Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'noxious'

English Word: noxious

Key Russian Translations:

• вредный [ˈvrʲednɨj] - [Adjective, Formal, often used for general harmful effects]
• ядовитый [jɐˈdovʲɪtɨj] - [Adjective, Formal, typically for poisonous substances]
• токсичный [tɐkˈsʲitɕnɨj] - [Adjective, Formal, scientific or environmental contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in discussions about health, environment, and safety, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective forms and contextual nuances; for 'вредный', it's straightforward, but 'токсичный' may need more advanced vocabulary knowledge)

Pronunciation (Russian):

вредный: [ˈvrʲednɨj]

ядовитый: [jɐˈdovʲɪtɨj]

токсичный: [tɐkˈsʲitɕnɨj]

Note on вредный: The stress is on the first syllable, which is common for many Russian adjectives; be careful with the soft 'r' sound.

Note on ядовитый: Pronunciation can vary slightly in rapid speech, with emphasis on the second syllable in poetic or emphatic contexts.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Harmful or poisonous substance (primary meaning of 'noxious')

Translation(s) & Context:

• вредный - Used in contexts involving general harm to health or environment, such as air pollution or chemicals.
• ядовитый - Applied specifically to substances that are poisonous, like venom or toxic gases.
• токсичный - Common in scientific or medical discussions, referring to chemical toxicity.

Usage Examples:

• Вредные газы в городе могут привести к респираторным заболеваниям.

  Noxious gases in the city can lead to respiratory diseases.

• Ядовитый яд змей часто используется в медицинских исследованиях.

  Noxious venom from snakes is often used in medical research.

• Токсичные отходы из фабрик загрязняют реки и угрожают дикой природе.

  Noxious waste from factories pollutes rivers and threatens wildlife.

• Вредный дым от сигарет наносит ущерб лёгким курильщиков.

  Noxious smoke from cigarettes damages the lungs of smokers.

• Ядовитые вещества в продуктах питания могут вызвать аллергию у детей.

  Noxious substances in food can cause allergies in children.

Figurative or extended meaning (e.g., morally harmful)

Translation(s) & Context:

• вредный - In metaphorical contexts, like harmful ideas or behaviors.

Usage Examples:

• Вредные привычки, такие как курение, трудно изменить.

  Noxious habits, such as smoking, are hard to change.

• Ядовитый климат в офисе влияет на продуктивность сотрудников.

  A noxious atmosphere in the office affects employee productivity.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations ('вредный', 'ядовитый', 'токсичный') are adjectives in Russian, which typically inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow standard patterns for first-declension adjectives.

These adjectives follow regular patterns, so they inflect predictably. There are no irregular forms for these words.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • опасный (opasnyy) - More general for 'dangerous', often interchangeable in safety contexts.
  • вредоносный (vredonosnyy) - Emphasizes destructive harm, subtle difference from 'вредный' in intensity.
• Antonyms:
  • безопасный (bezopasnyy) - Safe, used in contexts where 'noxious' implies the opposite.
  • невредный (nevrednyy) - Harmless, directly contrasting with 'вредный'.

Related Phrases:

• вредные привычки - Harmful habits, often referring to bad behaviors like smoking.
• ядовитые вещества - Poisonous substances, used in chemistry or biology contexts.
• токсичные отходы - Toxic waste, common in environmental discussions.
• вредный эффект - Noxious effect, for describing negative impacts.

Usage Notes:

'Вредный' is the most direct translation for 'noxious' in everyday contexts, while 'ядовитый' and 'токсичный' are better for specific poisonous or chemical scenarios. English speakers should note that Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, which can be tricky for beginners. For formal writing, 'токсичный' is preferred in scientific texts, whereas 'вредный' suits general conversation. When choosing between translations, consider the context: if it's about immediate danger, opt for 'ядовитый'.

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'вредный' with 'опасный': Learners might use 'опасный' (dangerous) when 'вредный' is more appropriate for long-term harm. Incorrect: "Опасный газ" for a slowly damaging gas. Correct: "Вредный газ". Explanation: 'Опасный' implies immediate risk, while 'вредный' focuses on gradual effects.

• Forgetting adjective agreement: A common mistake is using the masculine form universally, e.g., saying "вредный вода" instead of "вредная вода" for feminine nouns. Correct: Ensure the adjective matches the noun's gender and case.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'вредный' often appear in environmental discussions due to historical issues like Chernobyl, emphasizing the long-term effects of pollution. This reflects a broader cultural awareness of industrial impacts on health, making 'noxious' translations particularly relevant in modern Russian media and policy debates.

Related Concepts:

• экология (ecology)
• загрязнение (pollution)
• яд (poison)