Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Boredom'

English Word: Boredom

Key Russian Translations:

• скука [ˈskukə] - [Neutral, Most Common]
• тоска [tɐˈska] - [Emotional, Often Stronger Feeling]

Frequency: High (both translations are commonly used)

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for "скука"); B1 (Intermediate for "тоска" due to emotional nuance)

Pronunciation (Russian):

скука: [ˈskukə]

Note on скука: Stress falls on the first syllable. The "у" sounds like the "oo" in "boot."

тоска: [tɐˈska]

Note on тоска: Stress on the second syllable. The "о" is reduced to a schwa sound in unstressed position.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. General Feeling of Boredom (Lack of Interest)

Translation(s) & Context:

• скука - Used for general boredom, often due to lack of activity or interest.

Usage Examples:

• На уроке была такая скука, что я чуть не заснул.

  The lesson was so boring that I almost fell asleep.

• Скука одолевает, когда нет ничего интересного.

  Boredom takes over when there’s nothing interesting to do.

• В деревне летом часто бывает скука.

  In the village, there’s often boredom in the summer.

2. Emotional Boredom or Yearning (Deeper Emotional State)

Translation(s) & Context:

• тоска - Implies a deeper, often melancholic feeling of boredom or longing.

Usage Examples:

• Тоска по дому не даёт мне покоя.

  Homesickness (or a deep boredom for home) doesn’t let me rest.

• На душе тоска, когда друзей нет рядом.

  There’s a longing (or deep boredom) in my soul when friends aren’t around.

• Зимой в этом городе всегда тоска.

  In winter, there’s always a melancholic boredom in this town.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

скука (feminine noun): Regular declension in all cases.

тоска (feminine noun): Regular declension in all cases.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for скука:

• скучища (colloquial, stronger)
• уныние (more depressive tone)

Synonyms for тоска:

• грусть (sadness, milder)
• печаль (sorrow, deeper)

Antonyms for both:

• интерес (interest)
• веселье (fun, joy)

Related Phrases:

• умереть со скуки - "to die of boredom" (extreme boredom)
• тоска зелёная - "green melancholy" (a colloquial way to express deep boredom or sadness)
• наводить тоску - "to bring on melancholy" (to cause boredom or sadness)

Usage Notes:

• Choosing between скука and тоска: Use "скука" for general boredom, often situational (e.g., a boring lecture). Use "тоска" for a deeper emotional state, often tied to longing or melancholy (e.g., homesickness).
• Register: Both are neutral, but "тоска" can sound more literary or emotional in certain contexts.
• Grammar: Both are feminine nouns and follow regular declension patterns, often used with prepositions like "от" (from) to indicate the cause of boredom.

Common Errors:

• Mixing скука and тоска: English learners often use "скука" in emotional contexts where "тоска" is more appropriate. For example, saying "У меня скука по дому" is incorrect; the correct form is "У меня тоска по дому" (I’m homesick).
• Incorrect Case Usage: Using the wrong case after prepositions like "от" (e.g., saying "от скука" instead of "от скуки"). Always use the genitive case after "от."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "тоска" often carries a deeper, almost philosophical connotation, reflecting a stereotypical "Russian soul" associated with melancholy and introspection. It appears frequently in literature and poetry, such as in works by Pushkin or Chekhov, to describe an indefinable longing or existential boredom.

Related Concepts:

• уныние (dejection)
• грусть (sadness)
• хандра (melancholy, spleen)