Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Astray'

English Word: astray

Key Russian Translations:

• заблудший [zəblʊˈdʲʂɨj] - [Formal, Often used metaphorically for "lost" or "misguided"]
• сбившийся с пути [sbʲiˈvʂɨjsʲə s pʊˈtʲi] - [Informal, Literal or figurative "gone off the path"]

Frequency: Medium (often used in literature and formal contexts)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for "заблудший"; B1 (Beginner-Intermediate) for "сбившийся с пути"

Pronunciation (Russian):

заблудший: [zəblʊˈdʲʂɨj]

Note on заблудший: Stress falls on the second syllable; the "ш" sound is a retroflex fricative, distinct from English "sh".

сбившийся с пути: [sbʲiˈvʂɨjsʲə s pʊˈtʲi]

Note on сбившийся с пути: Stress on "вший" and "пу"; a multi-word phrase requiring attention to word connections.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Literal Sense (Physically Lost)

Translation(s) & Context:

• сбившийся с пути - Used when referring to someone who is physically lost or has strayed from a path.

Usage Examples:

• Он сбился с пути в лесу и не мог найти дорогу домой.

  He got astray in the forest and couldn’t find his way home.

• Мы сбились с пути из-за плохой карты.

  We went astray because of a bad map.

• Туристы сбились с пути в горах.

  The tourists went astray in the mountains.

2. Figurative Sense (Morally or Spiritually Misguided)

Translation(s) & Context:

• заблудший - Used metaphorically for someone who is misguided or has lost their way in life.
• сбившийся с пути - Can also apply in a figurative sense, though less formal than "заблудший".

Usage Examples:

• Он был заблудшей душой, пока не нашел свое призвание.

  He was a lost soul until he found his calling.

• Многие молодые люди сбиваются с пути из-за плохого влияния.

  Many young people go astray due to bad influences.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

заблудший: Adjective. Declines by gender, number, and case as a regular adjective in Russian.

сбившийся с пути: A participial phrase based on the verb "сбиться" (to go astray). Changes based on the subject’s gender and number but is less flexible due to its phrase structure.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "заблудший":

• потерянный (lost, often emotionally)
• блуждающий (wandering, searching)

Note: "потерянный" often implies a deeper emotional loss, while "блуждающий" emphasizes aimless wandering.

Antonyms for "заблудший":

• нашедший путь (having found the way)
• уверенный (confident, certain)

Related Phrases:

• заблудшая душа - "a lost soul" (often used in a spiritual or moral context)
• сбиться с верного пути - "to stray from the right path" (figurative, moral deviation)
• блуждать во тьме - "to wander in the dark" (used metaphorically for confusion or ignorance)

Usage Notes:

• "заблудший" is more formal and often used in literary or religious contexts to describe someone morally or spiritually lost. It is rarely used for physical misdirection.
• "сбившийся с пути" is versatile, applicable to both literal (physical) and figurative (moral) contexts, and is more conversational.
• Choose "заблудший" when emphasizing a profound or abstract sense of being lost; use "сбившийся с пути" for everyday situations or less intense contexts.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "заблудший" to describe physical loss of direction. Incorrect: "Я заблудший в лесу" (I am astray in the forest). Correct: "Я сбился с пути в лесу". Explanation: "заблудший" is almost exclusively figurative.
• Error: Misplacing stress in pronunciation of "заблудший". Incorrect stress on first syllable [ˈzablʊdʲʂɨj]. Correct: [zəblʊˈdʲʂɨj]. Explanation: Stress errors can change meaning or sound unnatural.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the term "заблудший" often carries a deep spiritual connotation, frequently used in religious texts or discussions to describe someone who has strayed from moral or divine guidance. It appears in classic Russian literature (e.g., Dostoevsky) to depict existential struggles.

Related Concepts:

• потеря (loss)
• путь (path, way)
• душа (soul)