Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'malady'

English Word: malady

Key Russian Translations:

• Болезнь [ˈbɐlʲɪznʲ] - [Formal, Medical contexts]
• Недуг [nʲɪˈduk] - [Literary, Formal, Often used in poetic or historical contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in medical and everyday discussions, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian noun declensions and basic medical terminology)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Болезнь: [ˈbɐlʲɪznʲ]

Note on Болезнь: The stress falls on the first syllable; the 'лʲ' is a palatalized 'l' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers. Pronounce it with a soft, almost 'y'-like quality after the 'l'.

Audio: []

Недуг: [nʲɪˈduk]

Note on Недуг: Stress on the second syllable; the 'нʲ' is a palatalized 'n', similar to the 'n' in 'new' in English, but softer.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A disease, illness, or ailment, often implying something chronic or serious

Translation(s) & Context:

• Болезнь - Used in everyday medical or health-related conversations, such as discussing symptoms with a doctor.
• Недуг - Applied in more formal, literary, or poetic contexts, often to describe longstanding or metaphorical ailments.

Usage Examples:

• У меня хроническая болезнь, которая требует постоянного лечения.

  I have a chronic malady that requires ongoing treatment.

• Эта старая недуг наследия от войны всё ещё мучает ветеранов.

  This old malady, a legacy from the war, still torments the veterans.

• Врач диагностировал у меня редкую болезнь, но она не опасная.

  The doctor diagnosed me with a rare malady, but it's not dangerous.

• Недуг души часто бывает сложнее лечить, чем физическая болезнь.

  A malady of the soul is often harder to treat than a physical malady.

• Из-за этой болезни я не могу работать в полную силу.

  Because of this malady, I can't work at full capacity.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "Болезнь" and "Недуг" are feminine nouns in Russian, which means they follow the standard feminine declension patterns. "Болезнь" is more commonly used and has regular inflections, while "Недуг" is also regular but less frequent in modern speech.

Note: These nouns do not change in a highly irregular way, making them relatively straightforward for intermediate learners, but pay attention to the vowel changes in plural forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Болезнь (most common)
  • Недуг (literary synonym)
  • Заболевание (more clinical synonym, implying a diagnosed condition)
• Antonyms:
  • Здоровье (health; directly contrasts with the idea of illness)

Note: "Заболевание" is often used interchangeably with "Болезнь" in medical contexts but may imply a more specific, diagnosed malady.

Related Phrases:

• Серьёзная болезнь - A serious malady; used to describe severe health issues.
• Хронический недуг - Chronic malady; refers to long-term conditions.
• Наследственный недуг - Inherited malady; common in discussions of genetic disorders.

Usage Notes:

"Malady" translates most directly to "Болезнь" in everyday contexts, but "Недуг" is preferred for more formal or literary expressions. In Russian, these words are often used with adjectives to specify the type of illness (e.g., "серьёзная болезнь"). Be mindful of gender agreement in sentences, as both are feminine nouns. When choosing between translations, opt for "Болезнь" in medical or conversational settings and "Недуг" for poetic or historical narratives. English speakers might overgeneralize "malady" as always formal, but in Russian, it's adaptable based on context.

Common Errors:

• Using "Болезнь" incorrectly in plural forms: English learners often forget declension, e.g., saying "Я имею две болезнь" instead of the correct "Я имею две болезни" (I have two maladies). Error: Incorrect genitive/plural form; Correct: Ensure proper case agreement, as in "две болезни".

• Confusing "Недуг" with "Болезнь": Learners might use "Недуг" in casual speech, which sounds overly dramatic. Error: "У меня недуг от простуды" (implying a grand illness for a cold); Correct: Use "Болезнь" for everyday ailments, like "У меня болезнь от простуды".

• Neglecting stress in pronunciation: Mispronouncing [ˈbɐlʲɪznʲ] as [bɐˈlʲɪznʲ], which can alter meaning or comprehension. Error: Placing stress on the wrong syllable; Correct: Practice with audio to emphasize the first syllable.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "Недуг" often carry a deeper, more existential connotation, especially in literature (e.g., in works by Tolstoy or Dostoevsky), where maladies represent not just physical illness but moral or spiritual struggles. This reflects a historical emphasis on the human condition in Russian arts, helping users understand why such terms are prevalent in classic texts.

Related Concepts:

• Заболевание
• Симптом
• Лечение