Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'eradicate'

English Word: eradicate

Key Russian Translations:

• искоренить /ɪs.kɐˈrʲe.nʲɪtʲ/ - [Formal, used in contexts involving complete elimination]
• уничтожить /ʊn.ɪʨ.tɐˈʐɨtʲ/ - [Formal, slightly broader for destruction, often in military or general contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in formal writing, academic discussions, and media, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate, as it involves understanding perfective verbs and formal register; for 'уничтожить', also B2 due to similar verb structures)

Pronunciation (Russian):

искоренить: /ɪs.kɐˈrʲe.nʲɪtʲ/

уничтожить: /ʊn.ɪʨ.tɐˈʐɨtʲ/

Note on искоренить: This word has a stressed syllable on the third vowel ('re'), which can be tricky for learners due to Russian's mobile stress patterns.

Note on уничтожить: The 'щ' sound is a soft, palatalized 'sh', often challenging for non-native speakers.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To completely destroy or get rid of something (e.g., a disease, a problem, or a social issue)

Translation(s) & Context:

• искоренить - Used in formal or scientific contexts, such as public health or policy discussions, emphasizing thorough elimination.
• уничтожить - Applied in broader destructive contexts, like warfare or environmental issues, but can imply more immediate action.

Usage Examples:

• Ученые работают над тем, чтобы искоренить эту эпидемию в регионе. (Scientists are working to eradicate this epidemic in the region.)

  Scientists are working to eradicate this epidemic in the region.

• Правительство планирует искоренить коррупцию через новые законы. (The government plans to eradicate corruption through new laws.)

  The government plans to eradicate corruption through new laws.

• Войска смогли уничтожить вражеские укрепления за считанные часы. (The troops were able to eradicate the enemy's fortifications in a matter of hours.)

  The troops were able to eradicate the enemy's fortifications in a matter of hours.

• Экологи борются, чтобы уничтожить инвазивные виды в лесу. (Ecologists are fighting to eradicate invasive species in the forest.)

  Ecologists are fighting to eradicate invasive species in the forest.

• Мы должны искоренить предрассудки в обществе, начиная с образования. (We must eradicate prejudices in society, starting with education.)

  We must eradicate prejudices in society, starting with education.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'искоренить' and 'уничтожить' are perfective verbs in Russian, meaning they express completed actions. Russian verbs undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. These verbs are irregular in some forms due to Russian's complex verbal system.

Note: These verbs do not have imperfective counterparts in standard usage, making them aspectually fixed for completed actions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • ликвидировать (eliminates, often in official or bureaucratic contexts)
  • элиминировать (eliminates, more modern and influenced by English, used in scientific fields)
• Antonyms:
  • поддерживать (to support or maintain, implying preservation rather than destruction)
  • сохранять (to preserve or keep, contrasting with eradication)

Related Phrases:

• Искоренить зло - (To eradicate evil; a phrase often used in moral or philosophical discussions to mean rooting out societal vices.)
• Уничтожить следы - (To eradicate traces; commonly refers to covering up evidence in detective or everyday contexts.)
• Искоренить невежество - (To eradicate ignorance; used in educational reforms to emphasize complete elimination of lack of knowledge.)

Usage Notes:

'Искоренить' is the most precise translation for 'eradicate' in contexts requiring thorough, root-level elimination, such as in medicine or social issues, and is preferred in formal Russian. 'Уничтожить' is broader and can be used interchangeably but may imply more violent or immediate destruction. English learners should note that Russian verbs like these are aspectually perfective, so they don't express ongoing actions—use imperfective verbs like 'бороться' (to fight) for processes. In spoken Russian, these words are rare in casual conversation; opt for simpler synonyms in informal settings. When choosing between translations, consider the context: 'искоренить' for long-term eradication and 'уничтожить' for instant removal.

Common Errors:

• Mistaking aspect: English learners often use 'искоренить' for ongoing actions, e.g., saying "Я искореняю болезнь" (incorrect, as it's perfective). Correct: Use the imperfective "искоренять" for ongoing efforts, but note it's less common. Error example: "Я искореняю" (implies completion); Correct: "Я борюсь с" for ongoing eradication.
• Overgeneralizing: Confusing 'уничтожить' with 'убить' (to kill), leading to misuse in non-lethal contexts. Error example: "Уничтожить насекомых" might be fine, but in human contexts, it sounds extreme; Correct: Use 'искоренить' for metaphorical eradication like "искоренить привычку".
• Gender agreement: Forgetting to adjust past tense forms, e.g., saying "Я искоренил" for a female speaker. Error: "Она искоренил"; Correct: "Она искоренила".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'искоренить' often appear in historical contexts, such as Soviet-era campaigns to 'eradicate' illiteracy or class enemies, reflecting themes of revolutionary change and state-driven reforms. This can carry a connotation of idealism mixed with authoritarianism, as seen in literature by authors like Tolstoy, where eradication of social evils is a moral imperative.

Related Concepts:

• борьба (struggle)
• ликвидация (liquidation or elimination)
• эпидемия (epidemic, often paired with eradication efforts)