Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'emaciate'

English Word: emaciate

Key Russian Translations:

• Истощать [ɪˈstoʂːətʲ] - [Formal, Used in medical or literary contexts]
• Истощать [ɪˈstoʂːətʲ] - [Formal, Often interchangeable with 'истощать', but slightly more common in everyday descriptions]

Frequency: Low (This word and its translations are not commonly used in everyday conversation but appear in medical, literary, or technical discussions.)

Difficulty: Intermediate (B2) - The verb forms involve understanding Russian conjugation patterns, which can be challenging for learners at A2 level or below.

Pronunciation (Russian):

Истощать: [ɪˈstoʂːətʲ]

Истощать: [ɪˈstoʂːətʲ] (Note on Истощать: The pronunciation emphasizes the 'shch' sound [ʂː], which is a common challenge for English speakers; practice with native audio to master the palatalized 'tʲ'.)

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: To cause someone or something to become extremely thin and weak, often due to illness, starvation, or deprivation.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Истощать - Used in formal or medical contexts to describe the process of weakening or emaciating, often implying a gradual decline.
• Истощать - Applied in literary or descriptive contexts, emphasizing exhaustion leading to emaciation.

Usage Examples:

• Длительная болезнь может истощать организм, делая его крайне уязвимым. (A prolonged illness can emaciate the body, making it extremely vulnerable.)

  Translation: A prolonged illness can emaciate the body, making it extremely vulnerable.

• Голодные годы войны истощали население, вызывая массовые проблемы со здоровьем. (The hungry years of the war emaciated the population, causing widespread health issues.)

  Translation: The hungry years of the war emaciated the population, causing widespread health issues.

• Интенсивные тренировки без правильного питания могут истощать мышцы спортсмена. (Intense workouts without proper nutrition can emaciate an athlete's muscles.)

  Translation: Intense workouts without proper nutrition can emaciate an athlete's muscles.

• Экстремальные диеты иногда истощают тело, что приводит к потере мышечной массы. (Extreme diets sometimes emaciate the body, leading to loss of muscle mass.)

  Translation: Extreme diets sometimes emaciate the body, leading to loss of muscle mass.

• В исторических текстах часто описывается, как эпидемии истощали целые деревни. (In historical texts, it's often described how epidemics emaciated entire villages.)

  Translation: In historical texts, it's often described how epidemics emaciated entire villages.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "истощать" and "истощать" are imperfective verbs in Russian, which means they describe ongoing or repeated actions. They follow standard first-conjugation patterns for verbs ending in -ать. Below is a table outlining key inflections for "истощать" (similar patterns apply to "истощать").

Note: These verbs are regular, but pay attention to the stem changes in different aspects. If used in perfective form, related verbs like "истощить" may be employed for completed actions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: Ослаблять (to weaken) - Often used interchangeably but implies less severity; Утомлять (to fatigue) - Focuses on tiredness rather than emaciation.
• Antonyms: Укреплять (to strengthen) - Directly opposes the idea of weakening; Восстанавливать (to restore) - Used for recovery from emaciation.

Related Phrases:

• Стать истощенным - To become emaciated; Used in contexts describing physical decline due to illness.
• Истощение сил - Emaciation of strength; A common phrase in motivational or health-related discussions.
• Привести к истощению - To lead to emaciation; Often in medical or historical narratives.

Usage Notes:

"Истощать" and "истощать" are precise translations for "emaciate" in formal Russian, but they carry a connotation of exhaustion beyond just physical thinness, often including mental or vital depletion. In everyday speech, English speakers might prefer simpler alternatives like "ослабить" for informal contexts. Be mindful of aspect: use the imperfective for ongoing processes and perfective forms for completed actions. When choosing between translations, opt for "истощать" in literary works and "истощать" in scientific texts for nuance.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing the verb with "истощать" and using it incorrectly in tense, e.g., saying "Я истощать" instead of "Я истощаю". Correct: "Я истощаю" (I am emaciating). Explanation: Russian verbs require proper conjugation based on subject; always match the person and number.
• Error: Overusing in informal settings, e.g., translating "emaciate" as "истощать" in casual talk about dieting. Correct: Use "похудеть" for simple weight loss. Explanation: "Истощать" implies severe, pathological thinning, not routine slimming, to avoid exaggeration.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "истощать" often appear in literature and historical accounts of famines, such as those during World War II or the Soviet era, evoking themes of resilience and survival. This reflects a broader cultural emphasis on endurance in the face of adversity, which can deepen the emotional weight of the word in narratives.

Related Concepts:

• Ослабление
• Утомление
• Восстановление