Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'dormancy'

English Word: dormancy

Key Russian Translations:

• спячка [ˈspʲaʧkə] - [Formal, used in biological and scientific contexts]
• дремота [drʲɪˈmotə] - [Informal, often for lighter or metaphorical states of inactivity]
• неактивность [nʲɪˈaktivnəsʲtʲ] - [Formal, broader for general inactivity]

Frequency: Medium - Commonly encountered in scientific, biological, or environmental discussions, but less frequent in everyday conversation.

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) - Requires understanding of Russian noun declensions and context-specific vocabulary; for "спячка", it's B2; for "дремота", it might be A2 if used metaphorically.

Pronunciation (Russian):

спячка: [ˈspʲaʧkə]

дремота: [drʲɪˈmotə]

неактивность: [nʲɪˈaktivnəsʲtʲ]

Note on спячка: The initial "сп" sound is a soft palatalized "s" followed by "p", which can be challenging for English speakers; pronounce it with a gentle, forward tongue position. Variations in regional accents may soften the "ч" sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Biological or Natural Dormancy (e.g., hibernation in animals or plants)

Translation(s) & Context:

• спячка - Used in contexts describing seasonal inactivity in animals or plants, such as winter hibernation; common in scientific and educational texts.
• дремота - Occasionally used metaphorically for a light, temporary state, but less precise for strict biological dormancy.

Usage Examples:

• В холодные зимы многие животные впадают в спячку, чтобы сохранить энергию.

  In cold winters, many animals fall into dormancy to conserve energy.

• Семена растений могут находиться в спячке месяцами, ожидая подходящих условий для прорастания.

  Plant seeds can remain in dormancy for months, waiting for suitable conditions to sprout.

• Из-за климатических изменений период спячки у медведей стал короче.

  Due to climate change, the dormancy period for bears has become shorter.

• Дремота охватывает лес в осенние дни, когда природа готовится к зиме.

  Dormancy envelops the forest in autumn days, as nature prepares for winter.

Metaphorical or General Inactivity (e.g., economic or social stagnation)

Translation(s) & Context:

• неактивность - Applied to non-biological contexts like economic dormancy or personal inactivity; suitable for formal discussions.
• спячка - Sometimes used metaphorically, e.g., for a period of economic slowdown.

Usage Examples:

• Экономическая неактивность страны длилась несколько лет после кризиса.

  The economic dormancy of the country lasted for several years after the crisis.

• В спячке идей художник иногда находит новые источники вдохновения.

  In a state of dormancy, an artist sometimes finds new sources of inspiration.

• Неактивность в социальных сетях может указывать на период размышлений или отдыха.

  Inactivity on social media can indicate a period of reflection or rest, akin to dormancy.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Спячка" is a feminine noun (3rd declension). It follows standard Russian noun declension patterns with variations by case and number. Below is a declension table:

"Дремота" is also a feminine noun with similar declension rules as above.

"Неактивность" is a feminine noun (abstract) and does not change in most forms but follows standard patterns: e.g., Genitive: неактивности.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • дремота - Similar but often lighter, implying drowsiness rather than deep inactivity.
  • застой - Used for stagnation, especially in economic or social contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • активность - Direct opposite, meaning activity or liveliness.
  • возбуждение - Implies excitement or awakening from dormancy.

Related Phrases:

• Зимняя спячка - Refers to winter dormancy, commonly used for animal hibernation.
• Период неактивности - A phrase for a phase of dormancy in various contexts, like business cycles.
• Впасть в спячку - Means to fall into dormancy, often metaphorically for becoming inactive.

Usage Notes:

"Спячка" is the most precise translation for biological dormancy and should be used in scientific or natural contexts, while "неактивность" is better for abstract or human-related inactivity. English users should note that Russian nouns like these change by case, so always consider the sentence structure (e.g., use genitive for possession). Choose "дремота" for informal or poetic expressions to avoid sounding overly formal. In everyday Russian, these words are more common in written or educational content rather than casual speech.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "спячка" with "сон" (sleep), leading to misuse like saying "Я в спячке" when meaning simple tiredness. Correct: Use "спячка" only for prolonged, seasonal inactivity, not daily sleep. Example of error: "Я в спячке после работы" (incorrect). Correct: "Я устал после работы" (I'm tired after work).

• Error: Forgetting declension, e.g., using "спячка" in the wrong case. Example of error: "Из-за спячка" (incorrect genitive). Correct: "Из-за спячки" – This ensures grammatical agreement in Russian sentences.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "спячка" often evokes images of long, harsh winters, symbolizing survival and resilience, as seen in folklore about animals like bears hibernating. This reflects Russia's northern climate, where dormancy is a natural adaptation, and it can metaphorically represent periods of national or personal endurance during challenging times.

Related Concepts:

• гибернация
• эстабация
• зимовка