Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'procreate'

English Word: procreate

Key Russian Translations:

• размножаться [rɐzmnoʐɨt͡sə] - [Informal, Biological context, often used for animals or general reproduction]
• воспроизводить [vəsprəɪvɐdʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, General or technical reproduction, applicable in scientific or everyday contexts]
• рожать [rɐʐatʲ] - [Informal, Specific to human childbirth, often used for females]

Frequency: Medium (Common in biological, educational, or familial discussions, but not in everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; involves understanding verb conjugations and contextual usage. For 'рожать', it may be A2 for beginners due to its straightforward application in human contexts, while 'воспроизводить' could reach B2 due to more complex forms.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

размножаться: [rɐzmnoʐɨt͡sə]

воспроизводить: [vəsprəɪvɐdʲɪtʲ]

рожать: [rɐʐatʲ]

Note on размножаться: The stress falls on the second syllable; be cautious with the 'zh' sound ([ʐ]), which is a soft fricative unique to Russian.

Note on воспроизводить: This verb has a complex consonant cluster; practice the 'spr' sound for fluency.

Note on рожать: The 'zh' sound ([ʐ]) is prominent; it's often softened in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Biological or General Reproduction

Translation(s) & Context:

• размножаться - Used in contexts involving animal or plant reproduction, such as in biology or nature discussions.
• воспроизводить - Applied in formal or scientific settings, like genetics or technology reproduction.

Usage Examples:

• Животные размножаются, чтобы сохранить вид. (Animals procreate to preserve the species.)

  English Translation: Animals reproduce to preserve the species.

• В лабораторных условиях ученые воспроизводят клетки для исследований. (In laboratory conditions, scientists procreate cells for research.)

  English Translation: In laboratory conditions, scientists reproduce cells for research.

• Размножаться в дикой природе помогает выживанию. (Procreating in the wild aids survival.)

  English Translation: Procreating in the wild aids survival.

• Вирусы могут воспроизводить себя быстро. (Viruses can procreate themselves quickly.)

  English Translation: Viruses can reproduce themselves quickly.

• Размножаться – это естественный процесс для всех живых организмов. (Procreating is a natural process for all living organisms.)

  English Translation: Procreating is a natural process for all living organisms.

Human Childbirth or Family Context

Translation(s) & Context:

• рожать - Specifically for human procreation, especially in familial or medical contexts, often implying giving birth.

Usage Examples:

• Многие пары решают рожать детей в зрелом возрасте. (Many couples decide to procreate children in their mature years.)

  English Translation: Many couples decide to have children in their mature years.

• Рожать – это не только биологический процесс, но и эмоциональный. (Procreating is not just a biological process but an emotional one.)

  English Translation: Procreating is not just a biological process but an emotional one.

• В современной медицине женщины могут планировать, когда рожать. (In modern medicine, women can plan when to procreate.)

  English Translation: In modern medicine, women can plan when to have children.

• Рожать в большой семье – традиция в некоторых культурах. (Procreating in a large family is a tradition in some cultures.)

  English Translation: Having children in a large family is a tradition in some cultures.

• Пара обсуждала, стоит ли рожать в текущих условиях. (The couple discussed whether it's worth procreating under current conditions.)

  English Translation: The couple discussed whether it's worth having children under current conditions.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily verbs, which in Russian undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. 'Размножаться' and 'воспроизводить' are imperfective verbs, while 'рожать' is also imperfective but commonly used in perfective forms in context.

For invariable forms, none of these are completely unchanging, but nouns derived from them (e.g., 'рождение' from 'рожать') follow standard declension patterns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Производить потомство (more formal, literal translation)
  • Множить (in a multiplicative sense, e.g., for populations)
  • Note: 'Производить потомство' is interchangeable in biological contexts but less common in everyday speech.
• Antonyms:
  • Стерилизовать (to sterilize)
  • Уничтожать (to destroy, in a population context)

Related Phrases:

• Размножаться в неволе – Procreating in captivity (refers to animals in zoos or controlled environments).
• Воспроизводить потомство – To reproduce offspring (formal phrase for genetic continuation).
• Рожать в роддоме – Giving birth in a maternity hospital (common in medical contexts).

Usage Notes:

The English word 'procreate' directly corresponds to Russian verbs like 'размножаться' for biological processes or 'рожать' for human contexts, but always consider the aspect (imperfective for ongoing actions). In formal writing, use 'воспроизводить' for precision. Be mindful of gender-specific connotations—'рожать' is typically for women. When choosing among translations, opt for 'размножаться' in scientific scenarios and 'рожать' in personal/family discussions to match the appropriate register.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'размножаться' in human contexts without adjustment, e.g., saying "Я размножаюсь" instead of "Я рожаю" for personal procreation. Correct: Use 'рожать' for humans to avoid sounding overly biological. Explanation: Russian speakers prefer context-specific verbs to maintain naturalness.

• Error: Forgetting verb conjugation, e.g., saying "Он размножает" (incorrect form) instead of "Он размножается". Correct: Always use the reflexive form for 'размножаться'. Explanation: This verb requires the reflexive particle '-ся' to indicate the subject is acting on itself.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, procreation (e.g., via 'рожать') is often tied to family values and national demographics, especially in historical contexts like post-WWII population recovery. Phrases like 'многодетная семья' (large family) reflect a cultural emphasis on childbearing as a societal duty, influenced by traditions in rural areas.

Related Concepts:

• Потомство (offspring)
• Рождение (birth)
• Генетика (genetics)