Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'mortality'

English Word: mortality

Key Russian Translations:

• смертность [smɛrtnɔstʲ] - [Formal]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in medical, demographic, and scientific contexts, but not in everyday casual conversation).

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian noun declensions and formal vocabulary, suitable for learners with a solid grasp of basic grammar).

Pronunciation (Russian):

смертность: [smɛrtnɔstʲ]

Note on смертность: The stress is on the second syllable (smer-TNOS-ty). Be careful with the soft 'т' sound, which is palatalized in Russian. Variations in pronunciation may occur in regional dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. The state or condition of being subject to death; the rate of death in a population.

Translation(s) & Context:

• смертность - Used in formal, scientific, or statistical contexts, such as demographics, medicine, or epidemiology.

Usage Examples:

• В России смертность от сердечных заболеваний остается высокой.

  In Russia, mortality from heart diseases remains high.

• Медики изучают факторы, влияющие на младенческую смертность.

  Doctors study factors that affect infant mortality.

• Глобальная пандемия увеличила общую смертность в мире.

  The global pandemic has increased overall mortality worldwide.

• Смертность среди пожилых людей выше из-за хронических болезней.

  Mortality among the elderly is higher due to chronic illnesses.

• В отчете ООН обсуждается снижение смертности в развивающихся странах.

  The UN report discusses the decline in mortality in developing countries.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Смертность is a feminine noun (from the root "смерть" meaning "death"). It follows the standard first declension pattern for Russian feminine nouns ending in -ость. It is invariable in terms of gender but changes by case and number. Below is a table of its declensions:

Note: This word does not have irregular forms, making it relatively straightforward for learners once basic declension rules are understood.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • летальность (letalʲnostʲ) - Often used interchangeably in medical contexts, but more specific to fatality rates.
  • гибельность (gibɛlʲnostʲ) - Less common, implies a sense of destruction or loss.
• Antonyms:
  • бессмертие (bʲɛsmʲɛrtʲjɛ) - Implies immortality or eternal life.
  • долголетие (dɐlgɐlʲɛtʲjɛ) - Refers to longevity or long life.

Related Phrases:

• инфантная смертность (infantnaja smɛrtnɔstʲ) - Infant mortality; commonly used in health statistics to refer to deaths in children under one year.
• общая смертность (obščaja smɛrtnɔstʲ) - Overall mortality; refers to the general death rate in a population.
• сезонная смертность (sezonnaja smɛrtnɔstʲ) - Seasonal mortality; used in contexts like epidemiology for deaths linked to seasonal factors.

Usage Notes:

Смертность directly corresponds to the English "mortality" in formal and technical contexts, such as medicine or demographics, but it is less common in everyday speech. It is typically used in singular form and requires proper declension based on sentence structure. For example, choose смертность when discussing rates or statistics, but be aware that in poetic or philosophical contexts, Russian might prefer broader terms like смерть (death). If multiple translations exist, opt for смертность in scientific writing for precision, as it avoids emotional connotations.

Common Errors:

• Confusing смертность with смерть: Learners often misuse смерть (death) as a direct synonym, but смерть is more general and emotional (e.g., Incorrect: "Смерть от болезней высокая" instead of "Смертность от болезней высокая"). Correct usage: Смертность refers specifically to rates, so say "Смертность от болезней остается высокой" to maintain a statistical tone.

• Improper declension: Forgetting to change the ending in different cases, such as using nominative "смертность" in genitive contexts (e.g., Incorrect: "Изучение смертность" instead of "Изучение смертности"). Always adjust based on the case, as shown in the inflections table.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts of mortality are often intertwined with literature and philosophy, as seen in works by authors like Leo Tolstoy or Fyodor Dostoevsky, who explore themes of human finitude and existentialism. The word смертность might evoke reflections on life's impermanence, especially in historical contexts like Russia's high mortality rates during wars or famines, fostering a cultural emphasis on resilience and community support.

Related Concepts:

• смерть (death)
• болезнь (illness)
• жизнь (life)
• эпидемия (epidemic)