Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'bereft'

English Word: bereft

Key Russian Translations:

• Лишённый [lʲɪˈʂʲon.nɨj] - [Adjective, Formal, used to describe deprivation or loss]
• Осиротевший [ɐsʲɪrɐˈtʲef.ʂɨj] - [Adjective, Informal or Emotional, often in contexts of personal loss like bereavement]

Frequency: Medium - This word and its translations appear in literary, formal, or emotional contexts but are not everyday vocabulary.

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for 'Лишённый'; A2 (Beginner) for 'Осиротевший' in simple contexts, as it involves basic adjective forms but requires understanding of emotional nuances.

Pronunciation (Russian):

Лишённый: [lʲɪˈʂʲon.nɨj]

Осиротевший: [ɐsʲɪrɐˈtʲef.ʂɨj]

Note on Лишённый: The 'ш' sound is a voiceless postalveolar fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Deprived of something, especially through loss or absence

Translation(s) & Context:

• Лишённый - Used in formal or literary contexts to express a state of being stripped of something essential, such as hope or possessions.
• Осиротевший - Applied in emotional or personal contexts, like losing a loved one, emphasizing a sense of abandonment.

Usage Examples:

• Он был лишённый надежды после потери работы. (He was bereft of hope after losing his job.)

  He was deprived of hope after losing his job. (Context: Formal description of emotional state.)

• Семья осталась осиротевшей после трагедии. (The family was left bereft following the tragedy.)

  The family was left bereft following the tragedy. (Context: Emotional, personal loss scenario.)

• Город был лишённый электричества во время шторма. (The city was bereft of electricity during the storm.)

  The city was bereft of electricity during the storm. (Context: Literal deprivation in a practical setting.)

• Она чувствовала себя осиротевшей без поддержки друзей. (She felt bereft without the support of her friends.)

  She felt bereft without the support of her friends. (Context: Informal, relational context showing emotional dependency.)

• Дети были лишённые нормального образования из-за войны. (The children were bereft of a normal education due to the war.)

  The children were bereft of a normal education due to the war. (Context: Societal or historical context with broader implications.)

Secondary meaning: Emotionally desolate or abandoned

Translation(s) & Context:

• Осиротевший - Particularly in narratives involving grief, where it conveys a deeper emotional void.

Usage Examples:

• После развода он стал осиротевшим душой. (After the divorce, he became bereft in spirit.)

  After the divorce, he became bereft in spirit. (Context: Psychological or introspective usage.)

• Лишённый любви, он искал утешения в работе. (Bereft of love, he sought solace in his work.)

  Bereft of love, he sought solace in his work. (Context: Emotional deprivation in daily life.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are adjectives and follow Russian adjective declension patterns, which vary by gender, number, and case. 'Лишённый' is a short-form adjective in some uses, while 'Осиротевший' can be irregular in past participle forms.

Note: These adjectives do not change in short form for some uses, making them simpler in certain contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: Обделённый (obdelyonnyy) - Similar but implies unfair deprivation; Опустошённый (opustoshennyy) - Emphasizes emotional exhaustion.
• Antonyms: Обогащённый (obogashchennyy) - Enriched or abundant; Удовлетворённый (udovletvorennyy) - Satisfied or fulfilled.

Related Phrases:

• Лишённый прав (Lishyonnyy prav) - Bereft of rights; a phrase used in legal or social contexts to describe disenfranchisement.
• Осиротевший дом (Osirotevshiy dom) - A bereft home; often refers to a house emptied by loss, with connotations of abandonment.
• Лишённый надежды взгляд (Lishyonnyy nadezhdy vzglyad) - A bereft look of hope; used in literary descriptions of despair.

Usage Notes:

'Лишённый' directly corresponds to 'bereft' in the sense of being deprived, but it's more formal in Russian and often appears in written or elevated speech. Use 'Осиротевший' for emotional contexts involving personal loss, as it carries a stronger connotation of orphanhood. English learners should note that Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, which is a key grammatical difference. When choosing between translations, opt for 'Лишённый' in abstract or material loss scenarios and 'Осиротевший' for relational ones.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'Лишённый' without proper case agreement, e.g., saying "лишённый надежда" instead of "лишённый надежды" (genitive case required). Correct: "Лишённый надежды" – This error stems from ignoring Russian case rules, which English lacks.
• Mistake: Confusing 'Осиротевший' with literal orphanhood, leading to overuse in non-personal contexts. Correct: Reserve it for emotional states; for general deprivation, use 'Лишённый'. Explanation: English 'bereft' is versatile, but Russian requires precision to avoid sounding unnatural.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'Осиротевший' often evoke themes from literature, such as in works by Tolstoy or Dostoevsky, where loss and bereavement are central to character development. This reflects a broader cultural emphasis on collective suffering and resilience in the face of historical events like wars or revolutions.

Related Concepts:

• Утрата (utrata) - Loss
• Отчаяние (otchaianie) - Despair
• Опустошение (opustoshenie) - Devastation