Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'urbanize'

English Word: urbanize

Key Russian Translations:

• урбанизировать [ʊrbənɪzɪrəvatʲ] - [Formal]

Frequency: Low (This term is not commonly used in everyday Russian conversation; it appears more in specialized fields like urban planning, sociology, or academic discussions.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires familiarity with Russian verb conjugations and loanwords from English, making it challenging for beginners but manageable for intermediate learners.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

урбанизировать: [ʊrbənɪzɪrəvatʲ]

Note on урбанизировать: This word has a stress on the fourth syllable ("и"). Pronunciation may vary slightly in rapid speech, with the initial "у" sounding more like a short [ʊ]. Pay attention to the soft sign (ь) at the end, which softens the preceding consonant.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: To develop or convert an area into a more urban environment, often involving modernization and infrastructure changes.

Translation(s) & Context:

• урбанизировать - Used in formal contexts such as urban development discussions, policy-making, or academic writing; implies systematic changes to make an area more city-like.

Usage Examples:

• Городские власти планируют урбанизировать пригородные районы, чтобы улучшить инфраструктуру.

  City authorities plan to urbanize the suburban areas to improve infrastructure.

• В результате быстрой урбанизации сельские поселения превратились в современные города.

  As a result of rapid urbanization, rural settlements have turned into modern cities.

• Правительство инвестирует в проекты, которые урбанизируют удаленные регионы России.

  The government is investing in projects that urbanize remote regions of Russia.

• Урбанизировать исторический центр города нужно осторожно, чтобы сохранить культурное наследие.

  Urbanizing the historic city center must be done carefully to preserve cultural heritage.

• Экологи предупреждают о рисках, связанных с урбанизацией природных ландшафтов.

  Ecologists warn about the risks associated with urbanizing natural landscapes.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"урбанизировать" is a first-conjugation verb in Russian, derived from the English loanword. It follows standard patterns for verbs ending in -изировать, which are often intransitive or transitive in formal contexts. The verb is regular in most forms but may require attention to aspect (imperfective: урбанизировать; perfective: урбанизовать). Below is a table outlining key inflections:

Note: The perfective form "урбанизовать" is used for completed actions and has similar inflections (e.g., past: урбанизовал). This verb does not change in gender or number in its base form but conjugates fully by person and tense.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • городизировать (similar, but less common; implies city-focused development)
  • модернизировать (more general; used when urbanization involves technological upgrades, with a slight difference in emphasis on modernization over urban aspects)
• Antonyms:
  • рурализировать (to make more rural or decentralize from urban areas)
  • деревенить (informal; to revert to a rural state, though rarely used)

Related Phrases:

• Процесс урбанизации - The process of urbanization; refers to the overall transformation of areas into cities.
• Урбанизированный район - An urbanized area; used to describe regions that have undergone urbanization.
• Быстрая урбанизация - Rapid urbanization; highlights the speed of urban development in modern contexts.

Usage Notes:

This translation corresponds directly to the English "urbanize" in formal and technical contexts, but it's a loanword and may sound overly academic in everyday speech. Use "урбанизировать" when discussing policy or planning; for more casual conversations, native speakers might opt for simpler phrases like "делать городским". Be aware of aspect: pair it with perfective forms for completed actions. When choosing between translations, "урбанизировать" is preferred for precise urban development, while "модернизировать" could work if the focus is on general improvements.

Common Errors:

• Mistaking the aspect: English learners often use the imperfective "урбанизировать" when a perfective form like "урбанизовать" is needed for completed actions. Incorrect: Я урбанизирую проект вчера. Correct: Я урбанизовал проект вчера. (Explanation: Use past tense of perfective for finished events.)
• Overusing in informal settings: Beginners might apply "урбанизировать" in casual talk, which sounds unnatural. Incorrect: Давай урбанизировать наш сад. Correct: Давай сделать наш сад более городским. (Explanation: Opt for simpler expressions in everyday language.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russia, urbanization has been a significant historical process, especially during the Soviet era with rapid industrialization and city expansions like Moscow and St. Petersburg. The term "урбанизировать" often carries connotations of modernization and state-driven development, reflecting Russia's transition from rural societies to urban centers. This can evoke mixed feelings, as it sometimes leads to loss of traditional rural culture.

Related Concepts:

• урбанизация
• город
• инфраструктура
• модернизация