Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'ill'

English Word: ill

Key Russian Translations:

• больной [bɐlʲnɨj] - [Informal; used in everyday conversation for physical illness]
• нездо́ровый [nʲɪzˈdorəvɨj] - [Formal; implies not just illness but general unwellness]

Frequency: High (commonly used in daily Russian communication, especially in health-related contexts)

Difficulty: A2 (Elementary; straightforward for beginners, but requires basic understanding of adjective inflections)

Pronunciation (Russian):

больной: [bɐlʲnɨj] (Stress on the second syllable; the "л" is palatalized, making it sound softer)

нездо́ровый: [nʲɪzˈdorəvɨj] (Stress on the third syllable; note the soft "н" and the vowel shifts in rapid speech)

Note on больной: The pronunciation can vary slightly in dialects, with the final "й" sometimes softened further in casual speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Sick or unwell (referring to physical or mental health issues)

Translation(s) & Context:

• больной - Used in informal settings, such as describing personal health or in medical contexts.
• нездо́ровый - Preferred in formal or professional environments, like medical reports or polite inquiries.

Usage Examples:

• Он сегодня больной и не сможет прийти на работу.

  He is ill today and won't be able to come to work.

• Моя бабушка часто бывает нездоровая зимой из-за простуды.

  My grandmother often feels ill in winter due to colds.

• Если ты больной, лучше останься дома и отдохни.

  If you are ill, it's better to stay home and rest.

• Доктор сказал, что у него нездоровый вид, и посоветовал обследование.

  The doctor said he looks ill and recommended a check-up.

• Больной ребенок нуждается в особом уходе.

  An ill child needs special care.

Meaning 2: Morally or ethically wrong (less common, but possible in idiomatic expressions)

Translation(s) & Context:

• больной - Rarely used metaphorically, in contexts implying something twisted or unhealthy, e.g., in psychology.

Usage Examples:

• Его идеи кажутся больными и неуместными в обществе.

  His ideas seem ill and out of place in society.

• Такое поведение может быть признаком больного разума.

  Such behavior might be a sign of an ill mind.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "больной" and "нездо́ровый" are adjectives in Russian, which inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow standard patterns for most cases, but "больной" is regular.

Note: These adjectives change in other cases (e.g., Genitive: больного, etc.), following standard Russian adjective declension rules. "Нездоровый" is invariable in some fixed phrases but generally inflects regularly.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • заболевший (focuses on recent onset of illness)
  • недугующий (more literary, implying chronic illness)
• Antonyms:
  • здоро́вый (healthy)
  • нормальный (normal, in a broader sense)

Related Phrases:

• Быть больным - To be ill (common phrase for stating one's health status).
• Нездоровый образ жизни - An unhealthy lifestyle (used in health advice contexts).
• Больной вопрос - A sore point or ill issue (metaphorical, referring to sensitive topics).

Usage Notes:

• Choose "больной" for everyday, informal situations, as it directly corresponds to "ill" in English and is versatile across contexts.
• "Нездоровый" is more formal and often implies a broader sense of unwellness, so use it in professional or written language to avoid sounding casual.
• Be mindful of gender and case agreements in Russian sentences; for example, "ill man" would be "больной мужчина" in nominative case.
• In medical contexts, these words are neutral, but cultural norms in Russia may encourage downplaying illness in conversation.

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse "больной" with "болезненный" (painful or sickly). Error: Saying "Я болезненный" to mean "I am ill." Correct: "Я больной." Explanation: "Болезненный" implies something causes pain, not general illness.
• Another mistake is forgetting inflections; e.g., using "больной" for a feminine noun without changing to "больная." Error: "Она больной." Correct: "Она больная." Explanation: Adjectives must agree with the noun's gender.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, discussing illness openly is common, especially in family or social settings, but it may be tied to superstitions like not wishing someone "to get ill" directly. Words like "больной" can carry empathy, reflecting the cultural value of community support during sickness.

Related Concepts:

• медсестра (nurse)
• лечение (treatment)
• здравоохранение (healthcare)