Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'virulent'

English Word: virulent

Key Russian Translations:

• вирулентный [vɪrʊˈlʲɛntnɨj] - [Formal, used in medical or scientific contexts]
• ядовитый [ˈjadəvʲɪtɨj] - [Formal, Informal, often for poisonous or toxic connotations]

Frequency: Low (This term is not commonly used in everyday Russian conversation; it's mostly confined to specialized fields like medicine or biology.)

Difficulty: C1 (Advanced, as it involves understanding technical vocabulary and Russian adjective inflections; for 'вирулентный', it's suitable for intermediate learners, while 'ядовитый' may be easier at B2 level.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

вирулентный: [vɪrʊˈlʲɛntnɨj]

ядовитый: [ˈjadəvʲɪtɨj]

Note on вирулентный: The stress falls on the third syllable ('lɛnt'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft 'л' sound; it may vary slightly in rapid speech.

Note on ядовитый: Pronounce the 'я' as a soft 'ya' sound, similar to 'yard' in English; common in both formal and informal settings.

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Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

First meaning: Extremely severe or harmful, especially regarding diseases or poisons (e.g., highly infectious).

Translation(s) & Context:

• вирулентный - Used in scientific or medical contexts, such as describing a virus; formal and precise.
• ядовитый - Applied to toxic substances or situations; can be used more broadly in everyday language.

Usage Examples:

• Эта вирусная инфекция очень вирулентная и быстро распространяется среди населения.

  This viral infection is very virulent and spreads quickly among the population.

• Врачи предупреждают о ядовитом воздействии этого химического вещества на организм.

  Doctors warn about the virulent effects of this chemical substance on the body.

• Вирулентный штамм гриппа требует немедленной вакцинации для предотвращения эпидемии.

  The virulent strain of flu requires immediate vaccination to prevent an epidemic.

• Ядовитый газ в лаборатории сделал эксперимент крайне опасным.

  The virulent gas in the laboratory made the experiment extremely dangerous.

• Исследования показывают, что вирулентный вирус может мутировать, становясь ещё более агрессивным.

  Studies show that a virulent virus can mutate, becoming even more aggressive.

Second meaning: Bitterly hostile or venomous in behavior (e.g., describing a person's attitude).

Translation(s) & Context:

• вирулентный - Less common for this meaning; used metaphorically in formal writing, such as in literature or criticism.
• ядовитый - More idiomatic for hostile behavior; can imply sarcasm or bitterness in informal conversations.

Usage Examples:

• Его вирулентная критика книги шокировала авторов.

  His virulent criticism of the book shocked the authors.

• Ядовитый тон её письма ясно показывал скрытую враждебность.

  The virulent tone of her letter clearly showed hidden hostility.

• В политических дебатах вирулентные обвинения часто приводят к конфликтам.

  In political debates, virulent accusations often lead to conflicts.

• Её ядовитые замечания на собрании сделали атмосферу напряжённой.

  Her virulent remarks at the meeting made the atmosphere tense.

• Вирулентный спор между коллегами перешёл в открытую вражду.

  The virulent argument between colleagues turned into open enmity.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'вирулентный' and 'ядовитый' are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern for most cases, but they can be irregular in certain forms.

Note: These adjectives are regular and follow the standard first-declension pattern. They do not change in short form usage, which is less common in modern Russian.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • агрессивный [aɡrʲɪˈsʲivnɨj] (aggressive; similar to 'вирулентный' in intensity, but more general)
  • токсичный [tɒkˈsʲitɕnɨj] (toxic; closer to 'ядовитый' for poisonous contexts)
  • злобный [zlobnɨj] (malicious; for behavioral meanings)
• Antonyms:
  • безвредный [bʲɪzˈvrʲɛmnɨj] (harmless)
  • мирный [ˈmʲirnɨj] (peaceful; for behavioral contexts)

Related Phrases:

• Вирулентная инфекция - A virulent infection; used in medical discussions to describe highly contagious diseases.
• Ядовитый укус - A virulent bite; refers to poisonous animal bites in everyday or survival contexts.
• Ядовитая критика - Virulent criticism; common in literary or media analysis to denote harsh reviews.

Usage Notes:

'Virulent' corresponds closely to 'вирулентный' in formal, scientific English-Russian translation, especially in biology or medicine, where precision is key. However, 'ядовитый' is more versatile for everyday toxic or hostile meanings. Be mindful of context: 'вирулентный' is typically restricted to professional settings, while 'ядовитый' can appear in informal speech. Grammatically, always inflect these adjectives to agree with the noun they modify (e.g., gender, number, case). When choosing between translations, opt for 'вирулентный' for literal disease-related uses and 'ядовитый' for broader applications.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'вирулентный' without proper inflection, e.g., saying "вирулентный женщина" instead of "вирулентная женщина" (virulent woman).

  Correct: Ensure agreement, as in "вирулентная инфекция". Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender, so this mistake can make sentences sound unnatural to native speakers.

• Error: Confusing 'вирулентный' with 'вирусный' (viral), leading to misuse like "вирулентный компьютер" for a computer virus.

  Correct: Use 'вирусный' for viruses; 'вирулентный' implies severity. Explanation: These words are related but distinct, and mixing them can alter the meaning entirely.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like 'ядовитый' often carry metaphorical weight in literature and media, reflecting historical influences from events like Chernobyl, where toxic and virulent concepts became symbolic of broader societal harms. This adds a layer of depth, making such words not just descriptive but evocative of resilience or caution in Russian discourse.

Related Concepts:

• инфекционный
• токсичность
• агрессия