Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'anxiety'

English Word: anxiety

Key Russian Translations:

• тревога [trʲɪˈvoɡə] - [Formal/Informal, Common]
• беспокойство [bʲɪspɐˈkojstvə] - [Formal/Neutral]
• волнение [vɐlˈnʲenʲɪjə] - [Informal, Emotional]

Frequency: High (commonly used in various contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "тревога" and "беспокойство"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "волнение"

Pronunciation (Russian):

тревога: [trʲɪˈvoɡə]

Note on тревога: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "r" is rolled slightly, typical of Russian pronunciation.

беспокойство: [bʲɪspɐˈkojstvə]

Note on беспокойство: A longer word with stress on the third syllable. The "б" and "п" are pronounced distinctly.

волнение: [vɐlˈnʲenʲɪjə]

Note on волнение: Stress on the second syllable. The "н" sound is palatalized before "е".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A feeling of worry or nervousness (general)

Translation(s) & Context:

• тревога - Often used for a general sense of anxiety or alarm, applicable in personal and broader contexts (e.g., social or political anxiety).
• беспокойство - Refers to a state of restlessness or concern, often more formal or neutral in tone.

Usage Examples:

• Её охватила тревога перед экзаменом.

  She was overcome with anxiety before the exam.

• Его беспокойство о будущем было очевидным.

  His anxiety about the future was evident.

• Тревога за здоровье близких не покидала её.

  Anxiety for the health of her loved ones did not leave her.

2. Emotional agitation or excitement (specific contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• волнение - Used for emotional excitement or agitation, often tied to anticipation or nervousness in personal situations.

Usage Examples:

• Я чувствую волнение перед выступлением.

  I feel anxiety before the performance.

• Его голос дрожал от волнения.

  His voice trembled with anxiety.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

тревога (noun, feminine):

беспокойство (noun, neuter): Follows regular neuter noun declension patterns (e.g., Nominative: беспокойство, Genitive: беспокойства).

волнение (noun, neuter): Follows regular neuter noun declension patterns (e.g., Nominative: волнение, Genitive: волнения).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for тревога/беспокойство:

• страх (fear, often stronger)
• опасение (apprehension, milder)
• переживание (concern, emotional)

Antonyms for тревога/беспокойство:

• спокойствие (calmness)
• уверенность (confidence)

Related Phrases:

• причина тревоги - "cause of anxiety" (used to specify the source of worry)
• чувство беспокойства - "feeling of anxiety" (common in emotional descriptions)
• волнение перед чем-то - "anxiety before something" (used for specific events or situations)

Usage Notes:

• "тревога" is the most versatile and commonly used term for "anxiety" and can apply to both personal and abstract contexts (e.g., societal anxiety). It often implies a sense of alarm.
• "беспокойство" is slightly more formal and focuses on a state of unease or concern, often without the intensity of "тревога".
• "волнение" is more emotionally charged and often used for situational nervousness or excitement, such as before an event.
• Choose the appropriate term based on the emotional intensity and context. For medical or clinical anxiety, "тревога" is often used (e.g., "тревожное расстройство" for "anxiety disorder").

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "волнение" for serious or chronic anxiety. Incorrect: У меня волнение из-за работы (suggests temporary nervousness). Correct: У меня тревога из-за работы (indicates deeper anxiety).
• Error: Misusing cases after prepositions. Incorrect: Тревога о здоровье (wrong preposition form). Correct: Тревога за здоровье (correct preposition and case).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressing "тревога" or "беспокойство" is common in personal conversations, especially regarding family or societal issues. Russians may openly discuss their worries as a way of bonding or seeking support, unlike some Western cultures where anxiety might be less openly addressed.

Related Concepts:

• страх (fear)
• стресс (stress)
• депрессия (depression)