Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'laggard'

English Word: laggard

Key Russian Translations:

• отстающий [ɐtstɐ'vajuʂɕij] - [Informal, Adjective]
• запоздалый [zəpɐz'dalɨj] - [Formal, Adjective, Used in contexts of delay or lateness]
• медлительный [mʲɪdlʲɪ'tʲɪlʲnɨj] - [Neutral, Adjective, Emphasizing slowness rather than falling behind]

Frequency: Medium (Common in educational, business, or competitive contexts, but not everyday casual speech).

Difficulty: Intermediate (B1/B2 on CEFR scale; involves understanding adjective inflections and contextual usage; 'отстающий' may be easier for beginners, while 'запоздалый' could be more challenging due to nuanced connotations).

Pronunciation (Russian):

отстающий: [ɐtstɐ'vajuʂɕij] (Stress on the third syllable; the 'щ' sound is a soft, palatalized 'sh'.)

запоздалый: [zəpɐz'dalɨj] (Stress on the second syllable; note the soft 'л' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers.)

медлительный: [mʲɪdlʲɪ'tʲɪlʲnɨj] (Stress on the third syllable; the palatalized consonants like 'мʲ' require careful articulation.)

Note on отстающий: This word has a rolling 'р' in some regional variants, but standard pronunciation avoids it. Pay attention to the soft ending for proper Russian flow.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A person or thing that falls behind others, especially in terms of speed, progress, or efficiency.

Translation(s) & Context:

• отстающий - Used in informal contexts like sports, education, or work to describe someone lagging in a group or race.
• запоздалый - Applied in more formal or timed scenarios, such as meetings or deadlines, emphasizing lateness.
• медлительный - Neutral context for general slowness, often in descriptions of behavior or processes.

Usage Examples:

• В гонке он был отстающим и не смог догнать лидеров.

  In the race, he was the laggard and couldn't catch up to the leaders.

• Эта команда всегда отстающие в проектах из-за нехватки ресурсов.

  This team is always the laggards in projects due to a lack of resources.

• Запоздалый пассажир опоздал на поезд и стал отстающим в своем графике.

  The laggard passenger missed the train and fell behind in his schedule.

• Медлительный работник часто становится отстающим в быстром темпе современной офисной среды.

  A slow worker often becomes the laggard in the fast pace of a modern office environment.

• Из-за медлительного подхода, проект оказался запоздалым и отстающим от сроков.

  Due to the sluggish approach, the project ended up being delayed and lagging behind deadlines.

Meaning 2: Something that is slow to develop or progress, such as in technology or economics.

Translation(s) & Context:

• отстающий - In metaphorical contexts, like economic development, to describe outdated systems.
• запоздалый - For delayed innovations or responses in formal discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Эта страна считается отстающей в области цифровых технологий.

  This country is considered a laggard in the field of digital technology.

• Запоздалый релиз продукта сделал компанию отстающей на рынке.

  The delayed product release made the company a laggard in the market.

• Медлительный рост экономики привел к отстающим показателям по сравнению с соседними странами.

  The sluggish economic growth led to lagging indicators compared to neighboring countries.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. 'Отстающий' and similar words follow standard adjective patterns with regular inflections, but they can vary by context.

Note: 'Запоздалый' and 'медлительный' follow similar patterns. These are regular adjectives, so no irregular forms, but always adjust for agreement with the noun they modify.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • задерживающийся (zaderzhivayushchiy) - Similar to 'lagging' in timed contexts, but implies temporary hold-up.
  • медленный (medlennyy) - General slowness, less emphasis on falling behind.
  • застрявший (zastryavshiy) - Stuck or delayed, often in physical or metaphorical senses.
• Antonyms:
  • лидер (lider) - Leader, directly opposite in competitive contexts.
  • быстрый (bystriy) - Fast or quick, contrasting with slowness.
  • прогрессивный (progressivnyy) - Progressive, implying advancement.

Related Phrases:

• отстающий ученик - A lagging student; used in educational contexts to describe someone falling behind in class.
• запоздалый ответ - A delayed response; common in communication or business scenarios.
• медлительный темп - A sluggish pace; refers to slow progress in activities like work or exercise.

Usage Notes:

'Отстающий' is the most direct translation for 'laggard' when referring to a person or entity in motion or progress, but choose 'запоздалый' for time-sensitive situations to capture nuances of delay. These words are versatile across formal and informal settings, but avoid 'медлительный' if the connotation is laziness, as it might imply character flaws. Grammatically, ensure adjectives agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they describe, which is a key Russian feature. For English learners, start with simple sentences to practice inflections.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'отстающий' interchangeably with 'медленный' without context. Correct: 'Отстающий' implies falling behind others, while 'медленный' means generally slow. Example of error: Saying 'Он медленный в работе' when meaning he is lagging in a team (better: 'Он отстающий в работе').

• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying 'отстающий женщина' instead of 'отстающая женщина'. Correct: Always match gender and case, as in 'отстающая женщина' for a female laggard.

• Error: Overusing in formal writing; learners might misuse for emphasis. Correct: In professional contexts, opt for 'запоздалый' to sound more polished.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'отстающий' often carry a subtle stigma, reflecting societal emphasis on collective progress, as seen in historical contexts like the Soviet era's focus on industrialization. This can imply not just slowness but also failure to contribute to the group, so use with sensitivity in social discussions.

Related Concepts:

• прогресс (progress)
• задержка (delay)
• медлительность (slowness)
• лидерство (leadership)