Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Afraid'

English Word: afraid

Key Russian Translations:

• бояться [bɐˈjæt͡sə] - [Informal, Verb, Imperfective]
• испуганный [ɪsˈpuɡənːɨj] - [Adjective, Formal/Informal]
• страшиться [strɐˈʂɨt͡sə] - [Formal, Verb, Imperfective]

Frequency: High (commonly used in everyday speech and writing)

Difficulty: бояться - A2 (Beginner-Intermediate); испуганный - B1 (Intermediate); страшиться - B2 (Upper-Intermediate)

Pronunciation (Russian):

бояться: [bɐˈjæt͡sə]

Note on бояться: The stress falls on the second syllable. The 'я' sound is a distinct vowel in Russian, pronounced like 'ya' in 'yard'.

испуганный: [ɪsˈpuɡənːɨj]

Note on испуганный: The double 'н' indicates a slightly prolonged consonant sound. Stress is on the second syllable.

страшиться: [strɐˈʂɨt͡sə]

Note on страшиться: The 'ш' is a retroflex sound, similar to 'sh' in 'shoe'. Stress is on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Feeling Fear or Anxiety (General Sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• бояться - Used for general fear or being afraid of something/someone (e.g., fear of dogs, darkness).
• испуганный - Describes a state of being frightened or scared, often as a reaction to a sudden event.

Usage Examples:

• Я боюсь собак.

  I am afraid of dogs.

• Он боится темноты.

  He is afraid of the dark.

• Она выглядела испуганной после фильма.

  She looked frightened after the movie.

2. Fear in a Formal or Literary Context

Translation(s) & Context:

• страшиться - Used in formal or literary contexts to express deep fear or dread, often with a philosophical or intense tone.

Usage Examples:

• Они страшились грядущей войны.

  They dreaded the coming war.

• Он страшился потерять всё, что имел.

  He was afraid of losing everything he had.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

бояться (Verb, Imperfective, Reflexive): This verb conjugates regularly according to the first conjugation pattern in Russian. It is used with the genitive case for the object of fear.

испуганный (Adjective): Declines as a regular adjective, agreeing in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies.

страшиться (Verb, Imperfective, Reflexive): Follows a similar conjugation pattern to бояться but is less commonly used in spoken language.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for бояться:

• опасаться (to fear, to be apprehensive - more cautious tone)
• трепетать (to tremble with fear - more poetic)

Antonyms for бояться:

• осмелиться (to dare)
• не бояться (not to be afraid)

Related Phrases:

• бояться как огня - "to be afraid as if it were fire" (to be extremely afraid of something)
• испугаться до смерти - "to be scared to death" (to be extremely frightened)
• страшиться неизвестного - "to dread the unknown" (used in formal or literary contexts)

Usage Notes:

• While "бояться" is the most common translation for "afraid" in everyday speech, it is a verb and requires the genitive case for the object of fear (e.g., "бояться темноты" - afraid of the dark).
• "Испуганный" is an adjective and is used to describe a person's state or appearance when they are frightened, not as a direct expression of fear.
• "Страшиться" is more formal and often appears in literature or historical texts. It conveys a deeper, more intense fear or dread.
• Choosing between these translations depends on the context: use "бояться" for general fear, "испуганный" for describing someone as scared, and "страшиться" for formal or intense situations.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "бояться" without the genitive case (e.g., *Я боюсь собака instead of Я боюсь собаки). Explanation: "Бояться" requires the genitive case for the object of fear. The correct form is "собаки" (genitive of "собака").
• Error: Confusing "испуганный" (adjective) with "бояться" (verb) (e.g., *Я испуганный instead of Я боюсь). Explanation: "Испуганный" describes a state and cannot replace the verb "бояться" to express active fear.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressions of fear are often tied to superstitions or folklore. For example, "бояться" might be used in contexts involving traditional fears like the "evil eye" (сглаз) or other cultural beliefs. Understanding these nuances can help learners grasp deeper cultural connotations.

Related Concepts:

• страх (fear)
• тревога (anxiety)
• ужас (horror)