Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'infirm'

English Word: infirm

Key Russian Translations:

• Слабый /ˈslabɨj/ - [Informal, Adjective, Often used in everyday contexts]
• Немощный /nʲɪˈmoʂnɨj/ - [Formal, Adjective, Used in literary or medical contexts]

Frequency: Medium (The word and its translations are commonly encountered in health, literature, and daily conversations, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: Intermediate (B1-B2, as it involves understanding adjective inflections and context-specific usage; variations may differ slightly between translations.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Слабый: /ˈslabɨj/ (The stress is on the first syllable; the "ы" sound is a soft, high vowel, similar to "i" in "bit".)

Note on Слабый: Be careful with the soft "л" sound, which can be challenging for English speakers; it's softer than in English "light".

Немощный: /nʲɪˈmoʂnɨj/ (Stress on the third syllable; the "щ" is a voiceless palatal fricative, like "sh" in "she" but more sibilant.)

Note on Немощный: This word has a more archaic feel; pronounce the "нʲ" with a palatalized "n", which is common in Russian but absent in English.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Physically weak or feeble, often due to age or illness (Primary sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Слабый - Used in informal settings to describe someone who is not strong physically, e.g., in health discussions or casual observations.
• Немощный - Applied in formal or literary contexts to emphasize frailty, often with a connotation of helplessness.

Usage Examples:

• Он стал слабым после болезни. (He became weak after the illness.)

  Translation: He became infirm after the illness. (This shows the adjective in a simple declarative sentence, highlighting physical decline.)

• Её бабушка уже немощная и нуждается в помощи. (Her grandmother is already infirm and needs assistance.)

  Translation: Her grandmother is already infirm and needs assistance. (Demonstrates use in family contexts, with a formal tone.)

• В старости многие люди становятся слабыми и менее активными. (In old age, many people become infirm and less active.)

  Translation: In old age, many people become infirm and less active. (Illustrates broader societal observations.)

• Немощный старик не смог подняться по лестнице. (The infirm old man couldn't climb the stairs.)

  Translation: The infirm old man couldn't climb the stairs. (Shows combination with other adjectives for emphasis.)

• Слабый ребенок не участвовал в играх на улице. (The infirm child didn't participate in outdoor games.)

  Translation: The infirm child didn't participate in outdoor games. (Applies to younger contexts, varying grammar structure.)

Meaning 2: Not firm or stable (Less common, metaphorical sense, e.g., in structures or arguments)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Слабый - Used metaphorically for unstable structures or weak arguments, in informal or technical discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Этот мост слабый и может обвалиться. (This bridge is infirm and might collapse.)

  Translation: This bridge is infirm and might collapse. (Extends to inanimate objects, showing metaphorical usage.)

• Его аргументы были слабыми в дебатах. (His arguments were infirm in the debate.)

  Translation: His arguments were infirm in the debate. (Applies to intellectual contexts.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "Слабый" and "Немощный" are adjectives in Russian, which inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow regular patterns for most forms.

Note: These are regular short-form adjectives; they do not have irregular inflections, but always agree with the noun in gender, number, and case.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Слабый: Бессильный (bessil'nyy) - Similar, but emphasizes powerlessness.
  • Немощный: Болезненный (boleznennyy) - Often used interchangeably in medical contexts, but implies more pain.
• Antonyms:
  • Сильный (sil'nyy) - Strong, robust.
  • Крепкий (krepkiy) - Sturdy, healthy.

Related Phrases:

• Слабый характер - A weak character (Refers to personality traits, implying lack of resolve.)
• Немощный вид - An infirm appearance (Used to describe someone looking frail.)
• Стать слабым от усталости - To become infirm from fatigue (Common in discussions of exhaustion.)

Usage Notes:

"Infirm" directly corresponds to "слабый" in everyday English-Russian translation, but "немощный" is preferred in formal or literary settings for a more nuanced, archaic tone. Always consider the context: use "слабый" for physical weakness and "немощный" for emotional or total frailty. Grammatically, these adjectives must agree with the noun they modify in Russian, which differs from English where adjectives are invariant. For learners, choose "слабый" in casual speech to avoid sounding overly formal.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "слабый" without proper inflection, e.g., saying "слабый женщина" instead of "слабая женщина".

  Correct: Ensure gender agreement; explanation: Russian adjectives change endings based on the noun's gender, so "слабая" for feminine nouns.

• Error: Confusing "слабый" with "болезненный", leading to misuse in non-medical contexts.

  Correct: Use "слабый" for general weakness; "болезненный" for illness-related; explanation: This can make sentences sound exaggerated or incorrect in casual conversation.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "немощный" often carry a sympathetic or poignant connotation, especially in literature (e.g., in works by Tolstoy), reflecting themes of human vulnerability and the passage of time. This aligns with Russia's historical emphasis on endurance in the face of adversity, making such terms common in storytelling about aging or hardship.

Related Concepts:

• Болезнь (illness)
• Стареющий (aging)
• Физическая слабость (physical weakness)