Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Agony'

English Word: Agony

Key Russian Translations:

• мучение [ˈmutʃenʲɪje] - [Neutral, Singular]
• страдание [strɐˈdanʲɪje] - [Formal, Singular]
• агония [ɐˈɡonʲɪjə] - [Formal, Often Medical or Literal Death Context]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in literature and emotional contexts)

Difficulty: B1-B2 (Intermediate - varies by translation: "мучение" is B1, "агония" is B2)

Pronunciation (Russian):

мучение: [ˈmutʃenʲɪje]

Note on мучение: Stress falls on the first syllable. The "ч" sound is similar to "ch" in "church."

страдание: [strɐˈdanʲɪje]

Note on страдание: Stress on the second syllable. The "р" is rolled slightly.

агония: [ɐˈɡonʲɪjə]

Note on агония: Stress on the second syllable. Often used in specific contexts like terminal illness.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Intense Physical or Mental Pain

Translation(s) & Context:

• мучение - Often used for both physical and emotional torment, common in everyday speech.
• страдание - More formal, often used for deep suffering, especially emotional or spiritual.

Usage Examples:

• Его мучения после потери близкого человека были невыносимы.

  His agony after losing a loved one was unbearable.

• Она пережила долгие страдания из-за болезни.

  She endured long suffering due to illness.

• Эти мучения не закончатся, пока мы не найдём решение.

  This agony won’t end until we find a solution.

2. Final Moments Before Death (Medical or Literal)

Translation(s) & Context:

• агония - Specifically refers to the final struggle or throes of death, often in medical or dramatic contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Его последние часы были настоящей агонией.

  His last hours were a true agony.

• Врачи не могли облегчить её агонию.

  The doctors could not ease her agony.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

мучение (Noun, Neuter): Regular declension in singular and plural.

страдание (Noun, Neuter) & агония (Noun, Feminine): Follow similar regular declension patterns for their respective genders. Detailed tables can be provided upon request.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for мучение/страдание:

• боль (pain)
• терзание (torment)
• мучительство (suffering, less common)

Note: "боль" is more general and often physical, while "терзание" implies emotional torment.

Antonyms for мучение/страдание:

• радость (joy)
• счастье (happiness)
• облегчение (relief)

Related Phrases:

• причинять мучения - to cause agony (often emotional or psychological).
• страдания души - suffering of the soul (used for deep emotional pain).
• смертельная агония - death agony (literal, medical context).

Usage Notes:

• "мучение" is the most versatile and commonly used term for "agony" in both physical and emotional contexts, suitable for everyday speech.
• "страдание" carries a more formal or literary tone, often used for profound or spiritual suffering.
• "агония" is highly specific and should only be used for contexts related to death or extreme terminal struggle; using it for general pain would be incorrect.
• Pay attention to the context when choosing between these translations, as they are not always interchangeable.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "агония" for general pain or emotional suffering.
  Incorrect: Я в агонии из-за экзамена. (I’m in agony because of the exam.)
  Correct: Я в мучениях из-за экзамена.
  Explanation: "агония" is reserved for life-and-death situations, not everyday stress or pain.
• Error: Misusing singular/plural forms.
  Incorrect: Его мучение были ужасны. (His agony were terrible.)
  Correct: Его мучения были ужасны.
  Explanation: "мучения" (plural) is often used to describe ongoing or multiple torments, while singular "мучение" is less common in such contexts.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressions of suffering like "страдание" often carry a deeper, almost philosophical or spiritual connotation, especially in literature (e.g., works by Dostoevsky). Russians may use these terms more expressively to describe emotional states compared to English speakers.

Related Concepts:

• боль (pain)
• горе (grief)
• отчаяние (despair)