Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'modernize'

English Word: modernize

Key Russian Translations:

• модернизировать [mədɐrnizirəˈvatʲ] - [Formal, Verb]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in technical, business, and academic contexts, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugation and formal language structures)

Pronunciation (Russian):

модернизировать: [mədɐrnizirəˈvatʲ]

Note on модернизировать: The stress falls on the penultimate syllable ("va-"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft 'tʲ' sound. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To make something modern or up-to-date, often involving technological or structural changes

Translation(s) & Context:

• модернизировать - Used in formal or professional settings, such as discussing technology upgrades or societal reforms.

Usage Examples:

• Мы решили модернизировать нашу фабрику, чтобы повысить производительность.

  We decided to modernize our factory to increase productivity.

• Правительство планирует модернизировать систему образования в стране.

  The government plans to modernize the education system in the country.

• Эта компания инвестирует в модернизацию оборудования для улучшения качества продукции.

  This company is investing in modernizing equipment to improve product quality.

• Инженеры модернизируют старое программное обеспечение, чтобы оно соответствовало новым стандартам.

  Engineers are modernizing the old software to meet new standards.

• Музей решил модернизировать свои экспозиции с использованием цифровых технологий.

  The museum decided to modernize its exhibits using digital technology.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Модернизировать" is a first-conjugation verb in Russian, which means it follows regular patterns for most forms. It is an imperfective verb, and its perfective counterpart is "модернизировать" (though it can sometimes function as both, depending on context). Below is a basic conjugation table for the present tense:

Note: For past tense, it changes based on gender and number (e.g., модернизировал for masculine singular). The infinitive form is модернизировать, and it does not have irregular inflections.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • обновить (obnovit') - More general, often used for updates; implies refreshing rather than full modernization.
  • улучшить (uluchshit') - Focuses on improvement; applicable in contexts where enhancement is key.
• Antonyms:
  • устареть (ustaret') - To become outdated or obsolete.
  • задержать (zaderzhat') - To delay or hinder progress, implying the opposite of modernization.

Related Phrases:

• Модернизация экономики - Modernization of the economy; refers to updating economic structures for growth.
• Техническая модернизация - Technical modernization; used in engineering or IT contexts for equipment upgrades.
• Модернизировать инфраструктуру - To modernize infrastructure; common in urban planning discussions.

Usage Notes:

• While "modernize" directly translates to "модернизировать," this Russian verb is typically used in formal, written, or professional contexts. It often implies a comprehensive process involving technology or systems, unlike more casual English uses.
• In Russian, choose "модернизировать" for technical or official scenarios, but opt for "обновить" in everyday language to avoid sounding overly formal.
• Grammatically, it must agree with the subject in person, number, and tense, which can be challenging for English speakers due to Russian's aspect system (e.g., imperfective for ongoing actions).
• Usage is common in fields like politics, business, and science, but rare in informal speech; always consider the audience's formality level.

Common Errors:

• Error: Incorrect conjugation, e.g., saying "модернизируетс" instead of "модернизирует" for third person singular.
  Correct: "Он модернизирует систему." (He is modernizing the system.)
  Explanation: Russian verbs require precise endings; omitting or altering them can make the sentence grammatically incorrect.
• Error: Using it in informal contexts where a simpler synonym like "обновить" is more appropriate.
  Correct: Instead of "Я модернизирую телефон," say "Я обновляю телефон" for casual phone updates.
  Explanation: "Модернизировать" sounds too formal for everyday items, leading to awkwardness in conversation.
• Error: Confusing with perfective aspects, e.g., assuming it's always complete.
  Correct: Use in imperfective contexts for ongoing actions; for completed ones, context might require rephrasing.
  Explanation: English speakers often overlook Russian's aspect, which affects verb choice and meaning.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "модернизировать" often evokes historical contexts like the Soviet-era industrialization or modern Russia's efforts under leaders like Putin to update infrastructure and technology. It carries a sense of progress and adaptation, reflecting Russia's ongoing balance between tradition and innovation, which can influence its usage in political discourse.

Related Concepts:

• инновация (innovatsiya)
• технологии (tekhnologii)
• развитие (razvitie)