Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'impotence'

English Word: impotence

Key Russian Translations:

• бессильность [bʲɪˈsʲilʲnəsʲtʲ] - [Formal, General use for lack of power or ability]
• импотенция [ɪm.pɐˈtʲen.tsɨ.jə] - [Formal, Medical context, specifically referring to sexual impotence]

Frequency: Medium - The word is commonly encountered in formal, literary, or medical discussions but not in everyday casual conversation.

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for бессильность; C1 (Advanced) for импотенция - The former requires understanding of abstract concepts, while the latter involves specialized medical vocabulary.

Pronunciation (Russian):

бессильность: [bʲɪˈsʲilʲnəsʲtʲ]

Note on бессильность: The stress falls on the second syllable; be mindful of the palatalized consonants, which are common in Russian and can be tricky for English speakers.

импотенция: [ɪm.pɐˈtʲen.tsɨ.jə]

Note on импотенция: This is a borrowed word from Latin via French, so pronunciation is relatively straightforward but includes a soft 't' sound; practice the final '-ия' ending for natural flow.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Lack of power, ability, or effectiveness (general sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• бессильность - Used in contexts discussing political, emotional, or physical helplessness, often in formal or literary settings.

Usage Examples:

• Политическая бессильность правительства привела к социальным беспорядкам.

  The political impotence of the government led to social unrest.

• В моменты кризиса он чувствовал свою бессильность перед обстоятельствами.

  In moments of crisis, he felt his impotence in the face of circumstances.

• Бессильность воли часто становится причиной неудач в бизнесе.

  Impotence of will often becomes the cause of failures in business.

• Эта бессильность перед природой заставила людей искать новые технологии.

  This impotence in the face of nature forced people to seek new technologies.

Meaning 2: Inability to achieve or maintain an erection (medical sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• импотенция - Primarily used in medical, psychological, or health-related discussions; avoid in casual conversation due to sensitivity.

Usage Examples:

• Импотенция может быть вызвана стрессом или физическими заболеваниями.

  Impotence can be caused by stress or physical illnesses.

• Врачи рекомендуют консультацию для лечения импотенции у мужчин старше 50 лет.

  Doctors recommend consultation for treating impotence in men over 50.

• Импотенция как симптом требует тщательного медицинского обследования.

  Impotence as a symptom requires thorough medical examination.

• Психологическая импотенция часто связана с эмоциональными травмами.

  Psychological impotence is often linked to emotional traumas.

• Лечение импотенции включает как медикаменты, так и изменения в образе жизни.

  Treating impotence involves both medications and lifestyle changes.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are feminine nouns in Russian, following standard inflection patterns. Бессильность is a first-declension noun, while импотенция is also first-declension but borrowed from foreign languages, making its inflections more predictable.

Note: These nouns do not have irregular inflections, but always check context for plural usage, as импотенция is rarely pluralized.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • слабость (slabost' - weakness, with a connotation of physical frailty)
  • беспомощность (bespomoshchnost' - helplessness, emphasizing inability to act)
• Antonyms:
  • сила (sila - strength, power)
  • власть (vlast' - authority, control)

Related Phrases:

• Политическая бессильность - Political impotence; refers to a government's lack of influence in decision-making.
• Эмоциональная бессильность - Emotional impotence; describes feelings of helplessness in personal relationships.
• Лечение импотенции - Treatment of impotence; a common phrase in medical contexts for addressing erectile dysfunction.
• Бессильность перед судьбой - Impotence in the face of fate; used in philosophical or literary discussions about inevitability.

Usage Notes:

Choose бессильность for abstract or non-medical contexts where impotence implies a broader lack of power, as it aligns more closely with everyday English usage. Импотенция is reserved for clinical discussions to avoid offense, and it's a direct borrowing, so it retains a formal tone. Be cautious with gender-specific connotations in Russian; for instance, these nouns are feminine, which might influence sentence structure. In formal writing, pair with verbs like "чувствовать" (to feel) for emotional contexts or "вызывать" (to cause) for medical ones.

Common Errors:

• Confusing бессильность with беспомощность: Learners might use беспомощность when meaning impotence, but the latter implies total helplessness, while бессильность focuses on powerlessness. Correct: "Его бессильность в переговорах" (His impotence in negotiations) vs. Error: "Его беспомощность в переговорах" (which sounds like complete inability, not just lack of power).
• Overusing импотенция in non-medical contexts: English speakers might translate "impotence" directly, but in Russian, this can sound overly clinical. Correct: Use бессильность for general weakness; Error: "Его импотенция в работе" instead of "Его бессильность в работе".
• Neglecting inflections: Forgetting to change cases, e.g., using nominative in all situations. Correct: "Из-за бессильности" (Because of impotence); Error: "Из-за бессильность".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like бессильность often carry a philosophical weight, influenced by literature such as Dostoevsky's works, where impotence symbolizes existential struggles. Импотенция, as a medical term, is treated discreetly in conversations due to cultural sensitivities around health and masculinity, reflecting broader societal norms about privacy in personal matters.

Related Concepts:

• власть (vlast' - power)
• слабость (slabost' - weakness)
• беспомощность (bespomoshchnost' - helplessness)
• сила воли (sila voli - willpower)