Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Avenge'

English Word: avenge

Key Russian Translations:

• мстить [ˈmstʲitʲ] - [Informal, Commonly Used]
• отомстить [ɐtɐˈmstʲitʲ] - [Formal, Often Used for Specific Acts of Revenge]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "мстить"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "отомстить"

Pronunciation (Russian):

мстить: [ˈmstʲitʲ]

Note on мстить: Stress falls on the first syllable. The soft "т" sound is a distinct feature in Russian pronunciation.

отомстить: [ɐtɐˈmstʲitʲ]

Note on отомстить: Stress falls on the second syllable. The prefix "ото-" often softens in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To take revenge for a wrong done to oneself or others

Translation(s) & Context:

• мстить - Often used in general or ongoing contexts of seeking revenge.
• отомстить - Typically implies a specific, completed act of revenge.

Usage Examples:

• Он решил мстить за смерть брата.

  He decided to avenge his brother's death.

• Она мстит всем, кто её обидел.

  She takes revenge on everyone who has wronged her.

• Я отомщу за эту несправедливость!

  I will avenge this injustice!

• Он отомстил своему врагу после долгих лет.

  He avenged himself on his enemy after many years.

• Не мсти, это только усугубит ситуацию.

  Don't seek revenge, it will only make the situation worse.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

мстить (Imperfective Verb): This verb is used for ongoing or habitual actions of revenge. It follows regular conjugation patterns for first-conjugation verbs.

отомстить (Perfective Verb): This verb indicates a completed act of revenge. It is also a first-conjugation verb but used only in past and future tenses.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for мстить/отомстить:

• сводить счёты (to settle scores, more colloquial)
• расплачиваться (to pay back, less direct)

Antonyms for мстить/отомстить:

• прощать (to forgive)
• мириться (to reconcile)

Related Phrases:

• мстить за обиду - to avenge an insult
• отомстить за предательство - to take revenge for betrayal
• кровная месть - blood feud (a cultural concept of revenge)

Usage Notes:

• "мстить" is imperfective, implying an ongoing or repeated action of revenge, while "отомстить" is perfective, indicating a single, completed act. Choose based on the context of the action.
• Both verbs are often followed by the preposition "за" (for) plus the accusative case to indicate what is being avenged (e.g., "за обиду" - for an insult).
• "мстить" can sound more emotional or personal, while "отомстить" often implies a calculated or deliberate act.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "мстить" in contexts requiring a completed action. Incorrect: "Я мстил врагу вчера." Correct: "Я отомстил врагу вчера." (I avenged myself on the enemy yesterday.) Explanation: "мстить" implies an ongoing action, so for a specific past event, use "отомстить."
• Error: Omitting the preposition "за" when specifying the reason for revenge. Incorrect: "Он мстит обиду." Correct: "Он мстит за обиду." (He is avenging an insult.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of revenge, especially "кровная месть" (blood feud), has historical roots in certain regions like the Caucasus, where family honor plays a significant role. While modern usage of "мстить" and "отомстить" is more general, these terms can carry a dramatic or intense connotation in literature and media.

Related Concepts:

• месть (revenge, noun form)
• обида (insult or offense)
• возмездие (retribution, more formal or poetic)