Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'gestation'

English Word: gestation

Key Russian Translations:

• беременность [bʲɪrʲɪˈmʲenːəstʲ] - [Formal, commonly used in medical and everyday contexts]
• гестация [ɡʲɪˈstatsɨjə] - [Formal, Medical, Scientific]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in medical, biological, or educational discussions, but not in everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires familiarity with medical terminology; for 'гестация', it may lean towards C1 for advanced learners due to its specialized use)

Pronunciation (Russian):

беременность: [bʲɪrʲɪˈmʲenːəstʲ]

Note on беременность: The stress falls on the third syllable ('men'), and the initial 'b' is soft; common mispronunciation by learners involves overemphasizing the 'r' sound.

Audio: []

гестация: [ɡʲɪˈstatsɨjə]

Note on гестация: The 'г' is a voiced velar fricative; stress is on the second syllable; this term is often borrowed directly from Latin, so pronunciation is relatively straightforward for learners with Romance language exposure.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The period of development of the young in viviparous animals from conception until birth.

Translation(s) & Context:

• беременность - Used in general, everyday, and medical contexts to describe human or animal pregnancy, often emphasizing the biological process in non-technical settings.
• гестация - Applied in scientific, veterinary, or formal medical contexts, focusing on the precise duration and stages of development.

Usage Examples:

• У неё была нормальная беременность, которая длилась 40 недель.

  She had a normal gestation that lasted 40 weeks. (This example shows the term in a personal, health-related context.)

• Период гестации у кошек обычно составляет от 60 до 67 дней.

  The gestation period for cats is usually between 60 and 67 days. (Illustrates scientific usage in animal biology.)

• Во время беременности женщина должна регулярно посещать врача.

  During gestation, a woman should regularly visit a doctor. (Demonstrates the term in advice or health guidelines.)

• Гестация эмбриона в лабораторных условиях изучается в эмбриологии.

  Gestation of the embryo in laboratory conditions is studied in embryology. (Highlights academic or research-oriented usage.)

• Беременность может повлиять на эмоциональное состояние будущей матери.

  Gestation can affect the emotional state of the expectant mother. (Shows the term in psychological or social contexts.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are feminine nouns. 'Беременность' follows the first declension pattern for feminine nouns ending in -ость, which is regular. 'Гестация' is also a feminine noun but may show less variation in everyday use due to its borrowed nature.

Note: These forms are regular, but 'гестация' is less commonly inflected in plural forms due to its technical usage.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • вынашивание (vynashivanie) - More literal, emphasizing the carrying process; often used interchangeably with беременность in non-medical contexts.
  • развитие плода (razvitie ploda) - Descriptive phrase for fetal development during gestation.
• Antonyms:
  • роды (rody) - Birth, marking the end of gestation.
  • выкидыш (vykidysh) - Miscarriage, an interruption of gestation.

Related Phrases:

• беременность по неделям (beremennost' po nedelyam) - Meaning: Pregnancy by weeks; a common phrase for tracking gestational stages in prenatal care.
• период гестации (period gestatsii) - Meaning: Gestation period; used in scientific reports to denote the full duration.
• нормальная беременность (normal'naya beremennost') - Meaning: Normal gestation; refers to an uncomplicated pregnancy in medical contexts.

Usage Notes:

Use 'беременность' for everyday or general discussions about pregnancy, as it aligns closely with the English 'gestation' in non-technical settings. 'Гестация' is preferred in formal, medical, or academic contexts to emphasize scientific precision. Be mindful of gender agreement in Russian sentences, as both terms are feminine nouns. When choosing between translations, consider the audience: 'беременность' is more accessible for beginners, while 'гестация' suits advanced learners or professionals. Additionally, in Russian, these terms often appear in phrases related to health, so pair them with verbs like 'проходить' (to proceed) or 'завершаться' (to end).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'беременность' in purely scientific contexts where 'гестация' is expected, e.g., saying "Период беременности у слонов" instead of "Период гестации у слонов". Correct: The latter is more accurate in veterinary science. Explanation: This confuses informal and formal registers, potentially undermining credibility.
• Error: Incorrect inflection, such as using the nominative 'беременность' in a genitive context, e.g., "Я изучаю беременность" instead of "Я изучаю беременности". Correct: "Я изучаю беременность" is fine in nominative, but learners often forget case changes. Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, so always check the sentence structure.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'беременность' is often associated with family traditions and state-supported maternity leave policies, reflecting the historical emphasis on population growth. Terms like this can carry emotional connotations, such as in folklore or modern media, where pregnancy is celebrated through rituals like baby showers or protective customs, highlighting the value placed on motherhood in Russian society.

Related Concepts:

• роды (rody)
• вынашивание (vynashivanie)
• эмбрион (embrion)