Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Assault'

English Word: Assault

Key Russian Translations:

• нападение [nəpɐˈdʲenʲɪjə] - [Neutral, Common]
• атака [ɐˈtakə] - [Neutral, Often Military or Figurative]
• насилие [nɐˈsʲilʲɪjə] - [Neutral, Often Legal or Physical Context]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in legal, military, or news contexts)

Difficulty: B1-B2 (Intermediate; varies slightly by context and translation)

Pronunciation (Russian):

нападение: [nəpɐˈdʲenʲɪjə]

Note on нападение: Stress falls on the third syllable; the soft 'д' sound can be tricky for non-native speakers.

атака: [ɐˈtakə]

Note on атака: Stress on the second syllable; straightforward pronunciation.

насилие: [nɐˈsʲilʲɪjə]

Note on насилие: Stress on the second syllable; note the soft 'л' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Physical Attack or Aggression

Translation(s) & Context:

• нападение - Used for a sudden or planned physical attack (e.g., on a person or place).
• насилие - Refers to violent assault, often in legal or domestic contexts.

Usage Examples:

• На улице произошло нападение на прохожего.

  An assault on a passerby occurred on the street.

• Она стала жертвой насилия в семье.

  She became a victim of domestic assault.

• Нападение было спланировано заранее.

  The assault was planned in advance.

2. Military or Strategic Attack

Translation(s) & Context:

• атака - Commonly used for military assaults or aggressive moves in games/sports.
• нападение - Can also apply to military or group attacks.

Usage Examples:

• Армия начала атаку на вражеские позиции.

  The army launched an assault on enemy positions.

• Нападение на крепость провалилось.

  The assault on the fortress failed.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

нападение (neuter noun): Follows the standard neuter noun declension pattern.

атака (feminine noun): Follows the standard feminine noun declension for nouns ending in -а.

насилие (neuter noun): Similar to нападение, follows neuter noun declension.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for нападение/атака:

• агрессия (aggression, often figurative)
• штурм (storming, often military)

Antonyms for нападение/атака:

• защита (defense)
• отступление (retreat)

Related Phrases:

• вооружённое нападение - Armed assault (used for violent attacks with weapons).
• фронтальная атака - Frontal assault (military or direct confrontation).
• физическое насилие - Physical assault (legal or personal context).

Usage Notes:

• "Нападение" is the most general term for "assault" and can be used in both physical and military contexts, but it often implies a sudden or unexpected action.
• "Атака" is more specific to organized or strategic attacks, especially in military or competitive contexts (e.g., sports or debates).
• "Насилие" is typically reserved for violent acts with a connotation of abuse or illegality, often used in legal or social discussions.
• Choosing the right term depends on the context; using "насилие" in a military context would be inappropriate.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "насилие" for a military assault. Incorrect: "Армия совершила насилие на врага." Correct: "Армия совершила атаку на врага." (Explanation: "Насилие" implies personal violence or abuse, not strategic military action.)
• Error: Misplacing stress in pronunciation (e.g., stressing the wrong syllable in "нападение"). Ensure stress is on "де" [nəpɐˈdʲenʲɪjə].

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, the term "насилие" often carries a strong emotional or legal weight, frequently associated with discussions of domestic violence or human rights issues. It is a term often encountered in serious news reports or legal contexts, so using it lightly or out of context may sound inappropriate or overly dramatic.

Related Concepts:

• агрессия (aggression)
• конфликт (conflict)
• преступление (crime)