Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'habitable'

English Word: habitable

Key Russian Translations:

• обитаемый (/ɐ.bʲɪˈta.ɪ.mɨj/) - [Formal, Scientific contexts]
• жилой (/ˈʐɨ.ləj/) - [Informal, Everyday contexts for buildings or homes]

Frequency: Medium (Common in scientific, environmental, and real estate discussions, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjectives and their inflections, suitable for learners with a solid grasp of basic grammar)

Pronunciation (Russian):

обитаемый: /ɐ.bʲɪˈta.ɪ.mɨj/ (The stress is on the third syllable; note the soft 'bʲ' sound, which is a palatalized consonant common in Russian.)

жилой: /ˈʐɨ.ləj/ (Stress on the first syllable; the 'ʐ' is a voiced retroflex fricative, similar to the 'zh' in 'measure'.)

Note on обитаемый: Be cautious with the palatalization; non-native speakers often mispronounce it as /ɐ.bɪˈta.ɪ.mɨj/, which can alter the word's clarity in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Suitable for human life, e.g., planets or environments

Translation(s) & Context:

• обитаемый - Used in formal or scientific contexts to describe places that can support life, such as planets in astronomy.
• жилой - Applied in everyday contexts for habitable spaces like apartments, though less common for non-human environments.

Usage Examples:

• Эта планета обитаема, так как на ней есть вода и атмосфера.

  This planet is habitable because it has water and an atmosphere.

• Ученые изучают, является ли Марс обитаемым для будущих колоний.

  Scientists are studying whether Mars is habitable for future colonies.

• В этом районе есть жилые дома, подходящие для семей с детьми.

  In this area, there are habitable houses suitable for families with children.

• Обитаемые зоны в космосе – это ключ к поиску внеземной жизни.

  Habitable zones in space are key to searching for extraterrestrial life.

• После ремонта квартира стала жилой и комфортной для проживания.

  After the renovation, the apartment became habitable and comfortable for living.

Suitable for occupation or residence, e.g., buildings

Translation(s) & Context:

• жилой - Common in real estate or urban planning, emphasizing livability.
• обитаемый - Less frequent here, but used for emphasizing sustainability.

Usage Examples:

• Этот старый дом не жилой из-за повреждений от пожара.

  This old house is not habitable due to fire damage.

• Городские власти проверяют, обитаемы ли заброшенные здания.

  City authorities are checking if abandoned buildings are habitable.

• Жилые кварталы должны быть оснащены современными удобствами.

  Habitable neighborhoods should be equipped with modern amenities.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "обитаемый" and "жилой" are adjectives in Russian, which inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow standard patterns with some irregularities.

For "обитаемый" (an adjective with short and long forms):

For "жилой" (similar pattern, but more regular):

Note: These adjectives do not change in the short form for predicates, e.g., "дом обитаем" (the house is habitable).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • пригодный для жизни (prigodnyy dlya zhizni) - More descriptive, often used interchangeably in scientific contexts.
  • подходящий для обитания (podkhodyashchiy dlya obitaniya) - Emphasizes suitability with a slight nuance of preparedness.
• Antonyms:
  • необитаемый (neobitaemyy) - Directly opposite, meaning uninhabitable or uninhabited.
  • непригодный (neprigodnyy) - General antonym for suitability, often in broader contexts.

Related Phrases:

• обитаемая планета - A habitable planet; used in discussions about space exploration.
• жилой район - A habitable neighborhood; refers to residential areas in urban planning.
• пригодный для жизни мир - A world suitable for life; common in science fiction or environmental contexts.

Usage Notes:

Choose "обитаемый" for contexts involving natural environments or extraterrestrial settings, as it aligns closely with the English "habitable" in scientific discourse. "Жилой" is better for man-made structures like homes, where the focus is on human occupancy. Be mindful of case agreements in Russian sentences; for example, if the noun is in the genitive case, the adjective must match. In formal writing, prefer full inflections over short forms to maintain precision.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "обитаемый" with "обитающий" (meaning "inhabiting" as a present participle): Incorrect: "Планета обитающий." Correct: "Планета обитаема." Explanation: "Обитающий" implies active habitation, while "обитаемый" is passive and means "capable of being inhabited."
• Overusing "жилой" in scientific contexts: Incorrect: "Марс жилой планета." Correct: "Марс обитаемая планета." Explanation: "Жилой" is too casual for astronomical discussions; it implies immediate human livability rather than potential.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like "обитаемый" often appear in the context of space exploration, influenced by Russia's history in cosmonautics (e.g., Sputnik and Yuri Gagarin). This reflects a national pride in scientific achievements, where habitable worlds symbolize human expansion and survival, tying into broader themes of resilience in harsh environments.

Related Concepts:

• планета (planeta) - Planet
• жизнь (zhizn') - Life
• экология (ekologiya) - Ecology