Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'slump'

English Word: slump

Key Russian Translations:

• спад [spat] - [Formal, commonly used in economic contexts]
• падение [padanʹje] - [Informal, for sudden declines or general downturns]
• застой [zastoj] - [Formal, implying stagnation rather than a sharp drop]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in business, economics, and everyday discussions about decline)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires basic understanding of Russian noun declensions and contexts; for 'падение', it might be A2 for beginners due to simpler usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

спад: [spat] (stressed on the first syllable; the 'a' sounds like in 'father')

падение: [padanʹje] (stressed on the second syllable; soft 'e' at the end is subtle)

застой: [zastoj] (stressed on the second syllable; 'oy' is like in 'boy')

Note on спад: Be cautious with the hard 't' sound; it's a common challenge for English speakers. Variations in regional accents may soften it.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Economic downturn or decline

Translation(s) & Context:

• спад - Used in formal economic reports or news, referring to a gradual economic slowdown.
• падение - Applied in informal contexts for sudden market crashes or declines.

Usage Examples:

• В прошлом году в стране произошёл значительный экономический спад.

  Last year, the country experienced a significant economic slump.

• Из-за пандемии многие компании столкнулись с спадом продаж.

  Due to the pandemic, many companies faced a slump in sales.

• Экономический спад может привести к росту безработицы.

  An economic slump can lead to an increase in unemployment.

• После падения на фондовом рынке инвесторы переживают спад в доходах.

  After the stock market slump, investors are experiencing a decline in income.

Period of poor performance or stagnation

Translation(s) & Context:

• застой - Used for prolonged slumps, like in sports or personal productivity, implying inertia.
• спад - In non-economic contexts, for temporary dips in performance.

Usage Examples:

• Команда переживает застой в последних матчах сезона.

  The team is going through a slump in their recent season games.

• После травмы игрок попал в спад и не мог показывать прежние результаты.

  After the injury, the player entered a slump and couldn't perform as before.

• Застой в творчестве автора привёл к перерыву в публикациях.

  The author's creative slump led to a break in publications.

• Экономический застой в регионе продлился несколько лет.

  The economic slump in the region lasted for several years.

Physical slouching or collapse

Translation(s) & Context:

• падение - For literal physical drops, though less common for posture.

Usage Examples:

• Из-за усталости он почувствовал падение в позе, как в слумпе.

  Due to fatigue, he felt a slump in his posture, like slouching.

• Падение в осанке часто указывает на стресс или недосыпание.

  A slump in posture often indicates stress or lack of sleep.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Most key translations like 'спад' and 'падение' are nouns. Russian nouns inflect based on case, number, and gender. 'Спад' is a masculine noun (3rd declension), while 'падение' is neuter (2nd declension). 'Застой' is also masculine.

Note: These words do not change in plural forms as frequently, but 'падения' can become 'падений' in plural genitive for multiple instances.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: кризис (krizis) - more severe than спад; застой often implies longer stagnation; спад is for temporary drops.
• Antonyms: рост (rost) - growth; подъем (pod"yem) - rise or recovery.

Related Phrases:

• Экономический спад - Refers to an economic downturn, often in business contexts.
• Впасть в спад - To fall into a slump, indicating a sudden decline in performance.
• Преодолеть застой - To overcome stagnation, used for breaking out of a prolonged slump.

Usage Notes:

'Slump' in English often corresponds to 'спад' in Russian for economic contexts, but choose 'падение' for more dramatic or physical declines. These words are typically neutral or formal; avoid in casual slang. Grammatically, ensure correct case agreement, e.g., 'в спад' for 'in a slump'. When multiple translations exist, select based on context: 'застой' for long-term issues versus 'спад' for short-term ones.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'падение' interchangeably with 'спад' without context, e.g., saying 'экономическое падение' when 'спад' is more precise for gradual decline. Correct: Use 'спад' for economic slumps to avoid implying a crash. Explanation: 'Падение' suggests a fall, which can mislead in financial discussions.
• Mistake: Forgetting noun declensions, e.g., saying 'в спад' incorrectly in genitive contexts. Correct: 'В спаде' for 'in a slump'. Explanation: Russian requires case changes, which English learners often overlook, leading to grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like 'застой' evoke historical references to the Soviet era's economic stagnation, adding a layer of connotation beyond a simple slump. This can make discussions about economic slumps more emotionally charged in post-Soviet contexts.

Related Concepts:

• кризис
• рост
• подъем