Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'hospital'

English Word: hospital

Key Russian Translations:

• больница [bɐlʲˈnʲit͡sə] - [Formal, Singular, Refers to a general medical institution]
• госпиталь [ɡɐspʲɪˈtalʲ] - [Formal, Often used for military or specialized hospitals]

Frequency: High (Commonly used in everyday conversations, medical contexts, and media in Russian-speaking countries)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate level; requires understanding of basic noun cases and vocabulary related to health, but straightforward for learners familiar with common Russian words)

Pronunciation (Russian):

больница: [bɐlʲˈnʲit͡sə]

госпиталь: [ɡɐspʲɪˈtalʲ]

Note on больница: The stress is on the second syllable ("nʲit͡sə"), and the "лʲ" sound is a palatalized L, which can be challenging for English speakers; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

General medical institution for inpatient care

Translation(s) & Context:

• больница - Used in everyday contexts for public or private hospitals providing treatment and care.
• госпиталь - Applied in more formal or military settings, such as veteran hospitals or during emergencies.

Usage Examples:

• Я был в больнице на обследовании. (Ya byl v bol'nitse na obsledovanii.)

  I was at the hospital for a check-up. (This example shows the word in a personal health context, using the prepositional case.)

• В городе открыли новую больницу. (V gorode otkryli novuyu bol'nitsu.)

  A new hospital has opened in the city. (Demonstrates the accusative case in a declarative sentence about infrastructure.)

• Госпиталь оснащен современным оборудованием. (Gospital' osnaschen sovremennym oborudovaniem.)

  The hospital is equipped with modern facilities. (Illustrates usage in a formal, descriptive context, highlighting specialized institutions.)

• После аварии его срочно отправили в больницу. (Posle avarii ego srochno otpravili v bol'nitsu.)

  After the accident, he was urgently taken to the hospital. (Shows the word in an emergency scenario, with genitive implications.)

• В военном госпитале проходят лечение солдаты. (V voennom gospitale prokhodyat lechenie soldaty.)

  Soldiers are treated in the military hospital. (Emphasizes the specific connotation of "госпиталь" in a military context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "больница" and "госпиталь" are feminine nouns in Russian, which means they follow the standard feminine declension patterns. "Больница" is a first-declension noun with regular inflections, while "госпиталь" also follows regular patterns but is less commonly inflected in everyday speech.

Note: These are regular inflections; no irregular forms are present.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • клиника [klinika] - Often used for outpatient clinics or specialized medical centers; more formal than больница.
  • медпункт [medpunkt] - Refers to a smaller medical station or first-aid point; less comprehensive.
• Antonyms:
  • дом [dom] - Home, as in a non-medical setting, implying the opposite of institutional care.
  • аптека [apteka] - Pharmacy, which is for outpatient medication rather than inpatient treatment.

Related Phrases:

• идти в больницу [idti v bol'nitsu] - To go to the hospital; used for seeking medical help.
• госпитализация [gospitalizatsiya] - Hospitalization; refers to the process of admitting someone to a hospital.
• больничная койка [bol'nichnaya koyka] - Hospital bed; a common phrase in discussions about healthcare capacity.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "больница" is the most direct equivalent to "hospital" in English and is used for general medical facilities, while "госпиталь" is reserved for more specialized or military contexts. English speakers should note that Russian nouns change based on case, so "в больнице" (in the hospital) is common in locative contexts. Choose between translations based on formality: use "больница" for everyday scenarios and "госпиталь" for official or historical references. Be mindful of gender agreement in sentences, as these are feminine nouns.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "больница" interchangeably with "госпиталь" without context. For example, saying "военный больница" instead of "военный госпиталь".

  Correct: "Военный госпиталь" means "military hospital". Explanation: "Больница" doesn't imply military affiliation, leading to confusion in specific contexts.

• Error: Forgetting case endings, e.g., saying "я иду больница" instead of "я иду в больницу".

  Correct: "Я иду в больницу". Explanation: Prepositions like "в" require the prepositional case, so the noun must end in "е".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, hospitals like "больница" often represent the state-run healthcare system, which is free but can vary in quality. Historically, "госпиталь" might evoke images of wartime medical care, as seen in literature like Tolstoy's "War and Peace," adding a layer of historical or patriotic connotation to the word.

Related Concepts:

• врач [vrach] - Doctor
• амбулатория [ambulatoriya] - Clinic
• здравоохранение [zdorovookhraneniye] - Healthcare system