Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'bewitch'

English Word: bewitch

Key Russian Translations:

• околдовать [ɐkɐlˈdovatʲ] - [Formal, Verb, Perfective]
• зачаровать [zətʃɐˈrovatʲ] - [Formal/Informal, Verb, Perfective]
• очаровать [ɐtʃɐˈrovatʲ] - [Informal, Verb, Perfective, Often Figurative]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for all translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

околдовать: [ɐkɐlˈdovatʲ]

Note on околдовать: Stress on the second syllable; the "л" sound is soft.

зачаровать: [zətʃɐˈrovatʲ]

Note on зачаровать: Stress on the third syllable; "ч" is pronounced like "ch" in "church".

очаровать: [ɐtʃɐˈrovatʲ]

Note on очаровать: Similar to зачаровать but with a softer nuance; stress on the third syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To cast a spell on someone (literal, magical sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• околдовать - Used in the context of witchcraft or supernatural influence.
• зачаровать - Can imply enchanting or bewitching with magic, often in fairy tales.

Usage Examples:

• Ведьма околдовала принца, чтобы он забыл свою невесту.

  The witch bewitched the prince so he would forget his fiancée.

• Фея зачаровала лес, чтобы никто не мог войти.

  The fairy bewitched the forest so no one could enter.

• Она околдовала его одним взглядом, словно ведьма.

  She bewitched him with a single glance, as if she were a witch.

2. To charm or captivate someone (figurative sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• очаровать - Often used for emotional or romantic captivation, less magical.
• зачаровать - Can also be used figuratively to mean mesmerizing or enchanting someone.

Usage Examples:

• Её улыбка очаровала всех в комнате.

  Her smile bewitched everyone in the room.

• Этот певец зачаровал публику своим голосом.

  This singer bewitched the audience with his voice.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

околдовать (Perfective Verb): As a perfective verb, it indicates a completed action. It follows regular conjugation patterns for verbs ending in -ать.

зачаровать & очаровать: Both are perfective verbs with similar conjugation patterns to околдовать. Their imperfective pairs are зачаровывать and очаровывать, respectively.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• заколдовать (more specific to casting spells)
• обворожить (figurative, to charm or captivate)

Antonyms:

• расколдовать (to break a spell, undo bewitchment)
• отвернуть (to turn away, reject charm)

Note: Synonyms like обворожить are more figurative, while заколдовать aligns closely with околдовать in magical contexts.

Related Phrases:

• околдовать взглядом - "to bewitch with a glance" (used for strong, captivating looks)
• зачаровать сердце - "to bewitch the heart" (romantic or emotional captivation)
• очаровать улыбкой - "to bewitch with a smile" (figurative charm)

Usage Notes:

• While "околдовать" is most closely tied to literal bewitchment (magic or spells), "очаровать" is almost always figurative, implying charm or captivation.
• "зачаровать" can be used in both literal (magical) and figurative contexts, making it versatile but sometimes ambiguous without context.
• Be mindful of aspect: these are perfective verbs, so for ongoing or repeated actions, use their imperfective pairs (e.g., околдовывать).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "очаровать" in a literal magical context. Incorrect: Ведьма очаровала деревню. Correct: Ведьма околдовала деревню. (Explanation: "очаровать" is rarely used for literal spells; use "околдовать" instead.)
• Error: Forgetting aspectual pairs in past/future tenses. Incorrect: Я буду околдовать тебя завтра. Correct: Я буду околдовывать тебя завтра. (Explanation: Use imperfective for ongoing future actions.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian folklore, the concept of bewitchment (околдовать) is deeply tied to stories of witches (ведьмы) and magic, often found in fairy tales like those of Baba Yaga. The idea of enchanting or charming someone (очаровать) also carries a romantic connotation in modern usage, often used in literature and songs.

Related Concepts:

• ведьма (witch)
• заклинание (spell)
• магия (magic)
• чары (enchantment)