Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'evolution'

English Word: evolution

Key Russian Translations:

• эволюция [ɪ.vɐˈlu.t͡sɨ.ə] - [Formal, Scientific]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in scientific, educational, and philosophical discussions, but not in everyday casual conversation).

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate - requires understanding of scientific terminology and basic noun inflections in Russian).

Pronunciation (Russian):

эволюция: [ɪ.vɐˈlu.t͡sɨ.ə]

Note on эволюция: The stress falls on the third syllable ('lu'), and the 'ц' is pronounced as a voiceless alveolar affricate. Be mindful of the soft sign 'я' at the end, which affects vowel quality.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Biological or scientific process of gradual development

Translation(s) & Context:

• эволюция - Used in scientific contexts to describe the process of change in species over time, such as in biology or natural history.

Usage Examples:

• Эволюция человека началась миллионы лет назад. (Evolution of humans began millions of years ago.)

  English Translation: The evolution of humans began millions of years ago.

• Теория эволюции Дарвина революционизировала биологию. (Darwin's theory of evolution revolutionized biology.)

  English Translation: Darwin's theory of evolution revolutionized biology.

• В процессе эволюции животные адаптируются к окружающей среде. (In the process of evolution, animals adapt to their environment.)

  English Translation: In the process of evolution, animals adapt to their environment.

• Эволюция видов происходит через естественный отбор. (Evolution of species occurs through natural selection.)

  English Translation: Evolution of species occurs through natural selection.

• Современная наука изучает эволюцию на молекулярном уровне. (Modern science studies evolution at the molecular level.)

  English Translation: Modern science studies evolution at the molecular level.

General development or progression (metaphorical use)

Translation(s) & Context:

• эволюция - Used metaphorically in social, technological, or personal contexts to mean gradual improvement or change.

Usage Examples:

• Эволюция технологий в последние годы была стремительной. (The evolution of technology in recent years has been rapid.)

  English Translation: The evolution of technology in recent years has been rapid.

• Личная эволюция требует времени и усилий. (Personal evolution requires time and effort.)

  English Translation: Personal evolution requires time and effort.

• Эволюция общества от феодализма к капитализму была сложным процессом. (The evolution of society from feudalism to capitalism was a complex process.)

  English Translation: The evolution of society from feudalism to capitalism was a complex process.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Эволюция" is a feminine noun of the first declension in Russian. It follows regular patterns for most cases but has some irregularities common to borrowed words. Below is a table of its inflections:

Note: The plural form is less common and used when referring to multiple instances or types of evolution.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • развитие (razvitie) - General development, but less specific to gradual change.
  • прогресс (progress) - Often implies positive advancement.
• Antonyms:
  • регресс (regress) - Decline or backward movement.
  • стагнация (stagnation) - Lack of change or development.

Related Phrases:

• Теория эволюции (Teoriya evolyutsii) - Theory of evolution; a common phrase in scientific discussions.
• Эволюционный процесс (Evolyutsionnyy protsess) - Evolutionary process; used to describe ongoing changes.
• Социальная эволюция (Sotsial'naya evolyutsiya) - Social evolution; refers to societal development over time.

Usage Notes:

"Эволюция" directly corresponds to the English "evolution" in scientific contexts but is less frequently used in everyday Russian speech. It is a formal term, so prefer it in academic or professional settings. When choosing between translations, use "эволюция" for biological or metaphorical gradual change, but "развитие" for broader development. Grammatically, as a feminine noun, it must agree in gender, number, and case with accompanying words, e.g., "эта эволюция" (this evolution).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "эволюция" in the wrong case, e.g., saying "я изучаю эволюция" instead of "я изучаю эволюцию" (I am studying evolution).

  Correct: Ensure proper declension; in accusative case, it should be "эволюцию". Explanation: Russian requires nouns to change based on their role in the sentence.

• Error: Confusing with "революция" (revolution), which means a sudden change, not gradual evolution.

  Correct: Use "эволюция" for slow, incremental processes. Explanation: These words are often mixed up by learners due to similar spellings, but they have opposite connotations.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "эволюция" is often linked to Darwin's theories, which were influential in Russian scientific history. However, it can carry ideological undertones in discussions of social evolution, especially in the context of Soviet-era interpretations of Marxism, where evolution was sometimes contrasted with revolutionary change.

Related Concepts:

• адаптация (adaptatsiya)
• естественный отбор (estestvennyy otbor)
• биологическое разнообразие (biologicheskoye raznoobraziye)