Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'fever'

English Word: fever

Key Russian Translations:

• лихорадка [lʲɪxɐˈradkə] - [Formal, Medical term]
• жар [ʐar] - [Informal, Everyday language]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in health-related conversations, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of noun declensions and medical contexts; for 'жар', it might be slightly easier at A2)

Pronunciation (Russian):

лихорадка: [lʲɪxɐˈradkə]

Note on лихорадка: The stress falls on the third syllable ('ra'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft 'l' sound and the rolled 'r'. Pronunciation may vary slightly in different Russian dialects.

жар: [ʐar]

Note on жар: The initial 'zh' sound is a voiced retroflex fricative, similar to the 's' in 'measure' in English. It's a short, straightforward word with stress on the first syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Fever as a medical condition (elevated body temperature due to illness)

Translation(s) & Context:

• лихорадка - Used in formal or clinical settings, such as describing symptoms to a doctor; implies a more severe or prolonged state.
• жар - Applied in casual, everyday conversations, often for mild fevers; can also metaphorically mean 'heat' in non-medical contexts.

Usage Examples:

• У меня лихорадка после простуды.

  I have a fever after catching a cold. (This example shows 'лихорадка' in a singular, nominative context, describing personal symptoms.)

• Ребёнок жалуется на жар и головную боль.

  The child is complaining of a fever and headache. (Here, 'жар' is used informally in a familial or daily health discussion.)

• Врач диагностировал лихорадку как симптом инфекции.

  The doctor diagnosed the fever as a symptom of infection. (Demonstrates 'лихорадка' in a professional medical scenario.)

• Из-за жара она не пошла на работу.

  Because of the fever, she didn't go to work. (Illustrates 'жар' in a simple, everyday excuse or explanation.)

• Сильный жар может привести к обезвоживанию.

  A high fever can lead to dehydration. (This shows 'жар' in a more advisory or general health context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'лихорадка' and 'жар' are nouns in Russian. 'лихорадка' is a feminine noun (1st declension), which means it undergoes regular declensions based on case and number. 'жар' is also masculine but can be invariable in some contexts. Below is a table for 'лихорадка' declensions; 'жар' has fewer changes as it's often used in singular form without inflection in informal speech.

For 'жар': It is a masculine noun and typically remains unchanged in the nominative singular (жар). In other cases, it follows standard patterns, e.g., Genitive: жара. However, in informal use, it often doesn't inflect.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • температура (more general, often used interchangeably for body temperature; less intense connotation than лихорадка)
  • лихоманка (regional variant, similar to лихорадка but more poetic or outdated)
• Antonyms:
  • нормальная температура (normal temperature, implying the absence of fever)
  • охлаждение (cooling, opposite in a metaphorical sense)

Related Phrases:

• иметь лихорадку - To have a fever (used in medical reports or self-descriptions).
• сбить жар - To bring down a fever (common in advice for treating symptoms).
• лихорадочный бред - Feverish delirium (a phrase implying mental confusion due to high fever).

Usage Notes:

English speakers should note that 'fever' directly corresponds to 'лихорадка' in formal contexts like healthcare, while 'жар' is more versatile and can overlap with 'heat' in non-medical scenarios. Choose 'лихорадка' for precise, clinical discussions to avoid understatement. Be mindful of Russian's grammatical gender and cases; for example, always decline nouns based on their role in the sentence. If the fever is metaphorical (e.g., 'fever of excitement'), 'лихорадка' might not fit—use 'азарт' instead.

• In informal speech, 'жар' is preferred for brevity.
• Avoid direct word-for-word translation; consider the context to select the appropriate term.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse 'лихорадка' with 'жар' and use them interchangeably without considering formality, leading to incorrect tone. For example:

• Error: Saying "У меня жар" in a doctor's office (too casual).
  Correct: "У меня лихорадка" (more appropriate for formal settings).
  Explanation: This maintains professional language and avoids downplaying the symptom.
• Error: Forgetting to decline the noun, e.g., using "лихорадка" in the genitive case as "лихорадка" instead of "лихорадки".
  Correct: "Из-за лихорадки" (correct genitive form).
  Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, so always adjust based on sentence structure.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, fevers are often associated with traditional home remedies, such as drinking herbal teas or using compresses, reflecting a blend of folklore and modern medicine. The word 'лихорадка' can evoke historical contexts, like in Russian literature (e.g., Dostoevsky's works), where it symbolizes inner turmoil or illness as a metaphor for societal issues.

Related Concepts:

• болезнь (illness)
• температура (temperature)
• инфекция (infection)