Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'placebo'

English Word: placebo

Key Russian Translations:

• плацебо [plɐˈtsɛbə] - [Medical term, typically used in formal or scientific contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in medical, scientific, and psychological discussions, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate level, as it involves understanding medical terminology and basic Russian loanwords; suitable for learners with some vocabulary in health-related topics)

Pronunciation (Russian):

плацебо: [plɐˈtsɛbə]

Note on плацебо: The stress falls on the second syllable ("tse"), which is common for Russian loanwords. Be mindful of the soft "e" sound in "tse" and "bo", which can be tricky for English speakers due to differences in vowel pronunciation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary meaning: A substance or treatment with no therapeutic effect, used as a control in medical trials or to invoke a psychological response.

Translation(s) & Context:

• плацебо - Used in scientific and medical contexts to refer to a fake treatment; common in formal writing or discussions about psychology and pharmacology.

Usage Examples:

• В клинических испытаниях часто используют плацебо, чтобы измерить эффект реального лекарства.

  In clinical trials, a placebo is often used to measure the effect of the real medication.

• Пациент почувствовал облегчение после приёма плацебо, что демонстрирует силу эффекта плацебо.

  The patient felt relief after taking the placebo, which demonstrates the power of the placebo effect.

• Врачи прописывают плацебо в некоторых случаях, когда психосоматические факторы играют роль.

  Doctors prescribe a placebo in some cases when psychosomatic factors are at play.

• Исследование показало, что плацебо может влиять на восприятие боли у добровольцев.

  The study showed that a placebo can influence the perception of pain in volunteers.

• В фармацевтике плацебо — это безвредный препарат, имитирующий реальное лекарство.

  In pharmaceuticals, a placebo is a harmless substance that imitates a real medication.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

плацебо is a neuter noun and a loanword from English, which typically does not inflect in Russian. It remains unchanged in most cases, following the pattern of many foreign medical terms. However, it can occasionally take standard neuter endings in certain contexts:

Note: As an indeclinable noun, it does not change for gender, number, or case in standard usage, which simplifies learning for English speakers.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • пустышка (pustyshka) - A more informal term, often used in everyday contexts to mean a fake or dummy item.
  • контрольный препарат (kontrol'nyy preparat) - Literally "control preparation," used in scientific settings with a slight nuance toward experimental controls.
• Antonyms:
  • эффективное лекарство (effektivnoye lekarstvo) - Meaning "effective medicine," contrasting with the ineffectiveness of a placebo.
  • активное вещество (aktivnoye veshchestvo) - Meaning "active substance," referring to a real therapeutic agent.

Related Phrases:

• эффект плацебо (effekt plaсebo) - The placebo effect; a psychological phenomenon where belief in treatment leads to perceived benefits.
• плацебо-контроль (plaсebo-kontrol') - Placebo-controlled; used in trial designs to ensure unbiased results.
• принимать плацебо (prinimat' plaсebo) - To take a placebo; often in contexts of patient compliance in studies.

Usage Notes:

• плацебо directly corresponds to the English "placebo" and is used almost exclusively in medical or scientific contexts. It's a loanword, so pronunciation and spelling remain close to the original.
• In formal writing, always pair it with explanations for non-experts, as it's not part of everyday Russian vocabulary.
• When choosing between synonyms like "пустышка," opt for it in informal conversations, but stick with "плацебо" in professional settings to maintain precision.
• Grammatically, as an indeclinable noun, it doesn't require case changes, making it easier for English learners, but ensure correct sentence structure in Russian.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Mispronouncing as [pla'si:bo] with an English accent, ignoring Russian vowel reductions.
  Correct: Use [plɐˈtsɛbə], emphasizing the reduced vowel in the first syllable. Explanation: Russian has vowel reduction in unstressed syllables, which English speakers often overlook.
• Mistake: Using it in plural form unnecessarily, e.g., "плацебоs" (incorrect).
  Correct: Keep it as "плацебо" even in plural contexts, as it's indeclinable. Explanation: Adding an English-style plural ending is a common interference error for learners.
• Mistake: Confusing with similar terms like "пластырь" (plaster or band-aid).
  Correct: Remember the context—плацебо is for medical trials, not adhesives. Explanation: Visual similarity in spelling can lead to mix-ups, so context clues are key.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and medicine, the concept of плацебо is often discussed in the context of Soviet-era psychology and modern healthcare reforms. It highlights a historical skepticism toward Western medicine, where placebos were sometimes used ethically in trials to test the mind-body connection, reflecting broader themes of resilience and placebo's role in mental health treatments.

Related Concepts:

• психосоматика (psykhosomatika)
• клинические испытания (klinicheskiye ispytaniya)
• эффект ноцебо (effekt notsebo)