Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'outdated'

English Word: outdated

Key Russian Translations:

• устаревший [ʊstɐˈrʲefʂɨj] - [Formal, Adjective, Used in contexts describing obsolescence or outdated technology]
• старый [ˈstarɨj] - [Informal, Adjective, Used when emphasizing age but less precisely for obsolescence; may imply "old" rather than specifically "outdated"]

Frequency: Medium (Common in formal writing, discussions about technology, and historical contexts, but not everyday casual speech).

Difficulty: B2 (Upper Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective inflections and nuanced vocabulary; for "устаревший", B2; for "старый", A2-B1 due to its simplicity).

Pronunciation (Russian):

устаревший: [ʊstɐˈrʲefʂɨj]

Note on устаревший: The stress is on the third syllable; the 'щ' sound ([ʂ]) can be challenging for English speakers, as it's a voiceless retroflex fricative. Practice with native speakers for accurate pronunciation.

старый: [ˈstarɨj]

Note on старый: Stress on the first syllable; the 'ы' sound ([ɨ]) is a central vowel not found in English, often approximated as a short 'i'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: No longer in use or current, especially regarding technology, ideas, or practices.

Translation(s) & Context:

• устаревший - Used in formal or technical contexts, such as describing obsolete software or outdated laws.
• старый - Used in everyday language for something old, but can imply outdated in informal settings, e.g., old-fashioned customs.

Usage Examples:

• Эта технология уже устаревшая и не соответствует современным стандартам.

  This technology is already outdated and does not meet modern standards.

• В библиотеке много устаревших книг, которые никто не читает.

  In the library, there are many outdated books that no one reads.

• Мой телефон устаревший, поэтому я планирую купить новый.

  My phone is outdated, so I'm planning to buy a new one.

• Старый метод обучения кажется устаревшим в эпоху интернета.

  The old teaching method seems outdated in the era of the internet.

Meaning 2: Out of date in style or fashion, often implying something no longer fashionable.

Translation(s) & Context:

• устаревший - Applied to fashion or trends, emphasizing obsolescence in a neutral or critical way.
• старый - More casual, used for clothing or styles that are simply old rather than specifically outdated.

Usage Examples:

• Её платье выглядит устаревшим по сравнению с последними модными тенденциями.

  Her dress looks outdated compared to the latest fashion trends.

• Устаревшая мебель в доме придаёт ему ретро-стиль.

  The outdated furniture in the house gives it a retro style.

• Старый дизайн интерьера кажется устаревшим, но он имеет свою charm.

  The old interior design seems outdated, but it has its own charm.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "устаревший" and "старый" are adjectives in Russian, which inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow regular patterns for most forms.

For "устаревший" (irregular in some senses due to its derived form), it generally follows the standard adjective declension. Here's a table for its forms:

For "старый", it follows a similar regular pattern but is more straightforward:

These adjectives do not change in comparative forms without additional words, but can be modified with adverbs like "очень" (very).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • устаревший: архаичный (archaic) - More formal, used for ancient or historical contexts.
  • старый: древний (ancient) - Implies greater age; ветхий (worn out) - Focuses on physical deterioration.
• Antonyms:
  • устаревший: современный (modern)
  • старый: новый (new)

Related Phrases:

• Устаревшая технология - Outdated technology; refers to obsolete gadgets or systems.
• Старый стиль - Old style; used in fashion to describe vintage looks with a positive connotation.
• Устаревшие идеи - Outdated ideas; common in discussions about progress or innovation.

Usage Notes:

"Устаревший" is a precise match for "outdated" in formal contexts, emphasizing something that is no longer functional or relevant, whereas "старый" is broader and often used informally for anything aged. Choose "устаревший" for technical or professional settings to avoid ambiguity. Be mindful of Russian adjective agreement with nouns in gender, number, and case. In spoken Russian, these words might carry a neutral tone, but in writing, they can imply criticism.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "устаревший" without proper inflection, e.g., saying "устаревший книга" instead of "устаревшая книга" for feminine nouns.

  Correct: устаревшая книга (outdated book). Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree in gender; this mistake often occurs due to English's lack of inflection.

• Error: Confusing "устаревший" with "старый" in formal contexts, e.g., translating "outdated laws" as "старые законы" which might just mean "old laws" without implying obsolescence.

  Correct: устаревшие законы. Explanation: "Устаревший" conveys a sense of irrelevance, so use it for precise translations to maintain meaning.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like "устаревший" often appear in discussions about rapid technological changes, reflecting Russia's history of modernization efforts. For instance, during the Soviet era, "outdated" ideas were criticized in propaganda, highlighting the cultural emphasis on progress and innovation.

Related Concepts:

• модернизация (modernization)
• архаизм (archaism)
• новизна (novelty)