Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'poverty'

English Word: poverty

Key Russian Translations:

• бедность [ˈbʲednəstʲ] - [Formal, Singular]
• нищета [ˈnʲɪʂːətə] - [Formal, Often implies extreme destitution]

Frequency: High (Common in discussions of social issues, economics, and literature in Russian media and everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of basic noun inflections and vocabulary related to social topics, but straightforward for learners at this level)

Pronunciation (Russian):

бедность: [ˈbʲednəstʲ]

Note on бедность: The initial "б" is pronounced as a soft bilabial stop, and the stress falls on the first syllable. Be cautious with the palatalized "д" sound, which can be challenging for English speakers.

Audio: []

нищета: [ˈnʲɪʂːətə]

Note on нищета: The "щ" is a voiceless palatal fricative, similar to the "sh" in "she" but more sibilant. Stress is on the first syllable, and this word may vary slightly in informal speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The state of being extremely poor or lacking resources.

Translation(s) & Context:

• бедность - Used in formal contexts like economic reports, social discussions, or literary descriptions to denote general poverty.
• нищета - Applied in more emotive or severe contexts, such as humanitarian crises, to emphasize extreme deprivation.

Usage Examples:

• В стране растет бедность из-за экономического кризиса. (In the country, poverty is growing due to the economic crisis.)

  In the country, poverty is growing due to the economic crisis. (This example shows 'бедность' in a nominative case, discussing societal trends.)

• Борьба с бедностью является приоритетом для правительства. (Fighting poverty is a priority for the government.)

  Fighting poverty is a priority for the government. (Here, 'бедность' is used in the instrumental case within a phrase, highlighting policy contexts.)

• Нищета в сельских районах приводит к миграции в города. (Poverty in rural areas leads to migration to cities.)

  Poverty in rural areas leads to migration to cities. (This uses 'нищета' to convey a more intense form of poverty, in the nominative case.)

• Из-за нищеты многие семьи не могут позволить себе базовые нужды. (Due to poverty, many families cannot afford basic needs.)

  Due to poverty, many families cannot afford basic needs. (Example demonstrates 'нищеты' in the genitive case, emphasizing causes and effects.)

• Глобальная бедность остается серьезной проблемой в современном мире. (Global poverty remains a serious problem in the modern world.)

  Global poverty remains a serious problem in the modern world. (This illustrates 'бедность' in a broader, abstract context, with nominative usage.)

A metaphorical sense, such as poverty of spirit or ideas.

Translation(s) & Context:

• бедность - Used metaphorically in literature or philosophy, e.g., spiritual poverty.

Usage Examples:

• Бедность воображения ограничивает творческий потенциал. (Poverty of imagination limits creative potential.)

  Poverty of imagination limits creative potential. (This example extends 'бедность' to abstract concepts, in the nominative case.)

• В его речах ощущается духовная бедность. (In his speeches, there is a spiritual poverty.)

  In his speeches, there is a spiritual poverty. (Shows metaphorical usage in the nominative case.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'бедность' and 'нищета' are feminine nouns in Russian, following the standard first declension pattern. They are regular and inflect based on case, number, and gender. Below is a table for 'бедность' as an example; 'нищета' follows similar rules.

Note: These nouns do not have irregular forms, making them relatively easy to learn, but always adjust for case based on sentence structure.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • нищета (similar to 'бедность' but with a connotation of deeper despair)
  • убожество (implies wretchedness or misery, often in a more pitiful context)
• Antonyms:
  • богатство (wealth; used in economic or material contexts)
  • изобилие (abundance; emphasizes plenty and prosperity)

Related Phrases:

• Борьба с бедностью - Fight against poverty (Common in political and social discourse, referring to efforts to alleviate economic hardship.)
• Уровень бедности - Poverty level (Used in statistical or economic reports to discuss metrics and indicators.)
• Нищета и голод - Poverty and hunger (A phrase often seen in humanitarian contexts, highlighting interconnected social issues.)

Usage Notes:

'Бедность' is the most direct and neutral translation for 'poverty' in formal settings, such as academic or governmental discussions, while 'нищета' is preferred for emphasizing extreme conditions. In Russian, these words must agree in case, number, and gender with other elements in the sentence. For English learners, note that Russian often pairs these with verbs like 'расти' (to grow) or 'бороться с' (to fight against). Choose 'бедность' for general use and 'нищета' when a more emotional tone is needed, but avoid overusing in casual speech where euphemisms might be more appropriate.

Common Errors:

• Confusing case inflections: English speakers might incorrectly use 'бедность' in the wrong case, e.g., saying "из бедность" instead of "из бедности" (from poverty). Correct: Use genitive "бедности" after prepositions like "из". Explanation: Russian requires precise case agreement, which doesn't exist in English.

• Overgeneralizing synonyms: Learners may use 'нищета' interchangeably with 'бедность', but this can exaggerate the severity. Example of error: "Моя бедность велика" (intended as mild poverty) said as "Моя нищета велика", which sounds overly dramatic. Correct: Stick to 'бедность' for standard references.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'бедность' and 'нищета' often carry historical connotations tied to events such as the Soviet era's economic hardships or post-Soviet transitions. They evoke themes of resilience and social inequality, frequently appearing in literature by authors like Dostoevsky, who explored poverty's moral and psychological impacts. Understanding this helps English users grasp the emotional depth in Russian conversations about social issues.

Related Concepts:

• экономика (economy)
• социальное неравенство (social inequality)
• голод (hunger)