Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'HIV'

English Word: HIV

Key Russian Translations:

• ВИЧ [vitʃ] - [Formal, Medical term]
• ВИЧ-инфекция [vitʃ ɪnfektsija] - [Formal, Used in clinical contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in medical, health, and public discussions, but not everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; Requires familiarity with medical terminology and basic Russian grammar, as it involves abbreviations and compound words)

Pronunciation (Russian):

ВИЧ: [vitʃ]

Note on ВИЧ: The "ч" sound is a voiceless palatal fricative, similar to the "ch" in "loch" in Scottish English. Stress falls on the first syllable.

ВИЧ-инфекция: [vitʃ ɪnfektsija]

Note on ВИЧ-инфекция: Pronounce as two separate words; the "и" in "инфекция" is a short vowel. Be mindful of the soft sign in compound forms.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (a virus that attacks the immune system)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ВИЧ - Used in formal medical discussions, public health campaigns, or scientific contexts to refer directly to the virus.
• ВИЧ-инфекция - Applied in clinical settings to describe the infection caused by the virus, emphasizing the disease state.

Usage Examples:

• Врач диагностировал у пациента ВИЧ на ранней стадии.

  The doctor diagnosed the patient with HIV at an early stage.

• Кампания по борьбе с ВИЧ-инфекцией охватила миллионы людей.

  The campaign against HIV infection reached millions of people.

• ВИЧ передается через кровь или другие биологические жидкости.

  HIV is transmitted through blood or other biological fluids.

• Международные организации финансируют исследования ВИЧ.

  International organizations fund research on HIV.

• Лечение ВИЧ-инфекции включает антиретровирусную терапию.

  Treatment for HIV infection involves antiretroviral therapy.

Meaning 2: General reference to the condition or epidemic (in broader social contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ВИЧ - Often used in educational or awareness contexts to discuss prevention and stigma.
• ВИЧ-эпидемия - In contexts referring to the global or regional spread, adding "эпидемия" for emphasis on the outbreak.

Usage Examples:

• В России ведется активная борьба с распространением ВИЧ.

  In Russia, there is an active fight against the spread of HIV.

• Общественные организации поднимают вопросы стигматизации ВИЧ-инфекции.

  Public organizations address issues of stigmatization related to HIV infection.

• Глобальная ВИЧ-эпидемия остается серьезной проблемой здоровья.

  The global HIV epidemic remains a serious health issue.

• Тестирование на ВИЧ является конфиденциальным процессом.

  HIV testing is a confidential process.

• Молодежь информируют о рисках ВИЧ через школьные программы.

  Youth are informed about HIV risks through school programs.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

ВИЧ is an abbreviation and does not inflect like regular nouns; it remains unchanged in most contexts (invariant form). However, when used in compounds like ВИЧ-инфекция, the noun "инфекция" follows standard feminine noun patterns in Russian.

For "инфекция" (feminine noun, 1st declension):

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • ВИЧ-инфекция (nearly identical, but emphasizes the infection aspect)
  • Иммунодефицитный вирус (more descriptive, used in scientific writing; slight difference in formality)
• Antonyms:
  • Здоровье (Health; as it contrasts the disease state)

Related Phrases:

• ВИЧ-тест - A test for HIV; Used in medical screening contexts.
• Лечение ВИЧ - HIV treatment; Refers to therapies for managing the virus.
• Профилактика ВИЧ - HIV prevention; Common in public health discussions.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "ВИЧ" directly corresponds to the English acronym HIV and is used primarily in formal, medical, or educational contexts. It is always capitalized as an abbreviation. When choosing between "ВИЧ" and "ВИЧ-инфекция", opt for the latter in clinical discussions to highlight the infection's implications. Be aware of grammatical gender: if combined with other words, ensure agreement (e.g., "ВИЧ-инфекция" is feminine). In everyday conversation, it's often avoided due to sensitivity, favoring euphemisms in informal settings.

Common Errors:

• Error: Mispronouncing as [vɪtʃ] instead of [vitʃ] (confusing with English "v" sound). Correct: Use the Russian "в" as a voiced labiodental fricative. Example of error: Saying "в itch" like the English word; Correct: [vitʃ] as in a precise Russian accent.

• Error: Incorrectly inflecting "ВИЧ" as a regular noun (e.g., saying "ВИЧа" in genitive). Correct: It doesn't inflect; always use "ВИЧ" in its base form. Example of error: "У меня есть ВИЧа" (wrong); Correct: "У меня есть ВИЧ" (meaning "I have HIV").

• Error: Confusing with similar terms like "СПИД" (AIDS). Correct: "ВИЧ" refers to the virus, while "СПИД" is the advanced stage; avoid swapping them in context.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and media, "ВИЧ" is often discussed in the context of public health campaigns, especially since the 1990s when the epidemic gained prominence in Russia. There is significant stigma associated with it, influenced by historical attitudes toward health and morality, which can affect open conversations. Understanding this helps English speakers navigate sensitive topics in cross-cultural dialogues.

Related Concepts:

• СПИД
• Иммунодефицит
• Эпидемия