Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'popularise'

English Word: popularise

Key Russian Translations:

• популяризировать /pɐ.pʊ.lʲa.rʲɪ.zʲɪ.rɔ.vatʲ/ - [Formal, used in educational or scientific contexts]
• распространять /rɐ.sprɐˈstanʲɪtʲ/ - [Informal, broader usage for spreading ideas or information]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in academic, media, and cultural discussions, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and formal language structures)

Pronunciation (Russian):

популяризировать: /pɐ.pʊ.lʲa.rʲɪ.zʲɪ.rɔ.vatʲ/

Note on популяризировать: This word has a stress on the fourth syllable (ri-), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the rapid consonant clusters. Pronounce it slowly at first to master the flow.

распространять: /rɐ.sprɐˈstanʲɪtʲ/

Note on распространять: The initial "r" is rolled, and the stress is on the third syllable; it's often softened in casual speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To make something more popular or accessible to the general public (e.g., in education or media)

Translation(s) & Context:

• популяризировать - Used in formal contexts like science communication or marketing to describe making complex ideas understandable.
• распространять - Applied in informal settings for spreading information widely, such as through social media.

Usage Examples:

• Ученые пытаются популяризировать новые открытия в области экологии.

  Scientists are trying to popularise new discoveries in the field of ecology.

• Эта книга помогает распространять знания о здоровом образе жизни среди молодежи.

  This book helps popularise knowledge about a healthy lifestyle among young people.

• Музей использует социальные сети, чтобы популяризировать искусство для широкой аудитории.

  The museum uses social media to popularise art for a wide audience.

• Журналисты распространяют информацию о важности вакцинации через онлайн-кампании.

  Journalists are popularising information about the importance of vaccination through online campaigns.

• Проект популяризирует традиционные русские обычаи среди иностранцев.

  The project popularises traditional Russian customs among foreigners.

Meaning 2: To promote or endorse something to increase its appeal (e.g., in marketing)

Translation(s) & Context:

• популяризировать - Preferred in professional or promotional contexts where the focus is on mass appeal.
• распространять - Used more casually for viral or informal promotion.

Usage Examples:

• Бренд популяризирует свою продукцию через знаменитостей.

  The brand is popularising its products through celebrities.

• Активисты распространяют идеи экологической устойчивости на конференциях.

  Activists are popularising ideas of ecological sustainability at conferences.

• Фильм популяризирует тему гендерного равенства в современном обществе.

  The film popularises the theme of gender equality in modern society.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are verbs, so they follow Russian verb conjugation patterns. "популяризировать" is a first-conjugation verb with regular patterns, while "распространять" is also regular but belongs to the second conjugation. Below is a table for infinitive and key conjugated forms:

Note: These verbs do not have irregular forms, but they can take perfective aspects (e.g., популяризировать often pairs with популяризовать for completed actions).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • продвигать (prodvigat' - to promote; more marketing-focused)
  • рекламировать (reklamirovat' - to advertise; implies commercial promotion)
• Antonyms:
  • запретить (zapretit' - to prohibit)
  • скрывать (skryvat' - to hide; used when suppressing information)

Related Phrases:

• популяризировать науку - To popularise science; often used in educational campaigns.
• распространять информацию - To spread information; common in media and social contexts.
• массово популяризировать идею - To mass popularise an idea; implies wide-reaching promotion.

Usage Notes:

"Popularise" directly corresponds to "популяризировать" in formal Russian, especially for making specialized topics accessible. Use "распространять" for more general dissemination. Be mindful of context: "популяризировать" is preferred in written or academic English-to-Russian translations, while "распространять" fits casual speech. Grammatically, both verbs require agreement with subject and object cases, and they often appear in imperfective aspects for ongoing actions.

• Choose "популяризировать" for intellectual or cultural promotion to maintain a sophisticated tone.
• Avoid direct word-for-word translation; adapt based on nuance, as Russian verbs can imply broader actions.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "популяризировать" with "популярен" (popular as an adjective). Incorrect: "Я популярен эту идею" (grammatically wrong). Correct: "Я популяризирую эту идею" (I popularise this idea). Explanation: "Популярен" means "popular," not the verb form.
• Error: Overusing "распространять" in formal contexts. Incorrect: "Ученые распространяют теорию" in a scientific paper. Correct: "Ученые популяризируют теорию." Explanation: "Распространять" sounds too casual for academic writing.
• Error: Incorrect conjugation, e.g., saying "популяризируюшь" instead of "популяризируешь." Correct: Follow standard verb endings for accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "популяризировать" is often linked to Soviet-era efforts to make science and ideology accessible to the masses, such as through public lectures or media campaigns. This reflects a historical emphasis on education and propaganda, which can add a layer of connotation when used in modern contexts.

Related Concepts:

• продвижение (promotion)
• пропаганда (propaganda)
• распространение (dissemination)