Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'stabilize'

English Word: stabilize

Key Russian Translations:

• стабилизировать [stəˌbɪlɪˈzaɪrəvətʲ] - [Formal, Used in scientific, technical, or economic contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Commonly encountered in technical, economic, and scientific discussions, but not in everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate, as it involves understanding verb conjugation and is typically introduced at this CEFR level for learners; requires familiarity with loanwords from English)

Pronunciation (Russian):

стабилизировать: [stəˌbɪlɪˈzaɪrəvətʲ]

Note on стабилизировать: The stress falls on the fourth syllable (-zaɪ-), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the Russian palatalized 'tʲ' sound. Pronounce it with a soft, almost 'y'-like ending.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary meaning: To make or become stable, steady, or balanced, often in contexts like economics, chemistry, or physics.

Translation(s) & Context:

• стабилизировать - Used in formal or technical settings, such as stabilizing an economy or a chemical reaction; appropriate for written reports, academic papers, or professional discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Правительство пытается стабилизировать инфляцию в стране.

  The government is trying to stabilize inflation in the country.

• Учёные разработали метод, чтобы стабилизировать соединение при высокой температуре.

  Scientists have developed a method to stabilize the compound at high temperatures.

• Экономисты стабилизируют рынок, вводя новые регуляции.

  Economists are stabilizing the market by introducing new regulations.

• Врачи используют лекарства, чтобы стабилизировать состояние пациента.

  Doctors use medications to stabilize the patient's condition.

• Инженеры стабилизируют структуру моста во время землетрясения.

  Engineers stabilize the bridge structure during an earthquake.

Secondary meaning: To maintain equilibrium or prevent fluctuations (e.g., in emotional or social contexts, though less common).

Translation(s) & Context:

• стабилизировать - Occasionally used metaphorically, such as in psychology or social sciences, but still formal; avoid in casual speech.

Usage Examples:

• Терапевт помогает стабилизировать эмоциональное состояние клиента.

  The therapist helps stabilize the client's emotional state.

• Организация работает над тем, чтобы стабилизировать отношения между странами.

  The organization is working to stabilize relations between countries.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"стабилизировать" is a verb of the first conjugation in Russian, derived from the English loanword. It follows regular patterns but includes some irregularities due to its foreign origin. The infinitive form is "стабилизировать," and it conjugates based on tense, aspect, person, and number.

Note: This verb is imperfective by nature, meaning it describes ongoing or repeated actions. For perfective aspect, alternatives like "стабилизировать" in specific contexts may imply completion, but it's not inherently perfective.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • устаканивать (ustakanivat') - More informal, used in everyday contexts to mean "to settle" or "to make stable."
  • укреплять (ukreplyat') - Emphasizes strengthening, often in physical or metaphorical senses.
• Antonyms:
  • дестабилизировать (destabilizirovat') - Directly opposes, meaning "to destabilize" or cause instability.
  • расшатывать (rashatyvat') - Informal, meaning "to shake up" or "to undermine."

Related Phrases:

• стабилизировать экономику - To stabilize the economy; Used in financial discussions to refer to measures preventing economic fluctuations.
• стабилизировать ситуацию - To stabilize the situation; Common in crisis management or political contexts.
• стабилизировать давление - To stabilize pressure; Often in medical or engineering scenarios.

Usage Notes:

"Стабилизировать" is a direct borrowing from English and is most commonly used in formal, technical, or professional settings. It precisely corresponds to "stabilize" in contexts like science and economics, but English speakers should note that Russian verbs require conjugation based on subject and tense. For informal situations, opt for synonyms like "устаканивать" to sound more natural. Be cautious with aspect: Russian often pairs verbs with perfective counterparts for completed actions, though "стабилизировать" is typically imperfective.

Common Errors:

• Using the infinitive form in places where conjugation is needed: Error - "Я стабилизировать рынок" (incorrect); Correct - "Я стабилизирую рынок" (I am stabilizing the market). Explanation: Russian verbs must agree with the subject in person and number.
• Misplacing stress or pronunciation: Error - Pronouncing as [sta-bee-lee-zae-ro-vat] without the palatalized 'tʲ'; Correct - [stəˌbɪlɪˈzaɪrəvətʲ]. Explanation: This can make the word sound unnatural or lead to misunderstandings in spoken Russian.
• Overusing in casual speech: Error - Using "стабилизировать" in everyday conversation; Correct - Switch to "устаканивать" for informality. Explanation: It may come across as overly formal or pretentious in non-technical contexts.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and media, "стабилизировать" often appears in discussions of economic policy, especially in the context of post-Soviet reforms. For instance, it reflects Russia's historical efforts to stabilize its economy after the 1990s turmoil, symbolizing resilience and control in the face of instability. This word carries a connotation of state intervention, which is a common theme in Russian political discourse.

Related Concepts:

• стабильность (stabil'nost') - Stability
• экономическая стабильность (ekonomicheskaya stabil'nost') - Economic stability
• дестабилизация (destabilizatsiya) - Destabilization