Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'poison'

English Word: poison

Key Russian Translations:

• яд /jat/ - [Formal, Noun; used in general contexts for toxic substances]
• отравить /ɐtrɐˈvʲitʲ/ - [Formal, Verb; used for the action of poisoning, often in medical or criminal contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in everyday discussions about health, environment, or crime, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary like "water").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of basic noun and verb inflections in Russian, per CEFR standards. For 'яд', it's straightforward for beginners; for 'отравить', verb conjugation may pose challenges for intermediate learners.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

яд: /jat/ (The 'я' sound is a palatalized 'ya', similar to 'ya' in 'yard', but softer. Stress is on the first syllable.)

Note on яд: Be careful with the soft 'я' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers due to its palatalization; it often sounds like a quick 'y' followed by 'a'.

отравить: /ɐtrɐˈvʲitʲ/ (Stress on the third syllable; the 'вʲ' is a palatalized 'v', making it softer, like in 'view'.)

Note on отравить: The verb ending '-ить' indicates a perfective aspect, and pronunciation varies slightly in fast speech, where the 'тʲ' can soften further.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A substance that is harmful or lethal when ingested, inhaled, or absorbed (Noun form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• яд - Used in formal or scientific contexts, such as describing chemicals, poisons in nature, or toxins in medicine.

Usage Examples:

• В лаборатории изучают разные виды яда для разработки противоядий.

  In the laboratory, they study different types of poison to develop antidotes.

• Змеиный яд может быть опасным, но иногда используется в медицине.

  Snake poison can be dangerous, but it's sometimes used in medicine.

• Этот яд из растений вызывает аллергические реакции у людей.

  This poison from plants causes allergic reactions in people.

• В детективных романах яд часто применяется как орудие убийства.

  In detective novels, poison is often used as a murder weapon.

Meaning 2: To administer a harmful substance to cause injury or death (Verb form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• отравить - Used in contexts involving intentional or accidental poisoning, such as food contamination or chemical exposure.

Usage Examples:

• Кто-то попытался отравить реку промышленными отходами.

  Someone tried to poison the river with industrial waste.

• Врачи смогли спасти пациента, которого отравили испорченной едой.

  The doctors were able to save the patient who was poisoned by spoiled food.

• Неосторожное хранение химикатов может отравить воздух в доме.

  Careless storage of chemicals can poison the air in the house.

• В исторических рассказах королей часто отравляли заговорщики.

  In historical stories, kings were often poisoned by conspirators.

• Она случайно отравила растения, используя слишком много удобрений.

  She accidentally poisoned the plants by using too much fertilizer.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'яд' (a masculine noun, 3rd declension):

It follows standard Russian noun declension patterns. Note that it is invariable in the plural for most uses, but can change in singular forms.

For 'отравить' (a perfective verb, 2nd conjugation):

It is irregular in some aspects due to Russian verbal aspects. Here is a basic conjugation table for present tense of the imperfective counterpart 'отравлять' (to poison gradually), as 'отравить' is often used in perfective forms.

Note: 'отравить' is perfective and used for completed actions, e.g., in past tense: отравил (he poisoned).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • токсин (toxin; more scientific, often used in medical contexts)
  • яды (poisons; plural form, broader term)
  • отравляющее вещество (poisonous substance; descriptive and formal)
• Antonyms:
  • противоядие (antidote; directly counters poison)
  • лекарство (medicine; used for healing)

Related Phrases:

• яд змеи - Snake poison; refers to venom from snakes, commonly used in biological discussions.
• отравить пищу - To poison food; a phrase for food contamination scenarios, often in safety contexts.
• бытовой яд - Household poison; used for everyday toxins like cleaning agents.
• яд в литературе - Poison in literature; idiomatic for discussing themes in books or stories.

Usage Notes:

'Яд' directly corresponds to 'poison' as a noun and is neutral in tone, making it suitable for formal writing or conversations. 'Отравить' aligns with the verb form and emphasizes a completed action, which is key in Russian's aspect system—use it for specific events rather than ongoing ones. Be mindful of context: in casual speech, Russians might opt for simpler terms, but these are standard. When choosing between translations, use 'яд' for substances and 'отравить' for actions; always consider gender and case agreements in sentences.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Confusing 'яд' with 'яйцо' (egg), due to similar pronunciation of the initial sound. Correct: Use 'яд' only for poisons; example of error: "Я ем яд" (I eat poison, incorrect context); correct: "Я ем яйцо" (I eat an egg).
• Mistake: Incorrect verb aspect, e.g., using 'отравить' for ongoing actions. Correct: For continuous poisoning, use the imperfective 'отравлять'; error example: "Я отравить воду каждый день" (wrong); correct: "Я отравляю воду каждый день" (I am poisoning the water every day).
• Mistake: Forgetting declensions, e.g., saying "в яд" instead of "в яде" for "in the poison." Explanation: Always adjust for genitive or prepositional cases as needed.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, poison often appears in literature and folklore, such as in Pushkin's works or fairy tales, symbolizing betrayal or intrigue. Historically, it was associated with political assassinations, like in the Romanov era, adding a layer of dramatic connotation that English speakers might recognize from Shakespearean themes.

Related Concepts:

• токсин
• антидот
• ядовитый
• отравление