Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'fertility'

English Word: fertility

Key Russian Translations:

• плодовитость /plə.dɐ.'vʲi.təsʲtʲ/ - [Formal, used in biological or medical contexts]
• плодородие /plə.dɐ.'ro.dʲi.je/ - [Formal, used in agricultural or environmental contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in scientific, medical, and environmental discussions, but not in everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of abstract concepts and noun inflections, with плодовитость being slightly more challenging due to its usage in specialized fields)

Pronunciation (Russian):

плодовитость: /plə.dɐ.'vʲi.təsʲtʲ/

плодородие: /plə.dɐ.'ro.dʲi.je/

Note on плодовитость: The stress falls on the third syllable ('vʲi), and the palatalized 'tʲ' sound can be tricky for beginners; practice with native speakers to master the soft consonants.

Note on плодородие: Pronunciation is relatively straightforward, but ensure the 'dʲ' is softly palatalized, as in many Russian words.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Biological fertility (e.g., ability to reproduce)

Translation(s) & Context:

• плодовитость - Used in formal discussions about human or animal reproduction, such as in medical reports or demographic studies.

Usage Examples:

• В современном мире плодовитость населения снижается из-за различных факторов, таких как урбанизация.

  In the modern world, the fertility of the population is declining due to various factors, such as urbanization.

• У этой породы кошек высокая плодовитость, что делает их популярными среди заводчиков.

  This breed of cats has high fertility, making them popular among breeders.

• Медицинские исследования фокусируются на повышении плодовитости у пар с проблемами бесплодия.

  Medical research focuses on increasing fertility in couples with infertility issues.

• Плодовитость женщин в сельских районах часто выше, чем в городах, по социальным причинам.

  The fertility of women in rural areas is often higher than in cities, for social reasons.

• Гормональные изменения могут влиять на плодовитость в разном возрасте.

  Hormonal changes can affect fertility at different ages.

Agricultural or soil fertility (e.g., richness of soil)

Translation(s) & Context:

• плодородие - Applied in contexts related to farming, ecology, or soil science, emphasizing productivity of land.

Usage Examples:

• Плодородие почвы в этом регионе позволяет выращивать богатый урожай зерновых культур.

  The fertility of the soil in this region allows for growing a rich harvest of grain crops.

• Использование удобрений помогает поддерживать плодородие почвы в интенсивном земледелии.

  The use of fertilizers helps maintain the fertility of the soil in intensive agriculture.

• Эрозия приводит к потере плодородия, что угрожает устойчивости экосистемы.

  Erosion leads to the loss of fertility, threatening the sustainability of the ecosystem.

• В исторических текстах плодородие долин описывается как ключевой фактор для древних цивилизаций.

  In historical texts, the fertility of valleys is described as a key factor for ancient civilizations.

• Климатические изменения могут снизить плодородие почвы в засушливых районах.

  Climate change can reduce the fertility of soil in arid regions.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both плодовитость and плодородие are feminine nouns (3rd declension in Russian), which means they follow standard patterns of inflection for case, number, and gender. They do not change in the plural form as they are abstract concepts, but they inflect regularly across cases.

Note: These nouns are invariable in plural as they typically refer to abstract qualities, but if used in a countable sense, they might adopt plural forms like плодовитости (though rare).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • фертильность (fertílʲnostʲ) - Direct borrowing, used in scientific contexts; less common in everyday Russian.
  • урожайность (for плодородие) - Emphasizes productivity in agriculture, with a slight focus on yield.
• Antonyms:
  • бесплодие (besplodije) - Infertility, used for both biological and soil contexts; note the nuance of complete lack versus reduced fertility.
  • неплодородность (neplodorodnostʲ) - Specifically for soil, implying barrenness.

Related Phrases:

• Повысить плодовитость - To increase fertility (e.g., in medical contexts); used when discussing fertility treatments.
• Потеря плодородия почвы - Loss of soil fertility; common in environmental discussions to highlight degradation.
• Естественная плодовитость - Natural fertility; refers to unassisted reproductive ability, often in biological contexts.
• Поддерживать плодородие - To maintain fertility; applied in sustainable farming practices, with an emphasis on long-term soil health.

Usage Notes:

The English word "fertility" corresponds closely to плодовитость in biological senses and плодородие in environmental ones, but Russian speakers often prefer more specific terms based on context. For formal writing or scientific discussions, use плодовитость for human/animal reproduction and плодородие for soil. Be mindful of gender agreement in sentences, as both are feminine nouns (e.g., "Эта плодовитость важна" – This fertility is important). When choosing between translations, opt for плодовитость in medical scenarios and плодородие in agricultural ones to ensure precision.

Common Errors:

• Confusing cases: English learners often misuse genitive forms, e.g., saying "из-за плодовитость" instead of "из-за плодовитости" (correct: due to fertility). Explanation: Russian requires the genitive case after prepositions like "из-за," so always check for case endings.

• Overgeneralizing translations: Using плодовитость for soil contexts, e.g., "плодовитость почвы" instead of "плодородие почвы." Correct usage: плодородие is specific to soil, while плодовитость is for living organisms. This error stems from direct word-for-word translation.

• Pronunciation slips: Mispronouncing the palatalized consonants, e.g., saying /plə.dɐ.vi.təsʲtʲ/ without the soft 'tʲ' in плодовитость, which can make it sound unnatural. Practice with audio to avoid this.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts like плодовитость are often tied to historical and folk traditions, such as in rural communities where family size and agricultural productivity were vital for survival. For instance, in Russian folklore, fertility symbols like the "matreshka" doll represent abundance and procreation, reflecting deep-seated values of growth and continuity in Slavic heritage.

Related Concepts:

• бесплодие (infertility)
• урожай (harvest)
• репродукция (reproduction)
• экология (ecology)