Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'ferrous'

English Word: ferrous

Key Russian Translations:

• железный [ʐɨˈlʲeznɨj] - [Formal, used in scientific or technical contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in scientific and industrial discussions, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires familiarity with technical vocabulary and basic adjective inflections)

Pronunciation (Russian):

железный: ʐɨˈlʲeznɨj

Note on железный: The stress falls on the second syllable ("le"). The "ж" sound is a voiced palatal fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers; it's similar to the "s" in "measure".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Relating to or containing iron, especially in a chemical or material science context.

Translation(s) & Context:

• железный - Used in formal, technical settings, such as describing metals or compounds; avoids slang and is appropriate in academic writing.

Usage Examples:

• Этот металл железный и используется в строительстве.

  This metal is ferrous and is used in construction.

• В химии железный сульфат часто применяется в лабораторных экспериментах.

  In chemistry, ferrous sulfate is often used in laboratory experiments.

• Железный сплав имеет высокую прочность, но может ржаветь со временем.

  The ferrous alloy has high strength but can rust over time.

• Инженеры тестируют железный материал на коррозию в морской среде.

  Engineers are testing the ferrous material for corrosion in a marine environment.

• Железный компонент в этой смеси делает её магнитной.

  The ferrous component in this mixture makes it magnetic.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Железный" is an adjective in Russian, which means it inflects based on gender, number, and case. It follows the standard pattern for adjectives ending in -ый. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: This adjective does not have irregular forms, making it relatively straightforward for learners once the basic patterns are understood.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: стальной (stal'noy - specifically for steel-related contexts; implies strength and durability, but more precise for alloys)
• Antonyms: неметаллический (nemetallich-eskiy - non-metallic; used to contrast with any metal, including iron-based ones)

Related Phrases:

• Железная руда - Refers to iron ore, a key material in mining and metallurgy.
• Железный век - Means the Iron Age, a historical period characterized by the use of iron tools.
• Содержащий железо - A phrase meaning "containing iron," often used in chemical descriptions.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "железный" directly corresponds to "ferrous" in technical English contexts, emphasizing materials or compounds with iron. It is typically formal and avoids casual speech; for everyday use, consider context-specific alternatives like "с железом" in informal settings. Be mindful of gender agreement when using it as an adjective. If multiple translations exist, choose "железный" for precise scientific accuracy over more general terms.

• Grammar tip: Always inflect based on the noun it modifies to maintain sentence flow.
• Context guidance: In non-technical conversations, it might metaphorically mean "strong" or "unyielding," so clarify intent to avoid confusion.

Common Errors:

English learners often mistake "железный" for "стальной" (steel), assuming all metals are interchangeable. For example:

• Error: Saying "железный нож" to mean "steel knife" when it specifically implies an iron-based knife.
• Correct: Use "стальной нож" for steel. Explanation: "Железный" refers to pure iron properties, while "стальной" denotes alloys like steel, which is more common in modern contexts.
• Another error: Forgetting to inflect for case, e.g., using "железный" in the genitive case incorrectly as "железный" instead of "железного." Correct usage: "цвета железного металла" (the color of ferrous metal).

Cultural Notes:

"Железный" has historical connotations in Russian culture, often linked to the Industrial Revolution and Soviet-era industrialization, symbolizing strength and resilience. For instance, it's used in phrases like "Железный занавес" (Iron Curtain), referring to the Cold War divide, which adds a metaphorical layer beyond its literal chemical meaning.

Related Concepts:

• металл (metal)
• рудник (mine, as in iron ore mining)
• химия (chemistry)