Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'faint'

English Word: faint

Key Russian Translations:

• слабый [ˈslabɨj] - [Adjective, Informal or Formal, depending on context]
• потерять сознание [pətʲɪˈratʲ səznaˈnʲije] - [Verb phrase, Formal, Used in medical or everyday emergency contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in everyday conversation, literature, and medical discussions)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, as it involves basic adjective and verb structures; for 'слабый', it's straightforward, but 'потерять сознание' requires understanding verb phrases)

Pronunciation (Russian):

слабый: [ˈslabɨj]

Note on слабый: The stress is on the first syllable; the 'ы' sound is a distinct Russian vowel, often challenging for English speakers—similar to a short 'i' in "bit" but more centralized.

Audio: []

потерять сознание: [pətʲɪˈratʲ səznaˈnʲije]

Note on потерять сознание: Palatalization is key; 'тʲ' and 'рʲ' involve a softened pronunciation, common in Russian verbs. Stress falls on "ratʲ" and "nʲije".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

First meaning: Weak, dim, or not strong (as an adjective)

Translation(s) & Context:

• слабый - Used to describe something lacking strength, intensity, or clarity, such as light, sound, or physical condition, in both casual and formal settings.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: В комнате был слабый свет от старой лампы.

  English: In the room, there was a faint light from the old lamp.

• Русский: Её голос стал слабым после долгого дня.

  English: Her voice became faint after a long day.

• Русский: Слабый ветер едва шевелил листья.

  English: The faint wind barely stirred the leaves.

• Русский: Он чувствовал слабый пульс у пациента.

  English: He felt a faint pulse in the patient.

Second meaning: To lose consciousness suddenly (as a verb)

Translation(s) & Context:

• потерять сознание - Used in contexts involving sudden fainting, often in medical, emotional, or physical stress situations; more formal than slang alternatives.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: Она потеряла сознание от жары и шума.

  English: She fainted from the heat and noise.

• Русский: Врач сказал, что он может потерять сознание из-за низкого давления.

  English: The doctor said he might faint due to low blood pressure.

• Русский: После новости она внезапно потеряла сознание.

  English: After the news, she suddenly fainted.

• Русский: Дети иногда теряют сознание во время игры в жару.

  English: Children sometimes faint while playing in the heat.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'слабый' (adjective): This is a standard Russian adjective that follows the first declension pattern for short adjectives in some forms, but primarily uses full forms. It agrees in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies.

For 'потерять сознание' (verb phrase): 'Потерять' is a perfective verb from 'терять' (to lose). It conjugates regularly as a first conjugation verb. Example: Я потеряю (I will lose), Он потерял (He lost). The phrase as a whole does not inflect but can be modified by verb aspects.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: немощный (nemoshchnyi) - More literary, implying frailty; слабенький (slaben'kiy) - Informal, diminutive form for something slightly weak.
• Antonyms: сильный (sil'nyi) - Strong; яркий (yarkiy) - Bright (for dim meanings).

Related Phrases:

• Слабый сигнал - A faint signal; often used in technology or communication contexts.
• Потерять сознание от голода - To faint from hunger; common in discussions of health or survival.
• Слабый отзвук - A faint echo; used in literary or acoustic descriptions.

Usage Notes:

'Faint' as 'слабый' corresponds closely to English in describing physical weakness but is more versatile in Russian for abstract qualities. Use 'потерять сознание' for literal fainting, as it's more precise than slang like 'в обморок' in formal writing. Be mindful of context: 'слабый' can imply criticism in social settings, so it's often paired with nouns for clarity. When choosing between translations, opt for 'слабый' in everyday descriptions and 'потерять сознание' in medical scenarios.

Common Errors:

• Common mistake: English learners might overuse 'слабый' for all senses of 'faint', including the verb form. Incorrect: "Я слабый" (meaning "I faint"). Correct: "Я потерял сознание". Explanation: 'Слабый' is an adjective, not a verb, so it can't stand alone for actions.
• Another error: Mispronouncing the palatalized sounds in 'потерять', e.g., saying [pətʲer'at] without softening. Correct pronunciation emphasizes the 'тʲ' as in [pətʲɪˈratʲ]. This can make the phrase sound unnatural to native speakers.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressions like 'потерять сознание' are often linked to historical literature, such as in Tolstoy's works, where fainting symbolizes emotional overwhelm. 'Слабый' can carry connotations of vulnerability, reflecting cultural values around strength and resilience in Russian society.

Related Concepts:

• усталый (ustalyj) - Tired
• бледный (blednyj) - Pale (often associated with fainting)
• ослабленный (oslablennyj) - Weakened