Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'potable'

English Word: potable

Key Russian Translations:

• питьевой [ˈpʲitʲɪjɪvɨj] - [Adjective, Formal, Used in contexts like water safety and health regulations]
• пригодный для питья [prʲɪˈɡodnɨj dlʲɪ ˈpʲitʲjə] - [Phrase, Informal, Plural forms may vary, Used in everyday discussions about drinkability]

Frequency: Medium (Common in technical, health, and travel contexts, but not in casual daily conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, as it involves understanding adjective inflections and specific environmental contexts; for 'питьевой', it's straightforward, but 'пригодный для питья' may require more advanced phrase construction)

Pronunciation (Russian):

питьевой: [ˈpʲitʲɪjɪvɨj]

пригодный для питья: [prʲɪˈɡodnɨj dlʲɪ ˈpʲitʲjə]

Note on питьевой: The stress is on the first syllable, and the 'й' sound can be tricky for English speakers; it's a soft consonant, similar to 'y' in 'yes'. Variations in regional accents may soften the vowels.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: Suitable for drinking, especially referring to water or liquids that are safe for consumption.

Translation(s) & Context:

• питьевой - Used in formal contexts like public health announcements or product labeling, emphasizing safety from contaminants.
• пригодный для питья - Applied in informal or descriptive scenarios, such as travel advice, where the focus is on immediate usability.

Usage Examples:

• В этом регионе питьевая вода проходит строгую проверку. (In this region, potable water undergoes strict testing.)

  In this region, potable water undergoes strict testing.

• Мы всегда берём с собой пригодную для питья воду во время походов. (We always take potable water with us during hikes.)

  We always take potable water with us during hikes.

• Питьевая вода в бутылках часто дешевле, чем в ресторанах. (Bottled potable water is often cheaper than in restaurants.)

  Bottled potable water is often cheaper than in restaurants.

• Эта река не пригодна для питья из-за загрязнения. (This river is not potable due to pollution.)

  This river is not potable due to pollution.

• В отеле предоставляется бесплатная питьевая вода для гостей. (The hotel provides free potable water for guests.)

  The hotel provides free potable water for guests.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'питьевой' is an adjective and follows standard Russian adjective inflections based on gender, number, and case. It is a regular adjective, so it changes forms predictably. 'пригодный для питья' is a phrase where 'пригодный' is an adjective that inflects, while 'для питья' remains relatively stable as a prepositional phrase.

For 'пригодный', it follows similar adjective rules: e.g., Nominative Masculine: пригодный; Feminine: пригодная. The phrase as a whole does not inflect uniformly.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • питьевая (a variant form, often used interchangeably)
  • безопасная для питья (meaning 'safe for drinking', with a focus on safety)

  Note: 'безопасная для питья' emphasizes health risks more than 'питьевой', which is more neutral.

• Antonyms:
  • непригодный для питья (not suitable for drinking)
  • ядовитый (poisonous, implying toxicity)

Related Phrases:

• питьевая вода - Refers to potable water, commonly used in daily life for safe drinking sources.
• пригодный для питья источник - Means a potable water source, often in outdoor or survival contexts.
• фильтрованная вода для питья - Indicates filtered potable water, highlighting purification methods.

Usage Notes:

'Питьевой' directly corresponds to 'potable' in English, especially as an adjective for water, but it's more commonly used in formal or technical settings in Russian. Unlike English, Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, so always check the context (e.g., 'питьевая вода' for feminine nouns). When choosing between 'питьевой' and 'пригодный для питья', opt for the former in scientific or official documents for brevity, and the latter in conversational explanations. Be mindful of regional variations in water quality discussions in Russia.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'питьевая' without proper inflection, e.g., saying 'питьевая вода' as 'питьевой вода' (incorrect gender agreement).

  Correct: питьевая вода (feminine form for 'вода'). Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender; this mistake often occurs due to direct translation from English without considering grammar.

• Error: Confusing with 'пить' (to drink), leading to phrases like 'пить вода' instead of 'питьевая вода'.

  Correct: Use 'питьевая вода'. Explanation: 'Пить' is a verb, not an adjective, so it doesn't replace 'potable'; this error stems from over-simplifying the word root.

Cultural Notes:

In Russia, the concept of 'potable' water is culturally significant due to historical and environmental factors, such as varying tap water quality in urban areas. Many Russians rely on bottled or filtered water, reflecting a cultural caution influenced by past incidents like Chernobyl, which heightened awareness of contamination. This makes terms like 'питьевая вода' not just practical but also a symbol of health and trust in public infrastructure.

Related Concepts:

• вода (water)
• чистый (clean)
• фильтрация (filtration)
• экология (ecology)