Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'fertilizer'

English Word: fertilizer

Key Russian Translations:

• удобрение /ʊdɐˈbrʲenʲije/ - [Neutral, commonly used in agricultural and scientific contexts]
• фертилизатор /fʲɛrtʲɪlʲɪˈzatər/ - [Informal, borrowed term; used in modern or technical discussions, often in urban or specialized settings]

Frequency: Medium (Frequently encountered in agricultural, environmental, and scientific texts, but less common in everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires basic understanding of Russian noun declensions, with "удобрение" being straightforward for learners at this level; "фертилизатор" may be slightly harder due to its borrowed nature)

Pronunciation (Russian):

удобрение: /ʊdɐˈbrʲenʲije/

Note on удобрение: The stress is on the third syllable; be careful with the palatalized 'р' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers. It may vary slightly in fast speech.

фертилизатор: /fʲɛrtʲɪlʲɪˈzatər/

Note on фертилизатор: This is a loanword, so pronunciation closely mirrors English; focus on the soft 'т' sound for authenticity.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: A substance added to soil to improve its fertility, often containing nutrients for plants.

Translation(s) & Context:

• удобрение - Used in general agricultural contexts, such as farming or gardening, to refer to chemical or organic fertilizers.
• фертилизатор - Applied in modern, industrial settings, like large-scale farming or eco-friendly products, where English influence is present.

Usage Examples:

• В саду мы используем органическое удобрение для повышения урожайности.

  In the garden, we use organic fertilizer to increase the yield.

• Фермеры применяют химическое удобрение, чтобы ускорить рост культур.

  Farmers apply chemical fertilizer to speed up crop growth.

• В экологичных проектах предпочитают фертилизатор на основе натуральных ингредиентов.

  In eco-friendly projects, they prefer fertilizer based on natural ingredients.

• Без правильного удобрения почва быстро истощается и перестает давать урожай.

  Without proper fertilizer, the soil quickly depletes and stops yielding crops.

• Современный фертилизатор часто содержит микроэлементы для защиты растений от болезней.

  Modern fertilizer often includes micronutrients to protect plants from diseases.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

The primary translation, "удобрение", is a neuter noun in the third declension. It follows regular patterns for Russian nouns, with changes based on case and number. "Фертилизатор" is also a masculine noun and follows similar rules but is less commonly inflected due to its borrowed status.

For "фертилизатор" (as a masculine noun): Nominative Singular: фертилизатор; Genitive Singular: фертилизатора; etc. It has regular masculine endings but is often used in singular form without much inflection in casual speech.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • азотное удобрение (nitrogen-based fertilizer; specific to chemical types)
  • органика (organic matter; informal for natural fertilizers)
• Antonyms:
  • пестицид (pesticide; used for pest control rather than soil enrichment)
  • гербицид (herbicide; targets weeds, opposing growth enhancement)

Related Phrases:

• Органическое удобрение - Organic fertilizer; commonly used in sustainable farming contexts.
• Химическое удобрение - Chemical fertilizer; refers to synthetic options that may have environmental implications.
• Удобрение для растений - Fertilizer for plants; a general phrase emphasizing application in horticulture.

Usage Notes:

"Удобрение" directly corresponds to "fertilizer" in English and is the most neutral and widely accepted term in Russian. It is versatile across formal and informal contexts but is more common in written or technical discussions. When choosing between "удобрение" and "фертилизатор", opt for the former in traditional settings and the latter in modern, urban conversations. Note that Russian nouns like these require correct declension based on sentence structure, e.g., use genitive case after prepositions like "без" (without). Always consider the context: agricultural texts favor "удобрение", while eco-tech might use "фертилизатор".

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "удобрение" without proper declension, e.g., saying "Я покупаю удобрение" in a context requiring genitive, like "Я покупаю для удобрения" (correct: "Я покупаю для удобрения"). Explanation: English learners often forget Russian case changes; always adjust for the governing preposition or verb.

• Error: Confusing "удобрение" with "питание" (nutrition), e.g., using "удобрение" when meaning plant food in a non-soil context. Correct: Use "удобрение" specifically for soil additives; explanation: This mix-up stems from overlapping English terms, so clarify the context to avoid inaccuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "удобрение" holds significance in the context of historical agriculture, especially during the Soviet era when collective farming emphasized chemical fertilizers to boost production. Today, it reflects ongoing debates on environmental sustainability, with a growing preference for organic options amid ecological awareness in Russia.

Related Concepts:

• почва (soil)
• урожай (harvest)
• агрокультура (agriculture)