Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sterilize'

English Word: sterilize

Key Russian Translations:

• стерилизовать [stʲɪrʲɪlʲɪˈzavatʲ] - [Formal, Technical]
• дезинфицировать [dʲɪzʲɪnʲfʲɪˈtsʲɪravatʲ] - [Formal, Everyday medical context]

Frequency: Medium (Common in medical, scientific, and household contexts, but not in casual conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires familiarity with Russian verbs and technical vocabulary; дезинфицировать may be slightly easier at B1 for beginners in health-related topics)

Pronunciation (Russian):

стерилизовать: [stʲɪrʲɪlʲɪˈzavatʲ]

дезинфицировать: [dʲɪzʲɪnʲfʲɪˈtsʲɪravatʲ]

Note on стерилизовать: The stress falls on the third-to-last syllable, which can be tricky for English speakers due to the Russian palatalized consonants (e.g., 'рʲ' sounds softer). Pronunciation may vary slightly in rapid speech.

Audio: Audio placeholder for стерилизовать (Insert audio player here)

Audio: Audio placeholder for дезинфицировать (Insert audio player here)

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To make something free from bacteria or other living microorganisms (e.g., disinfecting objects)

Translation(s) & Context:

• стерилизовать - Used in formal or technical contexts, such as medical procedures or laboratory settings.
• дезинфицировать - Common in everyday contexts, like cleaning surfaces or personal hygiene.

Usage Examples:

• Врачи стерилизуют инструменты перед операцией.

  Doctors sterilize instruments before surgery.

• Она дезинфицирует кухонные поверхности ежедневно.

  She disinfects the kitchen surfaces daily.

• В больнице стерилизуют все оборудование для предотвращения инфекций.

  In the hospital, they sterilize all equipment to prevent infections.

• Дезинфицировать руки важно во время пандемии.

  Disinfecting hands is important during a pandemic.

Meaning 2: To make someone or something unable to reproduce (e.g., animal or human sterilization)

Translation(s) & Context:

• стерилизовать - Typically used for animals or in veterinary/medical contexts; can be sensitive or formal.

Usage Examples:

• Ветеринар стерилизует кошку, чтобы предотвратить нежелательное потомство.

  The veterinarian sterilizes the cat to prevent unwanted offspring.

• Стерилизовать домашних животных рекомендуется для контроля популяции.

  Sterilizing pets is recommended for population control.

• В некоторых странах стерилизуют животных в приютах бесплатно.

  In some countries, they sterilize animals in shelters for free.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are verbs and follow standard Russian conjugation patterns. стерилизовать and дезинфицировать are imperfective verbs, meaning they describe ongoing or repeated actions. They are derived from foreign roots but inflect regularly in most cases.

Note: These verbs do not have irregular inflections, but pay attention to the perfective aspects if needed (e.g., стерилизовать has a perfective counterpart like простерилизовать in some contexts).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • очищать (ochishchat') - More general, meaning to clean; often used interchangeably in non-medical contexts.
  • санировать (sanirovat') - Specifically for sanitation in public health; slight emphasis on broader hygiene.
• Antonyms:
  • загрязнять (zagryaznyat') - To contaminate or pollute.
  • инфицировать (infitsirovat') - To infect.

Related Phrases:

• стерилизовать инструменты - Sterilize instruments (Common in medical settings).
• дезинфицировать поверхности - Disinfect surfaces (Used for everyday cleaning routines).
• стерилизованная вода - Sterilized water (Refers to purified water for safe consumption or medical use).

Usage Notes:

Sterilize is most accurately translated as стерилизовать in technical or medical contexts, while дезинфицировать is preferred for general disinfection. Choose стерилизовать for processes involving complete elimination of microorganisms (e.g., surgical tools), as it implies a higher standard. Be mindful of formal register; both verbs are neutral but can sound overly technical in casual speech. In Russian, these verbs often require a direct object, so always specify what is being sterilized (e.g., "sterilize the equipment" becomes "стерилизовать оборудование"). Grammatically, they conjugate like other first-conjugation verbs, but non-native speakers might confuse aspect (imperfective vs. perfective) when describing completed actions.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using стерилизовать interchangeably with дезинфицировать without context. Incorrect: "Я стерилизую руки" (implies full sterilization, which is impractical for hands). Correct: "Я дезинфицирую руки" (more appropriate for routine hand cleaning). Explanation: стерилизовать suggests a more intensive process, so it should be reserved for professional contexts to avoid exaggeration.

• Error: Incorrect verb conjugation, e.g., saying "он стерилизует" as "он стерилизават" (mispronunciation or misspelling). Incorrect: "Он стерилизават инструменты." Correct: "Он стерилизует инструменты." Explanation: Pay attention to the ending vowels, which change based on tense and person; this is a common issue for English speakers unfamiliar with Russian inflection patterns.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, sterilization and disinfection gained prominence during health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing hygiene in daily life. Terms like стерилизовать are often linked to Soviet-era medical practices, where public health campaigns promoted sterilization in hospitals and homes, reflecting a cultural value on collective well-being and scientific advancement.

Related Concepts:

• гигиена (gigiena)
• инфекция (infektsiya)
• очистка (ochistka)