Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'infectious'

English Word: infectious

Key Russian Translations:

• заразный [zɐˈraznɨj] - [Adjective, Formal, Used in general contexts]
• инфекционный [ɪnfʲɪkˈt͡sɪonnɨj] - [Adjective, Formal, Used in medical or scientific contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in health-related discussions but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, as it involves basic medical vocabulary and adjective declensions; for 'заразный', it's straightforward for learners; for 'инфекционный', it may require familiarity with loanwords)

Pronunciation (Russian):

заразный: [zɐˈraznɨj]

Note on заразный: The stress is on the third syllable; be careful with the soft 'н' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. Variations may occur in regional dialects.

инфекционный: [ɪnfʲɪkˈt͡sɪonnɨj]

Note on инфекционный: Pronounce the initial 'и' as a short 'i' sound; the palatalized 'фʲ' is a common challenge. This word is often used in formal settings.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Relating to diseases that can be transmitted from one person to another

Translation(s) & Context:

• заразный - Used in everyday health discussions, such as describing common illnesses (e.g., in informal or formal conversations about viruses).
• инфекционный - Applied in medical contexts, like hospital settings or scientific reports (e.g., referring to infectious diseases in epidemiology).

Usage Examples:

• Эта болезнь заразная и может распространяться через воздух.

  This disease is infectious and can spread through the air.

• Врачи предупреждают о инфекционных заболеваниях в тропических регионах.

  Doctors warn about infectious diseases in tropical regions.

• Заразный вирус быстро распространился среди школьников.

  The infectious virus spread quickly among schoolchildren.

• Инфекционный контроль в больницах важен для предотвращения эпидемий.

  Infectious disease control in hospitals is important for preventing epidemics.

• Многие заразные заболевания можно предотвратить с помощью вакцинации.

  Many infectious diseases can be prevented through vaccination.

Secondary Meaning: Figuratively, something that spreads rapidly, like ideas or emotions (e.g., infectious laughter)

Translation(s) & Context:

• заразный - Used metaphorically in informal contexts, such as describing enthusiasm or emotions.

Usage Examples:

• Его заразный смех заставил всех в комнате рассмеяться.

  His infectious laughter made everyone in the room laugh.

• Заразная энергия толпы воодушевила выступающего.

  The infectious energy of the crowd inspired the speaker.

• Эта заразная идея быстро распространилась среди молодежи.

  This infectious idea spread quickly among the youth.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'заразный' and 'инфекционный' are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow standard patterns for hard-stem adjectives.

For 'заразный' (a hard-stem adjective):

For 'инфекционный' (similar pattern, but with a soft stem):

It follows the same declension rules as 'заразный', but note the palatalized ending in some forms, e.g., инфекционный (nom. masc. sg.), инфекционной (gen. fem. sg.). This adjective does not have irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • эпидемический (epidemicheskiy) - More specific to widespread outbreaks.
  • контагиозный (kontagioznyy) - A direct loanword, used in medical contexts similar to infectious.
• Antonyms:
  • безопасный (bezopasnyy) - Safe, non-threatening.
  • неинфекционный (neinfektsionnyy) - Non-infectious, used in medical terminology.

Related Phrases:

• заразная болезнь - An infectious disease; commonly used in health education.
• инфекционный контроль - Infectious disease control; refers to measures in healthcare settings.
• заразный вирус - Infectious virus; often in discussions about pandemics.

Usage Notes:

'Заразный' is the more general translation for 'infectious' and is suitable for everyday conversations, while 'инфекционный' is preferred in formal or medical contexts to align with English terminology. Be mindful of the context: in Russian, adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify, which differs from English. For example, choose 'заразный' for masculine nouns and 'заразная' for feminine ones. When deciding between translations, opt for 'инфекционный' if the discussion involves scientific precision.

• Grammar tip: Always ensure adjective agreement to avoid errors in written Russian.
• Regional note: In some dialects, 'заразный' might carry a slightly more colloquial tone, so use it carefully in formal writing.

Common Errors:

English learners often forget to decline adjectives correctly. For instance, they might say "эта болезнь заразный" (incorrect, as it should be "заразная" to agree with the feminine noun "болезнь"). Correct usage: "Эта болезнь заразная". Another error is confusing 'заразный' with 'инфекционный'; learners may overuse 'инфекционный' in non-medical contexts, making speech sound overly formal. Explanation: Russian requires grammatical agreement, so always check the noun's gender and case before using the adjective.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'заразный' gained prominence during historical events such as the Soviet-era health campaigns against epidemics. They evoke a sense of collective responsibility in public health, reflecting Russia's emphasis on community welfare in medical matters.

Related Concepts:

• эпидемия (epidemic)
• вирус (virus)
• вакцина (vaccine)