Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Capitulate'

English Word: capitulate

Key Russian Translations:

• сдаваться [ˈsdavətʲsə] - [Informal, General Use]
• капитулировать [kəpʲɪtʊˈlʲirəvətʲ] - [Formal, Military or Political Context]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for "сдаваться"; C1 (Advanced) for "капитулировать"

Pronunciation (Russian):

сдаваться: [ˈsdavətʲsə]

Note on сдаваться: Stress falls on the first syllable. The "тʲ" is palatalized, producing a soft 't' sound.

капитулировать: [kəpʲɪtʊˈlʲirəvətʲ]

Note on капитулировать: Stress falls on the fourth syllable. This word has a more formal tone and is less common in everyday speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To surrender or give up (general sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• сдаваться - Commonly used in everyday language for surrendering or giving up in various contexts (e.g., games, arguments).

Usage Examples:

• Я не сдамся без борьбы!

  I won’t give up without a fight!

• Он сдался после долгих споров.

  He gave in after long arguments.

• Не сдавайся, у тебя всё получится!

  Don’t give up, you’ll succeed!

2. To formally surrender (military or political context)

Translation(s) & Context:

• капитулировать - Used in formal or historical contexts, often related to military or political surrender.

Usage Examples:

• Армия капитулировала после нескольких месяцев осады.

  The army capitulated after several months of siege.

• Страна была вынуждена капитулировать перед врагом.

  The country was forced to capitulate to the enemy.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

сдаваться (reflexive verb): This is an imperfective verb, often used with the reflexive suffix "-ся". It conjugates regularly in Russian.

капитулировать (verb): This is also an imperfective verb and conjugates regularly. It is less commonly used in spoken language.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for сдаваться:

• уступать (to concede, often in arguments)
• отступать (to retreat, often in a broader sense)

Synonyms for капитулировать:

• сдаться (formal surrender)

Antonyms:

• сопротивляться (to resist)
• бороться (to fight)

Related Phrases:

• сдаваться на милость победителя - To surrender to the mercy of the victor.
• капитулировать без условий - To capitulate unconditionally.

Usage Notes:

• "сдаваться" is the more versatile and commonly used term for "capitulate" in everyday Russian, applicable to both literal and figurative surrendering (e.g., giving up on a task).
• "капитулировать" is reserved for formal, often historical or military contexts. Using it in casual speech may sound overly dramatic or out of place.
• Be mindful of the reflexive nature of "сдаваться". Dropping the "-ся" changes the meaning to "to hand over" (something or someone).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "капитулировать" in casual contexts, e.g., saying "Я капитулирую в игре" for "I give up in the game".
  Correction: Use "сдаюсь" instead: "Я сдаюсь в игре". "Капитулировать" sounds overly formal and inappropriate here.
• Error: Forgetting the reflexive "-ся" in "сдаваться", e.g., "Я сдаю" (I hand over).
  Correction: Always include "-ся" when meaning "to surrender": "Я сдаюсь".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of "сдаваться" (surrendering) can carry a negative connotation, especially in historical or patriotic contexts, due to the emphasis on resilience and resistance in Russian history (e.g., during WWII). "Капитулировать" often evokes specific historical events, such as military defeats or treaties, and is tied to formal discourse.

Related Concepts:

• уступка (concession)
• поражение (defeat)
• сопротивление (resistance)