Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'ambrosia'

English Word: ambrosia

Key Russian Translations:

• амброзия /amˈbrozʲɪjə/ - [Formal, Literary]

Frequency: Medium (Common in mythological, literary, or botanical contexts, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Upper Intermediate; involves understanding borrowed words from Greek mythology and potential botanical knowledge)

Pronunciation (Russian):

амброзия: /amˈbrozʲɪjə/

Note on амброзия: The stress falls on the second syllable ('broz'). Be mindful of the palatalized 'zʲ' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers. Pronunciation may vary slightly in poetic recitations.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Mythological food of the gods (Referring to the divine sustenance in Greek mythology)

Translation(s) & Context:

• амброзия - Used in formal, literary, or educational contexts when discussing ancient myths or classical literature.

Usage Examples:

• В греческой мифологии амброзия была пищей богов, дарующей бессмертие.

  In Greek mythology, ambrosia was the food of the gods, granting immortality.

• Поэты часто описывают амброзию как божественный нектар, недоступный смертным.

  Poets often describe ambrosia as a divine nectar, inaccessible to mortals.

• Амброзия в мифах символизирует вечную молодость и силу олимпийских богов.

  Ambrosia in myths symbolizes eternal youth and the strength of the Olympian gods.

• В некоторых рассказах герои ищут амброзию, чтобы обрести божественные способности.

  In some stories, heroes seek ambrosia to gain divine abilities.

Botanical reference (Referring to a plant, such as ragweed)

Translation(s) & Context:

• амброзия - Used in scientific, medical, or everyday contexts when discussing plants, often with a neutral or technical tone.

Usage Examples:

• Амброзия — это распространённое аллергенное растение в России, вызывающее pollinosis.

  Ambrosia is a common allergenic plant in Russia that causes hay fever.

• В садоводстве амброзию часто считают сорняком из-за её агрессивного роста.

  In gardening, ambrosia is often considered a weed due to its aggressive growth.

• Лекарственные свойства амброзии изучаются в фитотерапии для лечения респираторных заболеваний.

  The medicinal properties of ambrosia are studied in herbal medicine for treating respiratory conditions.

• Амброзия цветёт летом, и её пыльца становится причиной сезонных аллергий.

  Ambrosia blooms in the summer, and its pollen causes seasonal allergies.

• В экологических отчётах амброзия упоминается как инвазивный вид.

  In environmental reports, ambrosia is mentioned as an invasive species.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Амброзия" is a feminine noun of the second declension in Russian. It follows regular patterns for most cases but is invariant in the nominative plural form. Below is a table outlining its inflections:

Note: The word is borrowed from Greek and does not have verbal forms in Russian. It remains unchanged in compound phrases.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • нектар (nectar) - Often used interchangeably in mythological contexts to refer to divine substances, but with a focus on liquids.
  • бессмертие-дарующий эликсир (immortality-granting elixir) - A more descriptive phrase for the mythological sense, though less common.
• Antonyms:
  • яд (poison) - In mythological contexts, representing something harmful or mortal as opposed to life-giving ambrosia.

Related Phrases:

• пища богов (pishcha bogov) - Meaning: "Food of the gods"; a common phrase in literary discussions of mythology.
• амброзия бессмертия (ambrosiya bessmertiya) - Meaning: "Ambrosia of immortality"; used in poetic or fantasy contexts to emphasize eternal life.
• аллерген амброзия (allergén ambrosiya) - Meaning: "Ambrosia allergen"; refers to the plant in medical or environmental talks.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "амброзия" directly corresponds to the English "ambrosia" as a borrowed term, but its usage is context-dependent. For the mythological sense, it's primarily formal and literary, avoiding casual conversation. In botanical contexts, it's neutral and scientific. English learners should note that Russian requires proper declension based on case (e.g., use genitive "амброзии" after prepositions like "of"). When choosing between translations, opt for "амброзия" in most cases, but in everyday allergy discussions, it might be paired with more common terms like "полынь" for clarity. Be aware of cultural nuances, as the word carries positive connotations in myths but negative ones in health contexts.

Common Errors:

• Error: Misdeclining the noun, e.g., using "амброзия" in the genitive case instead of "амброзии" (as in "еда из амброзия" instead of "еда из амброзии").

  Correct: "Еда из амброзии" (Food made from ambrosia). Explanation: Russian nouns must agree in case; this error stems from treating it as an English invariant word.

• Error: Confusing it with "ambrosial" in English, leading to incorrect adjective use, e.g., saying "амброзиальный" which doesn't exist in Russian.

  Correct: Use descriptive phrases like "божественный" (divine) instead. Explanation: Russian doesn't have a direct adjective form, so learners should adapt with equivalents.

• Error: Overusing in casual speech, e.g., describing a delicious meal as "амброзия" when it's too formal.

  Correct: Stick to "вкусная еда" (tasty food) for everyday contexts. Explanation: This can make speech sound pretentious; reserve for appropriate settings.

Cultural Notes:

"Амброзия" in Russian culture often evokes images from Greek mythology, integrated through literature and education. It symbolizes immortality and divine privilege, reflecting Russia's historical fascination with classical antiquity via translations of Homer and other epics. In modern contexts, the botanical reference highlights environmental issues, such as allergies, which are prevalent in urban areas, adding a layer of contemporary relevance to an ancient concept.

Related Concepts:

• нектар
• бессмертие
• полынь
• мифология