Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'fertilize'

English Word: fertilize

Key Russian Translations:

• удобрять [u.dɐ.'brʲæt] - [Formal, commonly used in agricultural contexts]
• оплодотворять [ɐ.plə.dɐ.'tva.rʲɪt] - [Formal, typically in biological or scientific contexts, such as fertilization in reproduction]

Frequency: Medium - This verb is not everyday vocabulary but appears frequently in discussions related to agriculture, gardening, or biology in Russian media and literature.

Difficulty: B1-B2 - Intermediate level per CEFR standards, as it requires understanding of verb conjugations and contextual usage. The word "удобрять" may be slightly easier (B1) for beginners in practical contexts, while "оплодотворять" could reach B2 due to its scientific nuances.

Pronunciation (Russian):

удобрять: [u.dɐ.'brʲæt]

оплодотворять: [ɐ.plə.dɐ.'tva.rʲɪt]

Note on удобрять: The stress falls on the second syllable ('brʲæt), and the 'rʲ' sound is a palatalized 'r', which can be challenging for English speakers. Pronounce it with a soft, rolled 'r'.

Note on оплодотворять: This is a longer word with multiple syllables; focus on the stress on 'tva.rʲɪt'. It often has a more formal, clipped pronunciation in scientific settings.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To add fertilizer to soil or make land fertile

Translation(s) & Context:

• удобрять - Used in everyday agricultural or gardening contexts, such as discussing soil enrichment for crops.

Usage Examples:

• Фермеры удобряют почву осенью, чтобы урожай был богатым.

  Farmers fertilize the soil in the fall to ensure a bountiful harvest.

• В саду мы удобряем растения натуральными удобрениями для лучшего роста.

  In the garden, we fertilize the plants with natural fertilizers for better growth.

• Если не удобрять землю регулярно, она может потерять плодовитость.

  If you don't fertilize the soil regularly, it may lose its fertility.

• Современные технологии позволяют удобрять большие поля с помощью машин.

  Modern technology allows fertilizing large fields using machines.

To cause fertilization in a biological sense (e.g., in reproduction)

Translation(s) & Context:

• оплодотворять - Applied in scientific, medical, or biological discussions, such as plant or animal reproduction.

Usage Examples:

• В биологии оплодотворяют яйцеклетку сперматозоидом для начала эмбрионального развития.

  In biology, they fertilize the egg cell with a sperm to start embryonic development.

• Ученые изучают, как оплодотворять растения для повышения генетической устойчивости.

  Scientists study how to fertilize plants to increase genetic resistance.

• Процесс оплодотворения в природе часто зависит от погодных условий.

  The process of fertilization in nature often depends on weather conditions.

• В лаборатории мы можем искусственно оплодотворять семена для экспериментов.

  In the lab, we can artificially fertilize seeds for experiments.

• Оплодотворять почву микроорганизмами помогает восстановить ее естественный баланс.

  Fertilizing the soil with microorganisms helps restore its natural balance.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "удобрять" and "оплодотворять" are first-conjugation verbs in Russian, which follow regular patterns but can have irregularities in certain forms. They are imperfective verbs, meaning they describe ongoing or repeated actions. Below is a table outlining key inflections for each verb in the present tense (as an example; full conjugations include past, future, and imperative forms).

Note: These verbs do not change in gender or number in the infinitive form but conjugate based on subject. For perfective aspects (e.g., удобрить for удобрять), consult a full grammar resource, as they are not irregular but follow standard rules.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • подкармливать (podkarmli'vat) - Similar to удобрять but often implies lighter, supplementary feeding of plants; used in casual gardening.
  • обогащать (a.ba.'ga.ščʲat) - Means to enrich, as in enriching soil, with a broader connotation.
• Antonyms:
  • истощать (i.'sto.ščʲat) - To deplete or exhaust, opposite of fertilizing soil.
  • иссушать (i.ssu.'ʂa.tʲ) - To dry out, implying removal of fertility.

Related Phrases:

• удобрять землю - To fertilize the land; used in agricultural discussions to mean improving soil quality for farming.
• оплодотворять семена - To fertilize seeds; refers to biological processes in plant breeding or lab settings.
• натуральное удобрение - Natural fertilizer; a common phrase in eco-friendly contexts, implying organic methods.

Usage Notes:

Choose "удобрять" for practical, everyday scenarios like farming or gardening, as it directly corresponds to the English "fertilize" in an agricultural sense. "Оплодотворять" is more precise for biological fertilization, such as in reproduction, and is less common in casual speech. Be mindful of context: Russian verbs often require aspect (imperfective like these vs. perfective), so pair with adverbs or phrases for clarity. For example, use in formal writing or scientific reports, but in informal talk, simpler synonyms might be preferred.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "удобрять" with "оплодотворять": English learners often mix these when discussing biology, using "удобрять" incorrectly for reproductive contexts. Correct: Use "оплодотворять" for eggs or seeds in biology; Error example: "Они удобряют яйцеклетку" (wrong) vs. Correct: "Они оплодотворяют яйцеклетку". Explanation: "Удобрять" implies adding nutrients, not biological union.
• Incorrect conjugation: Beginners might forget to change endings, e.g., saying "удобрят" instead of "удобряют" for plural subjects. Error example: "Они удобрят почву" (wrong) vs. Correct: "Они удобряют почву". Explanation: Russian verbs must agree with the subject in person and number.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "удобрять" are tied to the country's agricultural heritage, especially in rural areas where farming has historical significance. For instance, during Soviet times, collective farms emphasized soil fertilization for food production, reflecting themes in literature like Tolstoy's works. This adds a layer of practicality and connection to the land in everyday language.

Related Concepts:

• почва (soil)
• семена (seeds)
• урожай (harvest)
• биология (biology)