Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'incapacity'

English Word: incapacity

Key Russian Translations:

• неспособность [nʲɪˈspəsəbnəsʲtʲ] - [Formal, General use]
• инвалидность [ɪnvalʲɪdˈnostʲ] - [Formal, Medical or legal context]

Frequency: Medium (Common in formal discussions, legal documents, and medical contexts, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun declensions and contextual nuances)

Pronunciation (Russian):

неспособность: [nʲɪˈspəsəbnəsʲtʲ]

инвалидность: [ɪnvalʲɪdˈnostʲ]

Note on неспособность: The stress falls on the third syllable; be mindful of the soft sign (ь) which affects pronunciation, making it softer and more palatalized.

Note on инвалидность: Pronunciation may vary slightly in rapid speech; the 'd' sound is often softened.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Lack of physical or mental ability (e.g., inability to perform tasks due to weakness or incompetence)

Translation(s) & Context:

• неспособность - Used in general contexts to describe personal or situational limitations, such as in psychology or everyday discussions.
• инвалидность - Applied specifically in medical or disability-related contexts, emphasizing physical or mental impairments.

Usage Examples:

• Его неспособность сосредоточиться на работе вызвала проблемы в офисе.

  His incapacity to focus on work caused problems in the office.

• Из-за болезни у неё развилась временная неспособность ходить.

  Due to illness, she developed a temporary incapacity to walk.

• Инвалидность не должна быть препятствием для полноценной жизни.

  Incapacity should not be a barrier to a full life.

• Эта неспособность к обучению часто встречается у детей с особыми нуждами.

  This incapacity for learning is often seen in children with special needs.

Meaning 2: Legal or formal inability (e.g., in contracts, where someone is deemed unfit to make decisions)

Translation(s) & Context:

• неспособность - Used in legal contexts to denote incompetence, such as in wills or contracts.
• инвалидность - Less common here, but can refer to legal declarations of disability affecting rights.

Usage Examples:

• Суд признал его неспособность управлять своими финансами из-за психического состояния.

  The court recognized his incapacity to manage his finances due to his mental state.

• Инвалидность по закону может повлиять на право голоса.

  Incapacity under the law can affect voting rights.

• Её неспособность подписать договор привела к юридическим complication.

  Her incapacity to sign the contract led to legal complications.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are feminine nouns in Russian. They follow standard first-declension patterns for abstract nouns, with regular inflections based on case and number. Below is a table for 'неспособность' as an example; 'инвалидность' follows similar rules.

For 'инвалидность', the inflections are identical in structure. These nouns do not have irregular forms, making them straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • беспомощность (bes pomoshchnost') - Similar to helplessness, often used interchangeably in emotional contexts.
  • непригодность (neprigodnost') - Emphasizes unsuitability, with a slight connotation of inadequacy.
• Antonyms:
  • способность (sposobnost') - Directly opposite, meaning ability or capability.
  • полноценность (polnocennost') - Refers to completeness or full functionality, especially in health contexts.

Related Phrases:

• Потеря неспособности - Loss of incapacity (Refers to regaining ability after a period of limitation).
• Инвалидность по зрению - Visual incapacity (A common phrase for vision-related disabilities).
• Временная неспособность - Temporary incapacity (Used in legal or medical contexts for short-term issues).

Usage Notes:

'Неспособность' is the most direct translation for general 'incapacity' and is preferred in non-medical contexts, while 'инвалидность' is more specific to disabilities and should be used when discussing physical or legal impairments. Always consider the context: in formal writing, these words maintain a neutral tone, but in spoken Russian, they might carry emotional weight. When choosing between translations, opt for 'неспособность' for abstract inability and 'инвалидность' for concrete, health-related scenarios. Grammatically, ensure proper declension based on sentence structure to avoid errors.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'неспособность' interchangeably with 'инвалидность' in medical contexts. Correct: 'Инвалидность' is more appropriate for disabilities, as in "Он страдает от инвалидности" (He suffers from incapacity). Explanation: This confusion can lead to insensitivity; 'неспособность' might imply a temporary state, while 'инвалидность' denotes a more permanent condition.
• Mistake: Incorrect declension, e.g., saying "из-за неспособность" instead of "из-за неспособности". Correct: Use the genitive case: "из-за неспособности". Explanation: Russian requires nouns to agree in case, and beginners often overlook this, resulting in grammatically incorrect sentences.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like 'инвалидность' are often linked to historical and social contexts, such as the Soviet-era emphasis on state support for the disabled. Today, there's a growing movement towards inclusive language, avoiding stigmatization, which reflects broader cultural shifts towards empathy and accessibility in society.

Related Concepts:

• способность
• беспомощность
• недостаток