Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'overgraze'

English Word: overgraze

Key Russian Translations:

• перепасать [pʲɪrʲɪˈpasət] - [Formal, used in agricultural or environmental contexts]
• истощить (пастбище) [ɪsˈtoʃʲɪtʲ (pɐsˈtbʲɪʃʲə)] - [Informal, literal translation implying exhaustion]

Frequency: Low (This term is specialized and primarily used in discussions of agriculture, environmental science, or rural contexts, making it less common in everyday conversation.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian verb conjugations and context-specific vocabulary, suitable for learners with a grasp of basic grammar but challenging due to its niche application.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

перепасать: [pʲɪrʲɪˈpasət]

истощить: [ɪsˈtoʃʲɪtʲ]

Note on перепасать: The stress falls on the third syllable ("pas"), and the initial "pʲ" sound is palatalized, which is a common feature in Russian verbs. Be cautious with the soft sign (ь) affecting pronunciation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: To graze land excessively, leading to soil degradation or environmental damage.

Translation(s) & Context:

• перепасать - Typically used in formal or technical discussions about overfarming, emphasizing the action of animals consuming vegetation beyond sustainable levels.
• истощить (пастбище) - Applied in contexts where the focus is on the result of exhaustion, often in informal or descriptive narratives about land management.

Usage Examples:

• Фермеры перепасали пастбище в течение лета, что вызвало эрозию почвы.

  The farmers overgrazed the pasture during the summer, which caused soil erosion.

• Если скот будет продолжать перепасать эти луга, мы потеряем плодородный слой.

  If the livestock continues to overgraze these meadows, we'll lose the fertile layer.

• Перепасать пастбища — это распространенная проблема в засушливых регионах России.

  Overgrazing pastures is a common issue in arid regions of Russia.

• Экологи предупреждают о рисках, связанных с истощением пастбищ из-за чрезмерного выпаса.

  Ecologists warn about the risks associated with overgrazing that exhausts pastures.

• В некоторых районах Сибири фермеры учатся избегать перепаса, чтобы сохранить биоразнообразие.

  In some parts of Siberia, farmers are learning to avoid overgrazing to preserve biodiversity.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Перепасать" is a perfective verb in Russian, derived from the imperfective "пасать" (to graze). It follows the first conjugation pattern for most forms but has irregularities in certain aspects. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

For "истощить", it is also a perfective verb with similar conjugation patterns, but it is less directly tied to grazing and may require a direct object (e.g., истощить пастбище). It remains relatively regular but changes based on aspect and tense as above.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: истощить (to exhaust), выработать (to deplete)
• Antonyms: пасти умеренно (to graze moderately), сохранять (to preserve) – Note that these are not exact antonyms but convey the opposite intent in land management contexts.

Related Phrases:

• перепасанный луг – Overgrazed meadow; refers to land that has been damaged by excessive grazing.
• избегать перепаса – To avoid overgrazing; a phrase used in sustainable farming discussions.
• истощение пастбищ – Exhaustion of pastures; commonly used in environmental reports to describe long-term effects.

Usage Notes:

When translating "overgraze" to Russian, "перепасать" is the most precise and commonly used verb, especially in formal or scientific contexts, as it directly implies the action of grazing beyond limits. However, "истощить" might be chosen if the emphasis is on the resulting depletion rather than the act itself. Be mindful of aspect: use perfective forms like "перепасал" for completed actions. In everyday speech, this vocabulary is rare and often limited to rural or professional settings, so learners should pair it with context-specific nouns like "пастбище" (pasture) for clarity.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "перепасать" with "пасать" and using the imperfective form incorrectly. Incorrect: "Я пас пастбище слишком много" (grammatically wrong). Correct: "Я перепасал пастбище" (I overgrazed the pasture). Explanation: English learners often overlook Russian verb aspects; "перепасать" is perfective, so it should be used for completed actions.
• Error: Overusing "истощить" without a direct object. Incorrect: "Скот истощил" (The livestock exhausted – incomplete). Correct: "Скот истощил пастбище" (The livestock exhausted the pasture). Explanation: This verb requires an object to specify what is being exhausted, which is a common oversight for speakers of languages without such strict requirements.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like "перепасать" are particularly relevant in regions with traditional agriculture, such as rural Siberia or the steppe areas. Historically, overgrazing has been a challenge in Russia's vast landscapes, contributing to environmental issues like desertification, which ties into broader themes of Soviet-era collective farming and modern sustainability efforts.

Related Concepts:

• эрозия
• пастбище
• биоразнообразие