Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'stimulate'

English Word: stimulate

Key Russian Translations:

• стимулировать [stɪmjʊˈlʲirəvətʲ] - [Formal, used in professional or scientific contexts]
• возбуждать [vɐzˈbuʐdətʲ] - [Informal, with nuances in emotional or physiological contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in educational, business, and scientific discussions, but less frequent in everyday casual speech).

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and formal vocabulary; for "возбуждать", it may be B1 due to simpler forms).

Pronunciation (Russian):

стимулировать: [stɪmjʊˈlʲirəvətʲ]

возбуждать: [vɐzˈbuʐdətʲ]

Note on стимулировать: The stress falls on the fourth syllable ("li"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the Russian palatalized 'l'. Pronunciation may vary slightly in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To encourage or promote activity, growth, or development (e.g., in business or education)

Translation(s) & Context:

• стимулировать - Used in formal contexts like economics or motivation, where the action is deliberate and positive.
• возбуждать - Applied in more informal or emotional scenarios, but avoid if implying sexual connotation.

Usage Examples:

• Эта программа стимулирует экономический рост в регионе. (This program stimulates economic growth in the region.)

  English Translation: This program stimulates economic growth in the region.

• Учитель старается возбуждать интерес к науке у детей. (The teacher tries to stimulate interest in science among children.)

  English Translation: The teacher tries to stimulate interest in science among children.

• Государственные гранты стимулируют инновации в технологиях. (Government grants stimulate innovation in technologies.)

  English Translation: Government grants stimulate innovation in technologies.

• Иногда музыка может возбуждать творческий процесс. (Sometimes music can stimulate the creative process.)

  English Translation: Sometimes music can stimulate the creative process.

• Чтобы стимулировать продажи, компания снижает цены. (To stimulate sales, the company lowers prices.)

  English Translation: To stimulate sales, the company lowers prices.

Meaning 2: To excite or arouse physiologically (e.g., in medical or biological contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• стимулировать - Preferred in scientific or medical discussions for precision and neutrality.
• возбуждать - Common in informal health talks but can carry emotional weight; use cautiously.

Usage Examples:

• Врачи используют электрические импульсы, чтобы стимулировать мышцы. (Doctors use electrical impulses to stimulate muscles.)

  English Translation: Doctors use electrical impulses to stimulate muscles.

• Кофеин возбуждает нервную систему. (Caffeine stimulates the nervous system.)

  English Translation: Caffeine stimulates the nervous system.

• Этот препарат стимулирует кровообращение. (This medication stimulates blood circulation.)

  English Translation: This medication stimulates blood circulation.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "стимулировать" and "возбуждать" are first-conjugation verbs in Russian, which follow regular patterns but have irregularities in certain forms. Below is a table for "стимулировать" as an example; "возбуждать" follows similar patterns.

For "возбуждать", the infinitive form is irregular in some aspects, but it conjugates similarly. These verbs do not change based on gender in the infinitive but do in the past tense.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • побуждать (pobuzhdat' - similar but often implies internal motivation)
  • активизировать (aktivizirovat' - used for activating processes)
• Antonyms:
  • тормозить (tormozit' - to inhibit or slow down)
  • угнетать (ugnetat' - to suppress or depress)

Related Phrases:

• стимулировать рост (stimulirovat' rost) - To stimulate growth; often used in economic contexts.
• возбуждать интерес (vozbudhat' interes) - To arouse interest; common in educational or marketing phrases.
• экономические стимулы (ekonomicheskie stimuly) - Economic stimuli; refers to policies or incentives.

Usage Notes:

"Стимулировать" is the most direct equivalent to "stimulate" in formal English contexts, especially in business or science, and it maintains a neutral tone. "Возбуждать" can be a synonym but is better suited for emotional or physiological scenarios; however, it might carry unintended connotations in casual use, so choose based on context. In Russian, these verbs require the accusative case for direct objects, e.g., "стимулировать экономику" (stimulate the economy). For English learners, note that Russian verbs often need aspectual pairs (e.g., perfective "стимулировать" vs. imperfective forms), which affect tense usage.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "возбуждать" in professional contexts where it implies excitement rather than encouragement. Correct: Use "стимулировать" for neutral stimulation, e.g., Incorrect: "Возбуждать продажи" (which might sound odd or inappropriate); Correct: "Стимулировать продажи". Explanation: "Возбуждать" has emotional undertones that can lead to misunderstandings.
• Mistake: Forgetting verb conjugation in sentences. Correct: Instead of saying "Я стимулировать" (wrong), say "Я стимулирую". Explanation: Russian verbs must agree with the subject in person and number.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "стимулировать" are heavily used in discussions of Soviet-era economic policies, such as five-year plans, where state incentives were promoted to boost productivity. This reflects a historical emphasis on collective motivation, which can add depth to its usage in modern contexts.

Related Concepts:

• мотивация (motivatsiya)
• инновации (innovatsii)
• рост (rost)