Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'paralyze'

English Word: paralyze

Key Russian Translations:

• парализовать [pərəlʲɪzə'vatʲ] - [Formal, Medical context; used in professional or scientific discussions]
• обездвижить [ɐbʲɪz'dvʲiʐʲɪtʲ] - [Informal or general use; less specific to medical paralysis]

Frequency: Medium (Common in medical, psychological, or literary contexts, but not in everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires familiarity with Russian verb conjugations and medical vocabulary. For "парализовать", it's B2; for "обездвижить", it's also B2 due to similar structures)

Pronunciation (Russian):

парализовать: [pərəlʲɪzə'vatʲ]

обездвижить: [ɐbʲɪz'dvʲiʐʲɪtʲ]

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

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To cause someone or something to lose the ability to move, feel, or act (e.g., in medical, emotional, or metaphorical contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• парализовать - Used in formal medical or psychological scenarios, such as describing physical paralysis from injury or disease.
• обездвижить - Applied in more general or informal contexts, like immobilizing an object or person in non-medical situations.

Usage Examples:

• Врачи парализовали пациента для проведения сложной операции.

  Doctors paralyzed the patient to perform a complex surgery. (This example shows the verb in a medical context, highlighting its use with direct objects.)

• Страх парализовал его, и он не смог пошевелиться.

  Fear paralyzed him, and he couldn't move. (Here, it demonstrates a metaphorical use in emotional contexts, with the verb in past tense.)

• Этот токсин может обездвижить насекомое всего за несколько секунд.

  This toxin can immobilize an insect in just a few seconds. (Illustrates "обездвижить" in a scientific or everyday descriptive context.)

• В шоке она обездвижена и не реагирует на внешние stimuli.

  In shock, she is immobilized and doesn't respond to external stimuli. (Shows the verb in a state of being, often with adjectives or in passive constructions.)

• Парализовать мышцы лица — распространенный эффект некоторых лекарств.

  Paralyzing the facial muscles is a common effect of some medications. (This example varies the structure, using the infinitive form in a general statement.)

To render something ineffective or inactive (metaphorical extension)

Translation(s) & Context:

• парализовать - In figurative contexts, such as paralyzing a system or economy.
• обездвижить - Less common here, but possible for immobilizing processes or mechanisms.

Usage Examples:

• Глобальный кризис парализовал экономику страны на годы.

  The global crisis paralyzed the country's economy for years. (This shows metaphorical use in socio-political contexts.)

• Эта бюрократия обездвижит любой проект.

  This bureaucracy will immobilize any project. (Demonstrates informal application to abstract concepts.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "парализовать" and "обездвижить" are Russian verbs of the first conjugation, which typically follow regular patterns but can have irregularities in perfective aspects. "Парализовать" is imperfective, meaning it describes ongoing or repeated actions, while its perfective counterpart is "парализовать" in certain contexts (though it's often used as is). "Обездвижить" can be perfective.

These verbs are regular but note the stem changes (e.g., "парализ-" to "парализов-"). They do not change in number for infinitives but conjugate fully in tenses.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • иммобилизовать - More technical, often used in medical or engineering contexts; implies temporary immobilization.
  • заморозить - Figurative for "freeze" in action, but less precise for physical paralysis.
• Antonyms:
  • восстановить - To restore or recover movement.
  • активизировать - To activate or energize, opposite in metaphorical uses.

Related Phrases:

• паралич конечностей - Paralysis of the limbs; used in medical discussions to describe specific conditions.
• обездвижить жертву - To immobilize the victim; common in crime or action narratives, with a connotation of restraint.
• парализовать волю - To paralyze the will; a figurative phrase in psychological or motivational contexts.

Usage Notes:

"Парализовать" directly corresponds to the English "paralyze" in medical and literal senses, while "обездвижить" is broader and can translate to "immobilize." Use "парализовать" in formal writing or professional settings, as it's more precise. Be cautious with aspect: imperfective forms like "парализовать" describe ongoing states, whereas perfective might imply completion. In everyday speech, Russians might prefer simpler synonyms to avoid overly formal language.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Confusing the verb aspect, e.g., using "парализовать" when a perfective form is needed. Incorrect: "Я парализовать врага" (grammatically wrong). Correct: "Я парализовал врага" (past tense). Explanation: English speakers often overlook Russian's aspect system, which distinguishes between ongoing and completed actions.
• Mistake: Overusing in metaphorical contexts without context. Incorrect: "Парализовать машину" (implies literal paralysis, which is nonsensical). Correct: "Обездвижить машину" for immobilizing a vehicle. Explanation: Match the verb to the appropriate context to avoid confusion.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "парализовать" often appear in literature and historical contexts, such as in works by Dostoevsky, where emotional or psychological paralysis symbolizes inner turmoil. This reflects a broader Slavic tradition of using physical metaphors for mental states, influenced by Orthodox Christian themes of suffering and redemption.

Related Concepts:

• паралич
• неврология
• иммобилизация