Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'perishing'

English Word: perishing

Key Russian Translations:

• умирающий [u.mɪˈra.ju.ʂɨj] - [Formal, used for processes of dying or decay]
• погибающий [pə.gʲɪˈba.ju.ʂɨj] - [Formal, often in contexts of destruction or ruin]
• проклятый [prəˈkla.tɨj] - [Informal, slang for emphasis, e.g., in extreme weather like 'perishing cold']

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature, formal writing, and everyday speech, but not as frequent as basic verbs)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate, per CEFR; involves understanding participles and contextual nuances, which may vary by translation)

Pronunciation (Russian):

умирающий: [u.mɪˈra.ju.ʂɨj]

погибающий: [pə.gʲɪˈba.ju.ʂɨj]

проклятый: [prəˈkla.tɨj] (Note on проклятый: The stress on the second syllable can vary in casual speech, potentially sounding like [prəkla.'tɨj], which is a common regional variant in informal contexts.)

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Dying, decaying, or perishing (literal sense, as in the process of death or ruin)

Translation(s) & Context:

• умирающий - Used in contexts involving gradual death, such as plants, animals, or abstract concepts like ideas.
• погибающий - Applied to sudden or catastrophic destruction, like in war or natural disasters.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: Лес умирающий от засухи, но люди стараются его спасти.

  English: The forest is perishing from drought, but people are trying to save it.

• Русский: Война сделала многие города погибающими руинами.

  English: The war turned many cities into perishing ruins.

• Русский: Эти фрукты умирающие, их нельзя есть.

  English: These fruits are perishing; they can't be eaten.

• Русский: Корабль был погибающим в шторме, но экипаж выжил.

  English: The ship was perishing in the storm, but the crew survived.

2. Informal emphasis (e.g., 'perishing cold' for extreme discomfort)

Translation(s) & Context:

• проклятый - Informal slang for intensifying descriptions, often in everyday complaints about weather or conditions.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: На улице проклятый холод, лучше остаться дома.

  English: It's perishing cold outside; better stay home.

• Русский: Этот проклятый дождь не перестает целый день.

  English: This perishing rain doesn't stop all day.

• Русский: Проклятый ветер делает прогулку невыносимой.

  English: The perishing wind makes the walk unbearable.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily adjectives or participles, which follow standard Russian adjectival inflection patterns. They decline based on gender, number, and case. For example, 'умирающий' is irregular as a present active participle but inflects like an adjective.

For 'погибающий', it follows the same pattern. 'Проклятый' is a standard adjective with no irregularities, declining fully across cases.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • гибнущий (similar to погибающий, but often implies inevitable fate)
  • истлевающий (specifically for decay, with a nuance of rotting)
• Antonyms:
  • выживающий (surviving)
  • прочный (durable, opposite in the sense of withstanding decay)

Related Phrases:

• умирающий от голода - Perishing from hunger; used in contexts of famine or starvation.
• погибающий мир - A perishing world; often in philosophical or environmental discussions.
• проклятый холод - Perishing cold; informal for extreme weather conditions.

Usage Notes:

'Perishing' corresponds most closely to 'умирающий' or 'погибающий' in formal Russian, especially when describing literal decay or death, but 'проклятый' is better for idiomatic emphasis like in British English slang. Choose based on context: use formal translations in written or academic settings, and 'проклятый' in casual speech. Be mindful of gender and case agreements in sentences, as Russian adjectives must agree with their nouns.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'умирающий' without proper inflection, e.g., saying "умирающий дом" in the wrong case. Correct: Ensure it matches the noun's case, like "умирающего дома" in genitive. Explanation: Russian requires strict agreement, which English learners often overlook.
• Mistake: Confusing 'проклятый' with its literal curse meaning, leading to overly negative connotations. Correct: In slang, it's for emphasis, not actual cursing. Example: Wrong: "Проклятый погода" (incorrect word order); Right: "Проклятая погода".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'умирающий' often appear in literature (e.g., Tolstoy's works) to symbolize existential themes or the harshness of life, reflecting Russia's historical experiences with war and famine. This adds a layer of poetic depth not always present in English usage.

Related Concepts:

• смерть (death)
• разрушение (destruction)
• голод (hunger)