Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'hygiene'

English Word: hygiene

Key Russian Translations:

• гигиена [ɡʲɪˈɡʲenə] - [Formal; used in medical, educational, and everyday contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Commonly encountered in health-related discussions, education, and daily life, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; learners at this level should grasp the word with practice, as it involves basic noun declensions and pronunciation challenges in Russian phonetics).

Pronunciation (Russian):

гигиена: [ɡʲɪˈɡʲenə]

Note on гигиена: The initial "г" is palatalized (soft), which is a common feature in Russian and may be tricky for English speakers. It sounds like a "g" followed by a "y" glide. Stress falls on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: The practice of maintaining cleanliness to promote health and prevent disease.

Translation(s) & Context:

• гигиена - Used in formal and informal contexts, especially in health, education, and daily routines (e.g., personal or public hygiene).

Usage Examples:

• Поддержание гигиены является ключевым для предотвращения инфекций.

  Maintaining hygiene is key to preventing infections.

• В школе учат основам гигиены с раннего возраста.

  In school, they teach the basics of hygiene from an early age.

• Личная гигиена включает ежедневное мытье рук и чистку зубов.

  Personal hygiene includes daily hand washing and teeth cleaning.

• Во время пандемии гигиена стала еще более важной для общественного здоровья.

  During the pandemic, hygiene became even more important for public health.

• Соблюдение гигиены в пищевой промышленности предотвращает отравления.

  Adhering to hygiene in the food industry prevents poisoning.

Meaning 2: The science or conditions related to health and sanitation.

Translation(s) & Context:

• гигиена - Often used in scientific or professional contexts, such as in medicine or environmental health.

Usage Examples:

• Изучение гигиены помогает врачам бороться с эпидемиями.

  Studying hygiene helps doctors combat epidemics.

• Гигиена в городах улучшается благодаря современным системам водоснабжения.

  Hygiene in cities improves thanks to modern water supply systems.

• Курс по гигиене обязателен для студентов-медиков.

  A course on hygiene is mandatory for medical students.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Гигиена" is a feminine noun (1st declension) in Russian, which means it follows standard patterns for feminine nouns ending in -а. It is not irregular but requires attention to case changes based on sentence structure. Below is a table of its declensions:

Note: This noun does not change in the plural for all cases, which is typical for many Russian feminine nouns. Always use the appropriate case based on the preposition or verb governing it.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • санитария (sanitarnya) - More focused on sanitation systems; used interchangeably in public health contexts.
  • чистота (chistota) - Emphasizes cleanliness but less scientific than гигиена.
• Antonyms:
  • грязь (gрязь) - Refers to dirt or filth, contrasting with cleanliness.
  • загрязнение (zagryazneniye) - Implies pollution or contamination.

Related Phrases:

• Личная гигиена (Lichnaya gigiena) - Personal hygiene; refers to individual daily practices for cleanliness.
• Общественная гигиена (Obshchestvennaya gigiena) - Public hygiene; involves community-level sanitation efforts.
• Правила гигиены (Pravila gigieny) - Hygiene rules; common in educational or workplace settings for guidelines.

Usage Notes:

In English, "hygiene" directly corresponds to "гигиена" in Russian, but Russian speakers often emphasize its feminine noun properties, requiring correct declension in sentences. For example, use the genitive case after prepositions like "о" (about). It's neutral in terms of formality but leans formal in professional contexts. When choosing between translations, "гигиена" is the most precise; avoid "чистота" if the scientific aspect is intended. Always pair it with appropriate adjectives or contexts to specify personal vs. public hygiene.

Common Errors:

• Error: Mispronouncing the word as [ɡɪˈdʒiːnə] (influenced by English phonetics). Correct: [ɡʲɪˈɡʲenə]. Explanation: English speakers often overlook the palatalized "г", which softens the sound. Use resources to practice the Russian "г" in words like "год" (year).

• Error: Incorrect declension, e.g., using nominative "гигиена" in all cases. Correct: In genitive, say "поддержание гигиены" (maintaining hygiene). Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, so learners must memorize basic declension patterns to avoid grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, hygiene has been emphasized through historical public health campaigns, especially during the Soviet era, where state programs promoted cleanliness as a collective responsibility. This reflects a broader cultural value on community welfare, seen in modern contexts like mandatory hygiene education in schools, which can make the word "гигиена" carry connotations of social duty beyond just personal care.

Related Concepts:

• здоровье (zdorov'ye) - Health
• санитария (sanitarnya) - Sanitation
• профилактика (profilaktika) - Prevention (e.g., disease prevention)