Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'erection'

English Word: erection

Key Russian Translations:

• эрекция [ɪrʲɪkˈtsɨjə] - [Formal, Medical, Singular]
• воздвижение [vɐzdvʲɪˈʐenʲɪje] - [Formal, Architectural, Less common, Singular]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in medical and scientific contexts, but less frequent in everyday conversation).

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of medical terminology and Russian noun declensions, with "эрекция" being more straightforward than "воздвижение," which might edge toward C1 due to its contextual rarity).

Pronunciation (Russian):

эрекция: [ɪrʲɪkˈtsɨjə]

Note on эрекция: The stress falls on the third syllable ("tsɨjə"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the Russian palatalized 'r' sound. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

воздвижение: [vɐzdvʲɪˈʐenʲɪje]

Note on воздвижение: The 'zh' sound ([ʐ]) is similar to the 's' in "measure," and the word is often stressed on the third syllable; common in formal or technical Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Physiological process (e.g., in human anatomy)

Translation(s) & Context:

• эрекция - Used in medical, biological, or everyday informal discussions about human physiology, often in formal or educational contexts.
• воздвижение - Rarely used for this meaning; more for structures, but can metaphorically apply in poetic or archaic language.

Usage Examples:

• Во время сна у мужчин может происходить эрекция. (During sleep, men may experience an erection.)

  Translation: "During sleep, men may experience an erection." This example shows the word in a neutral, medical context.

• Эрекция является нормальным физиологическим процессом. (Erection is a normal physiological process.)

  Translation: "Erection is a normal physiological process." Here, it demonstrates use in educational or health-related discussions.

• Врачи обсуждают причины эрекции на консультациях. (Doctors discuss the causes of erection during consultations.)

  Translation: "Doctors discuss the causes of erection during consultations." This illustrates formal medical usage.

• Иногда эрекция возникает спонтанно. (Sometimes erection occurs spontaneously.)

  Translation: "Sometimes erection occurs spontaneously." This shows variation in everyday contexts.

Secondary Meaning: Construction or erection of structures (e.g., buildings)

Translation(s) & Context:

• воздвижение - Primarily used in architectural or engineering contexts, such as erecting monuments or buildings.
• эрекция - Not commonly used for this; stick to воздвижение to avoid confusion.

Usage Examples:

• Воздвижение моста заняло несколько месяцев. (The erection of the bridge took several months.)

  Translation: "The erection of the bridge took several months." This example highlights engineering usage.

• Инженеры supervises воздвижение высотных зданий. (Engineers supervise the erection of high-rise buildings.)

  Translation: "Engineers supervise the erection of high-rise buildings." Demonstrates professional jargon.

• Воздвижение статуи было grand событием. (The erection of the statue was a grand event.)

  Translation: "The erection of the statue was a grand event." This shows cultural or historical contexts.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are nouns. "Эрекция" is a feminine noun (3rd declension), while "воздвижение" is a neuter noun (2nd declension). Russian nouns change based on case, number, and gender. Below is a table for each:

For "воздвижение" (Neuter, Singular/Plural):

These follow regular Russian declension patterns, with no irregularities noted.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • возбуждение [vɐzbʊʐˈdenʲɪje] - Similar to эрекция in physiological contexts, but broader (e.g., excitement); often used interchangeably in informal settings.
  • подъем [pɐdʲˈjem] - For architectural contexts, meaning "raising" or "lifting."
• Antonyms:
  • ослабление [ɐslabˈlenʲɪje] - Meaning "weakening" or "relaxation," opposite in physiological contexts.
  • падение [ˈpadʲɪnʲe] - For structures, meaning "falling" or "collapse."

Related Phrases:

• Эрекция пениса - (Erection of the penis; used in medical discussions to specify context.)
• Воздвижение памятника - (Erection of a monument; common in historical or cultural narratives.)
• Спонтанная эрекция - (Spontaneous erection; refers to unplanned occurrences in everyday or medical language.)

Usage Notes:

"Эрекция" directly corresponds to the physiological meaning of "erection" in English and is the most accurate translation in medical contexts, while "воздвижение" is better for structural or architectural uses. Be mindful of formal settings; "эрекция" is neutral and widely accepted in professional discussions but can be sensitive in casual conversation. In Russian, always consider gender agreement in sentences, e.g., adjectives must match the feminine form for "эрекция." When choosing between translations, opt for "эрекция" for human biology and "воздвижение" for inanimate objects to avoid ambiguity.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "эрекция" in non-medical contexts, e.g., saying "эрекция дома" (erection of a house) instead of "воздвижение дома." Correct: "Воздвижение дома" – This confuses the physiological and structural meanings, leading to awkwardness.
• Mistake: Incorrect declension, e.g., using "эрекция" in the genitive as "эрекция" instead of "эрекции." Correct: "Причины эрекции" (Reasons for erection) – Learners often forget case changes, which alters sentence meaning.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, discussions around "эрекция" are often tied to health and psychology, influenced by Soviet-era medical literature. It's a topic in literature like in works by Tolstoy, where physiological aspects symbolize vitality, but it's generally approached with discretion in public discourse due to social norms.

Related Concepts:

• возбуждение
• импотенция
• конструкция