Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'effete'

English Word: effete

Key Russian Translations:

• Истощенный [/ɪsˈtoʂːenːɨj/ IPA] - [Formal, used in literary or descriptive contexts]
• Ослабленный [/ɐsˈlablʲenːɨj/ IPA] - [Informal, often in everyday or medical discussions]

Frequency: Low (This word and its translations are not commonly used in casual conversation but appear in literature, academic texts, or formal descriptions.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate, as it requires understanding of Russian adjective inflections and nuanced vocabulary; for 'Истощенный', it's B2, while 'Ослабленный' might be A2 for basic forms.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Истощенный: /ɪsˈtoʂːenːɨj/ (Note the stressed 'o' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers due to the rolled 'r' and palatalized consonants.)

Ослабленный: /ɐsˈlablʲenːɨj/ (Emphasize the soft 'l' sound; common in Russian but may require practice for non-native speakers.)

Note on Истощенный: This word has a formal, somewhat archaic tone; variations in pronunciation may occur in regional dialects, such as softening the 'щ' in some areas.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Lacking vigor, effectiveness, or vitality; often used to describe something that has become weak or exhausted over time.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Истощенный - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe physical or metaphorical exhaustion, such as in historical or philosophical discussions.
• Ослабленный - Applied in everyday or medical scenarios, implying a reduction in strength without the same depth of decay as 'Истощенный'.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: Война оставила страну истощенной, с разрушенной экономикой и деморализованным населением.

  English Translation: The war left the country effete, with a destroyed economy and demoralized population.

• Русский: Этот старый режим был ослабленным и не мог противостоять новым вызовам.

  English Translation: This old regime was effete and could not withstand new challenges.

• Русский: Истощенный от долгой болезни, он едва мог встать с постели.

  English Translation: Effete from a long illness, he could barely get out of bed.

• Русский: В современном обществе многие традиции становятся ослабленными под влиянием глобализации.

  English Translation: In modern society, many traditions become effete under the influence of globalization.

• Русский: Истощенный аристократ из классических романов часто символизирует упадок.

  English Translation: The effete aristocrat from classical novels often symbolizes decline.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'Истощенный' and 'Ослабленный' are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern of agreement with the nouns they modify. These are regular adjectives, so they decline predictably.

For irregular forms or contexts, these adjectives remain standard, but always agree with the noun in gender, number, and case.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Слабый (slabyy) - More general, implying weakness without the connotation of exhaustion.
  • Выдохшийся (vydokhsheysya) - Informal, specifically for something that has run out of energy.
• Antonyms:
  • Сильный (silnyy) - Strong, powerful; often used in opposition to weakness.
  • Мощный (moshchnyy) - Mighty or robust; emphasizes energy and capability.

Related Phrases:

• Истощенная почва - Effete soil (refers to depleted land, common in agricultural contexts).
• Ослабленный иммунитет - Effete immune system (used in health discussions, implying reduced defenses).
• Истощенная элита - Effete elite (a phrase from literature, denoting a weakened ruling class).

Usage Notes:

'Effete' corresponds closely to 'Истощенный' in formal English-Russian translation, especially for abstract or historical uses, while 'Ослабленный' is better for practical, everyday weakening. Be mindful of context: in Russian, these words must agree grammatically with the noun they describe. For example, use the formal 'Истощенный' in literary writing but opt for 'Ослабленный' in casual speech. If the nuance involves moral or cultural decay, 'Истощенный' is preferable.

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse 'Истощенный' with 'Слабый', using 'Слабый' when 'Истощенный' implies a deeper exhaustion. Error: "Он слабый от работы" (incorrect for effete context). Correct: "Он истощенный от работы" – This better captures the depletion aspect.
• Another mistake is forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "Истощенный женщина" instead of "Истощенная женщина". Always ensure gender and case match the noun for grammatical accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'Истощенный' often evoke themes from literature, such as in the works of Tolstoy or Dostoevsky, where they symbolize the decline of society or individuals. This reflects a broader cultural emphasis on resilience versus decay in Russian history, particularly post-revolutionary periods.

Related Concepts:

• Деградация (degradatsiya) - Degradation
• Упадок (upadok) - Decline
• Истощение (istoschenie) - Exhaustion