Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'inequality'

English Word: inequality

Key Russian Translations:

• неравенство [nʲɪrɐˈvʲɛnstvə] - [Formal, used in mathematical, social, and general contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in academic, social, and mathematical discussions, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of abstract concepts and Russian noun declensions, suitable for learners with a solid grasp of basic grammar)

Pronunciation (Russian):

неравенство: [nʲɪrɐˈvʲɛnstvə]

Note on неравенство: The stress falls on the third syllable ("vʲɛnstvə"). Pronunciation can vary slightly by region, with softer palatalization in northern dialects. Pay attention to the "р" sound, which is rolled.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Mathematical inequality (referring to a mathematical statement where two values are not equal, e.g., x > y)

Translation(s) & Context:

• неравенство - Used in formal mathematical contexts, such as equations or inequalities in algebra.

Usage Examples:

• Решите это неравенство: x + 5 > 10.

  Solve this inequality: x + 5 > 10.

• В математике неравенство часто обозначается символом > или <.

  In mathematics, inequality is often denoted by the symbols > or <.

• Неравенство между переменными может быть строгим или нестрогим.

  The inequality between variables can be strict or non-strict.

• Изучение неравенств помогает в анализе функций.

  Studying inequalities helps in analyzing functions.

2. Social or general inequality (referring to unfair differences, e.g., economic or gender inequality)

Translation(s) & Context:

• неравенство - Used in social, political, or economic discussions, often implying injustice or disparity.

Usage Examples:

• Социальное неравенство остается серьезной проблемой в многих странах.

  Social inequality remains a serious problem in many countries.

• Неравенство в доходах приводит к социальному напряжению.

  Inequality in incomes leads to social tension.

• Борьба с гендерным неравенством является ключевой задачей феминизма.

  Fighting gender inequality is a key task of feminism.

• Неравенство в доступе к образованию усугубляет экономические проблемы.

  Inequality in access to education exacerbates economic issues.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Неравенство" is a neuter noun in the third declension. It follows standard Russian noun declension patterns for neuter nouns ending in -ство. It is indeclinable in some contexts but typically declines regularly. Below is a table of its inflections:

Note: The word does not have irregular forms, but in fixed phrases, it may appear undeclined for emphasis.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • несправедливость (in social contexts; implies injustice more strongly)
  • диспропорция (more formal, emphasizing imbalance)
• Antonyms:
  • равенство (equality, directly opposite in both mathematical and social senses)
  • справедливость (justice, especially in social contexts)

Related Phrases:

• Социальное неравенство - Refers to social inequality, often in discussions of policy or sociology.
• Экономическое неравенство - Economic inequality, highlighting disparities in wealth or resources.
• Неравенство возможностей - Inequality of opportunity, a common phrase in debates about fairness.

Usage Notes:

"Неравенство" directly corresponds to "inequality" in English but is more versatile in Russian, covering both mathematical and social meanings without needing qualifiers unless specifying (e.g., "социальное неравенство"). It is typically used in formal or written contexts; in informal speech, Russians might opt for simpler terms like "несправедливость" for social issues. Be cautious with declensions based on sentence structure—always match the case to the governing preposition or verb. When choosing between translations, use "неравенство" for precise, neutral descriptions, but consider context: mathematical texts prefer it over social ones where emotional connotations might arise.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Incorrectly declining the noun, e.g., using "неравенство" in the genitive case as "неравенство" instead of "неравенства".
  Correct: "Отсутствие неравенства" (Absence of inequality) should be "Отсутствие неравенства", but properly: "В неравенстве" for prepositional.
  Explanation: English learners often overlook Russian case requirements, leading to grammatical errors; always check the sentence's syntactic role.
• Mistake: Using it interchangeably without context, e.g., saying "неравенство" for a simple math problem when a more specific term is needed.
  Correct: In math, pair it with symbols like ">", e.g., "x > y – неравенство".
  Explanation: This can confuse listeners; specify the domain to avoid ambiguity.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "неравенство" often carries historical connotations related to the Soviet era's emphasis on equality (равенство). Discussions of social inequality frequently reference events like the post-Soviet economic reforms, where disparities in wealth grew rapidly. This word is commonly used in media and education to critique systemic issues, reflecting Russia's ongoing debates on social justice and equity.

Related Concepts:

• равенство
• несправедливость
• дискриминация
• справедливость