Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'waste'

English Word: waste

Key Russian Translations:

• Отходы [ɐˈtxɔdɨ] - [Formal, Plural, Used in environmental or industrial contexts]
• Тратить [ˈtratʲɪtʲ] - [Informal/Formal, Verb, Used for wasting resources like time or money]
• Потеря [pɐˈterʲə] - [Formal, Noun, Used metaphorically for loss or waste of opportunity]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday language, especially in discussions about environment and resources)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun and verb inflections, suitable for learners with basic grammar knowledge)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Отходы: [ɐˈtxɔdɨ]

Note on Отходы: The stress is on the second syllable; the 'х' is pronounced as a guttural 'kh' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers.

Тратить: [ˈtratʲɪtʲ]

Note on Тратить: The 'т' is palatalized before 'ь', making it sound softer; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Потеря: [pɐˈterʲə]

Note on Потеря: The final 'я' has a soft, vowel-like ending; it's a feminine noun with standard pronunciation variations in casual speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Waste as unwanted or discarded material (Noun)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Отходы - Used in formal contexts like recycling or waste management.
• Мусор - Informal context for everyday household waste.

Usage Examples:

• В городе установлены специальные контейнеры для сбора отходов.

  In the city, special containers are installed for collecting waste.

• Эти отходы можно переработать в полезные материалы.

  This waste can be recycled into useful materials.

• Мусор на улицах создает проблемы для экологии.

  Waste on the streets creates problems for the environment.

• Мы должны сортировать отходы, чтобы сохранить природу.

  We must sort waste to preserve nature.

Meaning 2: To waste something, like time or resources (Verb)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Тратить - Used in both formal and informal settings for spending wastefully.
• Тратить впустую - Emphasizes futility, common in personal or professional advice.

Usage Examples:

• Не тратьте время на бессмысленные споры.

  Don't waste time on meaningless arguments.

• Он тратит деньги впустую, покупая ненужные вещи.

  He is wasting money by buying unnecessary things.

• Тратить энергию на такие задачи не стоит.

  Wasting energy on such tasks isn't worth it.

• Мы не должны тратить ресурсы бездумно.

  We shouldn't waste resources thoughtlessly.

• Тратить впустую талант — это настоящая трагедия.

  Wasting talent is a real tragedy.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'Отходы' (noun, plural form of 'отход'): It is a masculine noun that follows the standard declension for third declension nouns. It is typically used in plural form.

For 'Тратить' (verb): It is an imperfective verb that conjugates regularly in the present tense.

For 'Потеря' (noun, feminine): Follows first declension with regular inflections.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Отходы: Мусор (more casual), Бросовый материал (specific to disposable items)
  • Тратить: Расходовать (formal for spending), Терять (for losing resources)
  • Потеря: Убыток (financial loss), Растрата (wasteful expenditure)
• Antonyms:
  • Отходы: Полезные материалы (useful materials)
  • Тратить: Экономить (to save)
  • Потеря: Приобретение (acquisition)

Related Phrases:

• Экологические отходы - Ecological waste; refers to environmentally harmful discarded materials.
• Тратить время впустую - To waste time; used for unproductive activities.
• Бороться с отходами - To fight waste; common in sustainability contexts.
• Потеря времени - Waste of time; emphasizes regret over lost opportunities.

Usage Notes:

'Waste' as 'отходы' is most accurate for physical materials, while 'тратить' aligns with the verb form for abstract wasting. In Russian, be mindful of context: use formal terms in professional settings. For verbs like 'тратить', aspect (imperfective) implies ongoing action, so pair with perfective forms like 'потратить' for completed actions. Choose translations based on nuance—'мусор' is everyday, while 'отходы' is technical.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'отходы' in singular form incorrectly. Incorrect: 'Этот отход' (for general waste). Correct: 'Эти отходы' or specify as 'отход' if singular context. Explanation: 'Отходы' is typically plural; misuse can sound unnatural.
• Error: Confusing 'тратить' with 'терять'. Incorrect: 'Я тратил ключи' (meaning lost keys). Correct: 'Я потерял ключи'. Explanation: 'Тратить' means to spend wastefully, not to lose physically.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts like 'отходы' are tied to environmental awareness, especially post-Soviet recycling initiatives. 'Тратить впустую' often reflects a cultural value of frugality, influenced by historical scarcity, emphasizing the importance of not wasting resources in daily life.

Related Concepts:

• Экология
• Ресурсы
• Экономия
• Переработка