Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Ballad'

English Word: Ballad

Key Russian Translations:

• баллада [bɐˈɫːadə] - [Formal, Literary]
• песня [ˈpʲesʲnʲə] - [Informal, Broader Usage]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in literary and musical contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "баллада"; A2 (Elementary) for "песня"

Pronunciation (Russian):

баллада: [bɐˈɫːadə]

Note on баллада: The stress falls on the second syllable. The double "л" is pronounced with a slight prolongation.

песня: [ˈpʲesʲnʲə]

Note on песня: The stress is on the first syllable. The "е" is palatalized, softening the preceding consonant.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A narrative poem or song (literary context)

Translation(s) & Context:

• баллада - Used specifically for a narrative poem or song with a historical or romantic theme, often in literary discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Эта баллада рассказывает о древнем герое.

  This ballad tells the story of an ancient hero.

• Он написал балладу о любви и потере.

  He wrote a ballad about love and loss.

• Баллады часто исполнялись бардами в средние века.

  Ballads were often performed by bards in the Middle Ages.

2. A sentimental or popular song (general context)

Translation(s) & Context:

• песня - Refers to a song in a broader sense, often used for popular or sentimental music that might resemble a ballad in tone.

Usage Examples:

• Эта песня — настоящая баллада о разбитом сердце.

  This song is a true ballad about a broken heart.

• Она спела красивую песню на вечеринке.

  She sang a beautiful song at the party.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

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

песня (feminine noun): Follows the standard declension pattern for feminine nouns ending in -я.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for баллада:

• поэма (in literary contexts, broader term for a narrative poem)
• сказание (a tale or legend, often in poetic form)

Synonyms for песня:

• мелодия (melody, broader term)
• напев (tune, often used for folk songs)

Antonyms: None directly applicable, as "ballad" lacks a clear opposite in both languages.

Related Phrases:

• народная баллада - Folk ballad, referring to traditional narrative songs passed down through generations.
• романтическая песня - Romantic song, often used to describe a sentimental ballad-like song.
• петь балладу - To sing a ballad, a common expression for performing such a piece.

Usage Notes:

• "баллада" is more specific and formal, used primarily in literary or musical contexts to describe a narrative poem or song with a historical or romantic theme. It is less common in casual speech.
• "песня" is a broader term meaning "song" and can refer to any type of song, including ballads. It is more versatile and frequently used in everyday conversations.
• When translating "ballad" into Russian, choose "баллада" for literary or formal contexts and "песня" for general or popular music discussions.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "песня" in formal literary analysis when "баллада" is more appropriate. For example, saying "Эта песня Шекспира" instead of "Эта баллада Шекспира" when discussing a narrative poem.
• Correction: Reserve "баллада" for contexts involving narrative poetry or specific musical compositions, and use "песня" for general songs or casual contexts.
• Error: Mispronouncing "баллада" by stressing the first syllable. Incorrect: [ˈbɐɫədə]; Correct: [bɐˈɫːadə].

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "баллада" often evokes associations with classical literature and romanticism, such as the works of poets like Alexander Pushkin or Mikhail Lermontov, who wrote narrative poems in this style. Meanwhile, "песня" is deeply tied to Russian folk traditions and modern popular music, reflecting a wide range of emotions and themes.

Related Concepts:

• романс (romance, a lyrical song or poem often similar to a ballad in tone)
• былина (epic folk tale or song, related to historical ballads)
• частушка (short, humorous folk song, contrasting with the serious tone of a ballad)