Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'paroxysm'

English Word: paroxysm

Key Russian Translations:

• приступ [ˈprʲistup] - [Formal, Medical]
• пароксизм [pɐˈrɔksʲizm] - [Formal, Technical]

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

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires familiarity with medical terminology and noun inflections in Russian).

Pronunciation (Russian):

приступ: [ˈprʲistup]

Note on приступ: The stress is on the first syllable; the 'р' is rolled, which can be challenging for beginners.

пароксизм: [pɐˈrɔksʲizm]

Note on пароксизм: This is a borrowed word, so pronunciation is relatively straightforward, but the 'кс' sound is a soft palatalized cluster.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A sudden, violent attack or outburst of a disease, emotion, or activity (e.g., a paroxysm of coughing or rage).

Translation(s) & Context:

• приступ - Used in medical or emotional contexts to describe a sudden onset, such as a seizure or emotional burst.
• пароксизм - Applied in more technical or clinical settings, emphasizing recurrent episodes in diseases.

Usage Examples:

• Внезапный приступ кашля вынудил его остановиться.

  A sudden paroxysm of coughing forced him to stop.

• Её гнев перерос в настоящий приступ ярости.

  Her anger escalated into a real paroxysm of rage.

• Во время приступа астмы он всегда носит inhaler.

  During a paroxysm of asthma, he always carries an inhaler.

• Приступ боли был так интенсивен, что он потерял сознание.

  The paroxysm of pain was so intense that he lost consciousness.

Meaning 2: In medical terms, a sudden worsening or recurrence of symptoms (e.g., in epilepsy or fever).

Translation(s) & Context:

• пароксизм - Preferred in clinical discussions for periodic exacerbations, such as in neurological disorders.
• приступ - More general, used in everyday medical contexts for acute episodes.

Usage Examples:

• Пациент испытывает пароксизм эпилепсии каждые несколько месяцев.

  The patient experiences a paroxysm of epilepsy every few months.

• Приступ лихорадки у ребёнка требовал немедленного внимания.

  The paroxysm of fever in the child required immediate attention.

• Врачи зафиксировали пароксизм аритмии во время обследования.

  Doctors recorded a paroxysm of arrhythmia during the examination.

• Её приступ головной боли был вызван стрессом.

  Her paroxysm of headache was triggered by stress.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are masculine nouns. "Приступ" follows the second declension pattern for masculine nouns, while "пароксизм" is a borrowed word with standard inflection rules. Below is a table outlining their key inflections:

Note: These nouns do not have irregular inflections but follow standard patterns. They remain unchanged in plural forms for most contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • спазм (spasm) - Similar to приступ, but more specific to muscle contractions.
  • кризис (crisis) - Used for severe episodes, often in medical contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • спокойствие (calmness) - Represents the opposite of a sudden outburst.
  • стабильность (stability) - In medical contexts, indicating no recurrence.

Related Phrases:

• Сердечный приступ - Heart attack; used in emergency medical situations to describe a sudden cardiac event.
• Приступ паники - Panic attack; common in psychological contexts for sudden anxiety episodes.
• Астматический приступ - Asthmatic attack; refers to a severe asthma episode requiring immediate treatment.

Usage Notes:

Use "приступ" for everyday or general descriptions of sudden events, as it aligns closely with the English "paroxysm" in non-technical contexts. "Пароксизм" is better for formal medical writing, where precision is key. Be mindful of context: in Russian, these words often require appropriate case inflections based on sentence structure (e.g., genitive for possession). When choosing between translations, opt for "приступ" in conversational settings and "пароксизм" in scientific reports to match the formality level.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "приступ" interchangeably with "пароксизм" in technical contexts. For example, learners might say "пароксизм кашля" when "приступ кашля" is more natural for a general cough episode.

  Correct: Приступ кашля (A paroxysm of coughing). Explanation: "Пароксизм" implies a more recurrent, clinical pattern, while "приступ" suffices for isolated events.

• Error: Forgetting to inflect the noun properly, e.g., using nominative in all cases. Incorrect: "Из-за приступ ярости" (should be genitive).

  Correct: Из-за приступа ярости (Due to a paroxysm of rage). Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, so always adjust based on the preposition or role in the sentence.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and language, terms like "приступ" are often associated with stoic endurance in the face of health crises, reflecting historical influences from Soviet-era medicine where personal resilience was emphasized. However, "пароксизм" is more neutral and borrowed, lacking strong cultural connotations.

Related Concepts:

• болезнь (illness)
• эпилепсия (epilepsy)
• спазм (spasm)