Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sweatshop'

English Word: sweatshop

Key Russian Translations:

• потогонная фабрика [pətɐˈɡonːəjə ˈfabrʲɪkə] - [Formal, used in discussions of labor rights]
• эксплуататорский цех [ɪksplʊɐˈtatoriskʲɪj tsɛx] - [Informal, often in activist contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in discussions of labor issues, but not everyday vocabulary)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian noun declensions and socio-political vocabulary)

Pronunciation (Russian):

потогонная фабрика: [pətɐˈɡonːəjə ˈfabrʲɪkə]

эксплуататорский цех: [ɪksplʊɐˈtatoriskʲɪj tsɛx]

Note on потогонная фабрика: The stress falls on the third syllable of "потогонная" [ɡonːəjə], which can be tricky for learners due to the long vowel sounds; slight regional variations may occur in spoken Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A factory or workshop with poor working conditions, low wages, and long hours

Translation(s) & Context:

• потогонная фабрика - Used in formal or journalistic contexts to describe exploitative labor environments, often in historical or modern economic discussions.
• эксплуататорский цех - Applied in informal or critical settings, such as social media or protests, to emphasize exploitation.

Usage Examples:

• В этой потогонной фабрике работники вынуждены работать по 14 часов без перерыва.

  In this sweatshop, workers are forced to work 14 hours straight without a break.

• Многие бренды используют эксплуататорские цехи в развивающихся странах для снижения затрат.

  Many brands use sweatshops in developing countries to cut costs.

• Правозащитники борются против условий на потогонных фабриках по всему миру.

  Human rights activists are fighting against conditions in sweatshops worldwide.

• Эти эксплуататорские цехи часто скрывают реальные зарплаты своих сотрудников.

  These sweatshops often hide the real wages of their employees.

• В потогонной фабрике на окраине города люди работают в антисанитарных условиях.

  In the sweatshop on the outskirts of the city, people work in unsanitary conditions.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Потогонная фабрика" and "эксплуататорский цех" are noun phrases. "Фабрика" is a feminine noun, while "цех" is masculine. They follow standard Russian declension patterns for nouns.

For "фабрика" (feminine, first declension):

For "эксплуататорский цех" (adjective + masculine noun), the adjective agrees with the noun and follows standard patterns, but "цех" is invariable in some contexts due to its foreign origin.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • швейная фабрика с эксплуатацией (focuses on textile industries; less formal)
  • эксплуататорское предприятие (broader term for exploitative businesses)
• Antonyms:
  • этичная фабрика (ethical factory, emphasizing fair labor practices)
  • социально ответственное производство (socially responsible production)

Related Phrases:

• условия на потогонной фабрике - Conditions in a sweatshop (refers to poor working environments).
• эксплуататорский труд - Exploitative labor (a common phrase in labor rights discussions).
• борьба с потогонными фабриками - Fight against sweatshops (used in activist contexts).

Usage Notes:

"Потогонная фабрика" directly corresponds to "sweatshop" in English, emphasizing exploitation and poor conditions. It is typically used in formal or written contexts, such as reports or news articles. Choose "эксплуататорский цех" for more informal or conversational settings. Be mindful of Russian's grammatical gender and case agreements; for example, always adjust adjectives to match the noun. In sentences, it often appears in discussions of global economics or history, and it's important to pair it with verbs like "работать" (to work) to show context.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "потогонная фабрика" interchangeably with any factory, without specifying exploitation. Correct: Specify the context, e.g., "потогонная фабрика с низкой зарплатой" instead of just "фабрика". Explanation: This dilutes the term's meaning; in Russian, precision is key to convey social critique.

• Error: Incorrect declension, e.g., saying "в потогонная фабрика" instead of "в потогонной фабрике". Correct: Use the prepositional case as "в потогонной фабрике". Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, and beginners often overlook this, leading to grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and history, terms like "потогонная фабрика" evoke memories of the Industrial Revolution and Soviet-era labor practices, where exploitation was common in factories. Today, it often appears in discussions about global supply chains and modern slavery, highlighting Russia's role in international labor debates.

Related Concepts:

• эксплуатация
• трудовые права
• социальное неравенство