - Infectious disease; used in contexts like epidemiology.
• Болезнь Альцгеймера - Alzheimer's disease; a specific named illness in Russian.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'болезнь' is the most direct equivalent to 'disease' and is versatile for both literal and metaphorical uses, while 'заболевание' is more formal and precise, often seen in medical literature. Choose 'болезнь' for everyday conversations to sound natural, but opt for 'заболевание' in professional settings to convey expertise. Be mindful of gender agreement in sentences, as 'болезнь' is feminine (e.g., 'эта болезнь' uses feminine adjectives). In informal speech, Russians might use diminutives like 'болезненка' for affection or lightness.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'болезнь' interchangeably with 'заболевание' in formal contexts. Correct: Врачи диагностировали заболевание (Doctors diagnosed the disease). Error Example: Врачи диагностировали болезнь (This sounds too casual for a medical report). Explanation: 'Заболевание' implies a diagnosed condition, while 'болезнь' is more general.
• Mistake: Forgetting noun declensions, e.g., saying 'о болезнь' instead of 'о болезни'. Correct: О болезни (About the disease). Error Example: О болезнь (Incorrect genitive form). Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, so always adjust based on sentence structure.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, diseases like 'болезнь' are often discussed with a mix of stoicism and superstition. For instance, the phrase 'народная болезнь' (folk disease) might refer to widespread social issues, reflecting Russia's historical experiences with epidemics and societal challenges, such as those during the Soviet era. This adds a layer of cultural depth, where health metaphors are used in literature and media to critique society.

Related Concepts:

• вирус
• эпидемия
• симптомы