Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'economize'

English Word: economize

Key Russian Translations:

• экономить [jɪkɐˈnomʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, commonly used in everyday and financial contexts]
• сберегать [sbʲɪrʲɪˈɡatʲ] - [Informal, often in personal or environmental contexts]

Frequency: Medium (This verb is commonly encountered in daily conversations about finances, resources, and efficiency, but not as ubiquitous as basic verbs like "to be" or "to have".)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR standards; involves understanding verb conjugations and contexts, which may challenge beginners but are manageable for intermediate learners. For "сберегать", difficulty is similar at B1.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

экономить: [jɪkɐˈnomʲɪtʲ]

сберегать: [sbʲɪrʲɪˈɡatʲ]

Note on экономить: The stress falls on the third syllable ("nom"), and the "й" sound at the end can be subtle; practice with native speakers to master the palatalization.

Note on сберегать: This word has a softer "г" sound due to palatalization; it's pronounced more fluidly in informal speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To use money, time, or resources carefully and avoid waste

Translation(s) & Context:

• экономить - Used in formal contexts like budgeting or environmental discussions, emphasizing long-term savings.
• сберегать - Applied in informal or personal settings, such as household management or conservation efforts.

Usage Examples:

• Мы стараемся экономить на коммунальных услугах, чтобы снизить расходы.

  We try to economize on utility bills to reduce expenses. (This example shows the verb in a present tense, financial context.)

• Она учит детей экономить энергию, выключая свет в пустых комнатах.

  She teaches children to economize on energy by turning off lights in empty rooms. (Illustrates imperative use in educational settings.)

• В кризисные времена люди начинают сберегать продукты, чтобы хватило на неделю.

  In times of crisis, people start to economize on food to make it last for a week. (Demonstrates "сберегать" in a survival or informal context.)

• Компания решила экономить время, внедряя новые технологии.

  The company decided to economize on time by implementing new technologies. (Shows application in business efficiency.)

• Он предпочитает сберегать воду, используя экономичные душевые насадки.

  He prefers to economize on water by using water-saving shower heads. (Highlights environmental usage with "сберегать".)

To make something more efficient or reduce unnecessary expenditure

Translation(s) & Context:

• экономить - In professional or economic discussions, focusing on optimization.
• сберегать - In casual advice, like personal finance tips.

Usage Examples:

• Правительство планирует экономить ресурсы на национальном уровне.

  The government plans to economize on resources at a national level. (Example in a policy-making context.)

• Молодые семьи учатся сберегать деньги для будущего.

  Young families are learning to economize on money for the future. (Informal, long-term planning scenario.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "экономить" and "сберегать" are first-conjugation verbs in Russian, following regular patterns but with some irregularities in aspect (imperfective). "Экономить" is imperfective, while its perfective counterpart is "сэкономить". "Сберегать" is also imperfective, with "сберечь" as perfective.

For unchanging forms, note that these verbs do not change based on gender in the past tense; only number and person affect conjugation.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • беречь (to save or protect; more general and less formal than экономить)
  • тратить экономно (to spend economically; a phrase rather than a single word, implying careful expenditure)
• Antonyms:
  • тратить (to spend; directly opposite in the context of resources)
  • растрачивать (to waste or squander; emphasizes inefficiency)

Related Phrases:

• экономить время - Save time (Often used in productivity contexts to mean optimizing schedules.)
• сберегать ресурсы - Conserve resources (Common in environmental discussions, implying sustainable practices.)
• экономить на здоровье - Cut corners on health (A warning phrase, indicating potential risks of over-economizing.)

Usage Notes:

In English, "economize" directly corresponds to "экономить" in formal Russian contexts, such as finance or business, but "сберегать" is preferred for personal or emotional saving scenarios. Be mindful of aspect: use the imperfective form for ongoing actions and perfective for completed ones (e.g., "сэкономить" for a one-time saving). In spoken Russian, these verbs are versatile across registers, but avoid them in highly poetic or archaic language. When choosing between translations, opt for "экономить" if the focus is economic, and "сберегать" for protective connotations.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Confusing the imperfective and perfective aspects, e.g., using "экономить" where "сэкономить" is needed for a completed action. Correct: Instead of saying "Я экономить деньги вчера" (incorrect), say "Я сэкономил деньги вчера" to indicate a finished event. Explanation: Russian verbs require aspect agreement with the timeline of the action.
• Mistake: Overusing "экономить" in informal contexts, making speech sound too formal. Correct: Use "сберегать" for casual talk, like "Я сберегаю еду" instead of "Я экономлю еду". Explanation: This ensures natural flow and appropriateness in social settings.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "экономить" and "сберегать" reflect a historical emphasis on resourcefulness, stemming from periods of economic hardship in Soviet times. They often carry a positive connotation of prudence and survival, as seen in proverbs like "Деньги не растут на деревьях" (Money doesn't grow on trees), encouraging careful management in everyday life.

Related Concepts:

• бюджет (budget)
• ресурсы (resources)
• эффективность (efficiency)