Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'leakage'

English Word: leakage

Key Russian Translations:

• утечка /uˈtʲetʂkə/ - [Formal, commonly used for fluid or information leaks]
• протечка /prəˈtʲetʂkə/ - [Informal, specific to liquid leaks in pipes or containers]
• утечка информации /uˈtʲetʂkə ɪnfɐrˈmaʦɨɪ/ - [Formal, used in contexts like data security]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in everyday language, technical discussions, and media)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of basic noun inflections and contexts, with "утечка" being straightforward and "утечка информации" slightly more complex due to compound usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

утечка: /uˈtʲetʂkə/ (The "у" is pronounced as a short "oo" sound, with stress on the second syllable.)

Note on утечка: Pay attention to the palatalized "тʲ" sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers; it sounds softer, almost like "ty". Variations may occur in fast speech.

протечка: /prəˈtʲetʂkə/ (Stress on the third syllable; the "про" prefix softens the initial consonant.)

Note on протечка: This word often has a rolled "р" in formal settings, and the ending may vary slightly in dialects.

утечка информации: /uˈtʲetʂkə ɪnfɐrˈmaʦɨɪ/ (Compound pronunciation; follow the individual words for accuracy.)

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Physical leak (e.g., of fluids or gases)

Translation(s) & Context:

• утечка - Used in general contexts for any unintended escape of substances, such as in plumbing or engineering.
• протечка - Applied specifically to leaks in enclosed systems like pipes, often in informal or household scenarios.

Usage Examples:

• В доме произошла утечка газа. (V dome proizosla uˈtʲetʂkə gaza.)

  Translation: There was a gas leakage in the house. (This example shows the word in a safety context, highlighting a common household emergency.)

• Из-за протечки в трубе flooded подвал. (Iz-za proˈtʲetʂkə v trube flooded podval.)

  Translation: The basement flooded due to a leakage in the pipe. (Demonstrates usage in a plumbing scenario, with the word integrated into a causal sentence.)

• Утечка воды привела к повреждению мебели. (Uˈtʲetʂkə vody privela k povrezhdeniyu mebeli.)

  Translation: The water leakage led to damage of the furniture. (Illustrates the word in a consequence-based structure, common in descriptive narratives.)

• После ремонта проверили на наличие протечек. (Posle remonta proverili na nalichie proˈtʲetʂek.)

  Translation: After the repair, we checked for any leakages. (Shows plural form in a preventive maintenance context.)

Meaning 2: Information or data leak (e.g., in security contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• утечка информации - Used in digital, corporate, or journalistic contexts for unauthorized disclosure of sensitive data.

Usage Examples:

• Была выявлена утечка информации из базы данных. (Byla vyjavlena uˈtʲetʂkə ɪnfɐrˈmaʦɨɪ ɪz bazy dannykh.)

  Translation: A leakage of information from the database was detected. (This example places the phrase in a cybersecurity context, emphasizing detection.)

• Утечка конфиденциальных данных может привести к штрафам. (Uˈtʲetʂkə kɐnfɪˈdɛnʦɨalʲnykh dannykh mozhet privesti k shtraˈfam.)

  Translation: A leakage of confidential data could lead to fines. (Illustrates the phrase in a legal or business setting, with a hypothetical structure.)

• Из-за утечки информации компания потеряла доверие клиентов. (Iz-za uˈtʲetʂkə ɪnfɐrˈmaʦɨɪ kɐmpanɨja poteryala dɐvɛrɨɛ klɨɛntov.)

  Translation: Due to the information leakage, the company lost clients' trust. (Shows the phrase in a narrative about consequences, common in news reports.)

• Правительство расследует возможную утечку секретных файлов. (Pravitelstvo rasledyet vozmozhnuju uˈtʲetʂkə sɛkrɛtnykh fajlov.)

  Translation: The government is investigating a possible leakage of secret files. (Demonstrates usage in an official or investigative context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "утечка" and "протечка" are feminine nouns in Russian, following the standard first declension pattern for feminine nouns ending in -a. They are regular and inflect based on case, number, and gender. "Утечка информации" is a phrase where "утечка" inflects, and "информации" (genitive case) shows its own inflections.

For "протечка", the inflections follow the same pattern as above. Note: These words do not change in verbs or adjectives but must agree in case with other elements in the sentence.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • утечка (similar to "протечка" but more general)
  • просачивание (prosachivaniye) - Implies a slow, seeping leak, often used in technical contexts.
  • разлив (razliv) - For liquid spills, with a connotation of spreading out.
• Antonyms:
  • герметичность (germetichnost') - Seal or airtightness.
  • защищенность (zaschishchennost') - Security or protection, especially for information.

Related Phrases:

• Утечка газа (Uˈtʲetʂkə gaza) - Gas leakage; commonly used in safety warnings.
• Протечка в крыше (Proˈtʲetʂkə v kryshe) - Roof leakage; refers to building maintenance issues.
• Утечка конфиденциальных данных (Uˈtʲetʂkə kɐnfɪˈdɛnʦɨalʲnykh dannykh) - Leakage of confidential data; a phrase from cybersecurity.

Usage Notes:

"Утечка" is the most direct equivalent to "leakage" in English and can be used flexibly across contexts, but always as a noun. Choose "протечка" for more specific, everyday liquid leaks to sound more natural in informal Russian. In formal or technical writing, pair it with genitives like "утечка информации" for precision. Be mindful of case agreements in sentences, as Russian requires nouns to inflect based on their role. For English learners, note that Russian doesn't use articles, so "the leakage" simply becomes "утечка" in context.

• Avoid direct word-for-word translation; instead, consider the context to select the appropriate synonym.
• In spoken Russian, these words often appear in passive constructions, e.g., "произошла утечка" (there was a leakage).

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse case endings, such as saying "утечка в дом" instead of "утечка в доме" (leakage in the house), which incorrectly uses the preposition without proper genitive. Correct: "Утечка в доме" should be "Утечка газа в доме" for specificity. Another error is confusing "утечка" with "утечка информации" in non-digital contexts, leading to awkward phrasing like "утечка воды информации" – instead, keep them separate. Explanation: Russian syntax demands precise case usage to maintain clarity, so always check the governing preposition or verb.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like "утечка информации" gained prominence post-Soviet era due to historical espionage and modern cyber threats, reflecting a societal emphasis on secrecy and state security. For physical leaks, such as "протечка" in old Soviet-era buildings, it often symbolizes poor infrastructure maintenance, evoking themes of resilience in everyday life.

Related Concepts:

• загрязнение (zagryazneniye) - Pollution
• безопасность (bezopasnost') - Safety
• кибербезопасность (kiberbezopasnost') - Cybersecurity