Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'washout'

English Word: washout

Key Russian Translations:

• неудачник [nʲɪˈudətɕnʲik] - [Informal, used for a person who is a failure]
• провал [prɐˈval] - [Formal, used for an event or complete failure]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday conversation and media, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun inflections and contextual nuances for learners at this CEFR level)

Pronunciation (Russian):

неудачник: [nʲɪˈudətɕnʲik]

Note on неудачник: The stress falls on the third syllable ("да"), and the "ч" is a soft palatal fricative, which may be challenging for English speakers. Pronounce it with a quick, soft "ch" sound as in "church".

провал: [prɐˈval]

Note on провал: The stress is on the second syllable ("вал"), and the "р" is a rolled sound, common in Russian. Avoid pronouncing it like English "pro-val".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A complete failure or disappointment (e.g., a person or event that fails miserably)

Translation(s) & Context:

• неудачник - Used in informal contexts to describe a person who repeatedly fails, often with a tone of sympathy or mockery.
• провал - Applied in formal or neutral contexts for events, projects, or situations that end in failure, such as a washed-out sports event.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда был неудачником в отношениях.

  He was always a washout in relationships. (This example shows the word in a personal, informal context, highlighting habitual failure.)

• Этот матч закончился полным провалом из-за дождя.

  This match ended in a complete washout due to the rain. (Illustrates use in a sports or event context, emphasizing unexpected failure.)

• Неудачник вроде него никогда не добьётся успеха.

  A washout like him will never achieve success. (Demonstrates the word in a judgmental, narrative structure, common in storytelling.)

• Её выступление было настоящим провалом.

  Her performance was a real washout. (Shows application to artistic or professional failures, with a formal tone.)

• Вся затея оказалась провалом из-за плохой погоды.

  The whole idea turned out to be a washout because of the bad weather. (Exemplifies use in planning or outdoor activities, incorporating external factors.)

Geological or engineering sense (e.g., erosion or something washed away by water)

Translation(s) & Context:

• смывание - Used in technical contexts for the process of washing away, such as in erosion or flooding.

Usage Examples:

• Из-за смывания почвы дорога стала опасной.

  Due to the washout of the soil, the road became dangerous. (This shows the word in an environmental or engineering context.)

• Смывание берегов реки привело к наводнению.

  The washout of the riverbanks led to flooding. (Illustrates cause-and-effect in natural disasters.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Most key translations like "неудачник" are masculine nouns, while "провал" is a masculine noun that can also act as a verb form. Russian nouns inflect for case, number, and gender. Below is a table for "неудачник" (as a typical example) and "провал".

Note: "Смывание" is a neuter noun and follows standard patterns but is less inflected in common usage. It remains unchanged in many contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • лузер (more slangy, borrowed from English, for a loser)
  • фиаско (for a spectacular failure, with dramatic connotations)
• Antonyms:
  • успех (success)
  • победитель (winner)

Related Phrases:

• Полный провал - Complete failure; often used to emphasize total disappointment in plans or events.
• Неудачник судьбы - Fate's washout; a phrase implying someone is inherently unlucky.
• Смывание грунта - Washout of soil; common in geological or construction contexts.

Usage Notes:

"Washout" translates variably in Russian based on context: "неудачник" is ideal for personal failures and is informal, while "провал" suits events or projects and can be more neutral. Be cautious with formality—use "неудачник" in casual speech but avoid it in professional settings. Grammatically, these nouns require correct case agreement with prepositions, e.g., "из-за провала" (because of the washout). When choosing between translations, opt for "провал" if the failure is impersonal, and "неудачник" for character descriptions.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "неудачник" in formal writing, e.g., saying "Он неудачник" instead of "Он потерпел провал".
  Correct: "Он потерпел провал" (He experienced a failure). Explanation: "Неудачник" is too colloquial and judgmental for formal contexts; it can offend.
• Mistake: Incorrect inflection, e.g., saying "в неудачник" instead of "в неудачнике".
  Correct: "в неудачнике" (in the washout). Explanation: Russian requires the prepositional case for locations or descriptions, so always check the noun's case based on the sentence structure.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "неудачник" often carry a humorous or self-deprecating tone in literature and media, as seen in works by authors like Chekhov. It reflects a cultural acceptance of failure as a relatable human experience, but using it can sometimes stigmatize, especially in competitive societies.

Related Concepts:

• поражение
• неудача
• эрозия