Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'spasmodic'

English Word: spasmodic

Key Russian Translations:

• спазматический [spazma'tičeskij] - [Formal, used in medical or descriptive contexts]
• судорожный [sudorožnyj] - [Informal, primarily in medical or everyday health discussions]

Frequency: Low (This word and its translations are not commonly used in everyday conversation but appear in medical, scientific, or literary contexts.)

Difficulty: Intermediate (B1-B2 on the CEFR scale; requires understanding of Russian adjectives and their inflections. For 'спазматический', it's B2 due to its formal usage; for 'судорожный', it's B1 as it's more straightforward.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

спазматический: [spazma'tičeskij]

судорожный: [sudorožnyj]

Note on спазматический: The stress falls on the third syllable ('tič'), which can be tricky for beginners. Pronounce it with a clear 'ch' sound as in 'church'.

Note on судорожный: The 'ž' sound is like the 's' in 'measure'; it's a soft, voiced fricative.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: Occurring in spasms or sudden, irregular bursts (e.g., physical or metaphorical)

Translation(s) & Context:

• спазматический - Used in formal descriptions of irregular physical phenomena, such as muscle spasms or emotional outbursts.
• судорожный - Applied in contexts involving sudden, convulsive movements, often in health-related or dramatic scenarios.

Usage Examples:

• У него спазматический кашель, который возвращается каждые несколько часов.

  He has a spasmodic cough that returns every few hours.

• Спазматический прилив адреналина помог ему преодолеть препятствие.

  A spasmodic surge of adrenaline helped him overcome the obstacle.

• Её спазматическая речь указывала на нервозность во время презентации.

  Her spasmodic speech indicated nervousness during the presentation.

• Судорожный рывок мышц вызвал внезапную боль.

  The spasmodic jerk of the muscles caused sudden pain.

• В романе описывается судорожный ритм городской жизни.

  The novel describes the spasmodic rhythm of city life.

Meaning: Irregular or intermittent in nature (non-physical contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• спазматический - In literary or psychological contexts to describe unpredictable patterns.
• судорожный - Less common here, but used for emphasis in emotional or narrative descriptions.

Usage Examples:

• Спазматическая работа двигателя сигнализировала о неисправности.

  The spasmodic operation of the engine signaled a malfunction.

• Его спазматическая мотивация мешала достижению целей.

  His spasmodic motivation hindered achieving his goals.

• Судорожные вспышки интереса к хобби быстро угасали.

  The spasmodic bursts of interest in hobbies quickly faded.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'спазматический' and 'судорожный' are adjectives in Russian, which inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow standard patterns for hard-stem adjectives.

For 'спазматический' (a hard-stem adjective):

For 'судорожный' (also a hard-stem adjective, similar pattern):

These adjectives do not have irregular forms, making them relatively straightforward once the pattern is learned.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: прерывистый (more general for intermittent), спастический (specific to muscle-related spasms) - 'прерывистый' is often used in non-medical contexts for a smoother, less intense irregularity.
• Antonyms: регулярный (regular), постоянный (constant) - These imply steady, uninterrupted patterns.

Related Phrases:

• Спазматический приступ - A sudden spasmodic attack, often used in medical emergencies.
• Судорожный рывок - A convulsive jerk, describing physical movements in narratives or health discussions.
• Спазматическая боль - Spasmodic pain, common in descriptions of chronic conditions.

Usage Notes:

'Спазматический' closely mirrors the English 'spasmodic' in formal contexts, especially in medicine, but it's more precise for physical phenomena. Use 'судорожный' for emotional or dramatic descriptions to convey intensity. In Russian, these adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, which is a key grammatical difference from English. For example, choose 'спазматический' over 'судорожный' in scientific writing for a more neutral tone. Be mindful of context: 'спазматический' is formal and avoids exaggeration, while 'судорожный' can imply severity.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'спазматический' interchangeably with 'судорожный' without considering context. For instance, learners might say "судорожный кашель" when "спазматический кашель" is more accurate for a non-convulsive cough. Correct: Stick to 'спазматический' for irregular but not necessarily violent spasms. Explanation: This confuses the intensity levels, leading to miscommunication in medical dialogues.
• Mistake: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "спазматический женщина" instead of "спазматическая женщина". Correct: "Спазматическая женщина" (for a female subject). Explanation: Russian requires gender agreement, unlike English, so always check the noun's gender.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and literature, words like 'спазматический' and 'судорожный' often appear in contexts of human endurance or historical narratives, such as in Tolstoy's works describing the unpredictability of war or personal struggles. They evoke themes of instability, reflecting Russia's complex history of rapid changes and crises, helping users appreciate the emotional depth in Russian prose.

Related Concepts:

• конвульсия (convulsion)
• приступ (attack or seizure)
• нерегулярный (irregular)