Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Captivity'

English Word: Captivity

Key Russian Translations:

• плен [plʲen] - [Formal, Masculine, Singular]
• неволя [nʲɪˈvolʲə] - [Formal/Informal, Feminine, Singular]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in historical, literary, and formal contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

плен: [plʲen]

Note on плен: The soft 'l' sound (лʲ) requires a slight raising of the tongue, which may be tricky for beginners.

неволя: [nʲɪˈvolʲə]

Note on неволя: Stress falls on the second syllable ('vo'), and the final 'я' is pronounced as a soft vowel.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. State of being imprisoned or confined (literal)

Translation(s) & Context:

• плен - Often used in military or war contexts to describe being held as a prisoner.
• неволя - Broader usage, can refer to any form of captivity or lack of freedom.

Usage Examples:

• Он попал в плен во время войны.

  He was taken into captivity during the war.

• Животные страдают в неволе.

  Animals suffer in captivity.

• После долгих лет в плену он вернулся домой.

  After many years in captivity, he returned home.

• Неволя хуже смерти для свободного человека.

  Captivity is worse than death for a free person.

• Они держали его в плену в подвале.

  They kept him in captivity in a basement.

2. Figurative sense (lack of freedom or oppression)

Translation(s) & Context:

• неволя - More commonly used for metaphorical captivity, such as emotional or societal constraints.

Usage Examples:

• Она чувствовала себя в неволе в этом браке.

  She felt trapped in captivity in this marriage.

• Народ жил в неволе под гнётом тирана.

  The people lived in captivity under the tyrant’s oppression.

• Его душа была в неволе из-за чувства вины.

  His soul was in captivity due to guilt.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

плен (Masculine Noun):

Case	Singular
Nominative	плен
Genitive	плена
Dative	плену
Accusative	плен
Instrumental	пленом
Prepositional	о плене

Note: "плен" is rarely used in plural as it often refers to a state rather than individual instances.

неволя (Feminine Noun):

Case	Singular
Nominative	неволя
Genitive	неволи
Dative	неvole
Accusative	неволю
Instrumental	неволей
Prepositional	о неволе

Note: "неволя" is also primarily used in singular form.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for плен:

• заточение
• заключение

Note: "заточение" often implies a more severe or prolonged imprisonment, while "заключение" is more neutral and legal.

Synonyms for неволя:

• рабство
• угнетение

Note: "рабство" specifically refers to slavery, while "угнетение" focuses on oppression.

Antonyms:

• свобода
• независимость

Related Phrases:

• попасть в плен - To fall into captivity (often in a military context).
• жить в неволе - To live in captivity (literal or figurative).
• освободить из плена - To free from captivity.

Usage Notes:

• "плен" is more specific to physical captivity, especially in war or hostage situations, and is often used in formal or historical contexts.
• "неволя" has a broader meaning and can refer to both physical and metaphorical captivity, making it more versatile in everyday speech.
• Be mindful of the context when choosing between "плен" and "неволя," as using "плен" in a metaphorical sense might sound awkward or overly dramatic.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "плен" for metaphorical captivity, e.g., *Я чувствую себя в плену обязательств* (I feel in captivity of obligations). Correction: Use "неволя" instead: *Я чувствую себя в неволе обязательств*.
• Error: Incorrect case usage, e.g., *Он вернулся из плен* (wrong genitive form). Correction: *Он вернулся из плена*.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "неволя" often carries a deep emotional weight, frequently appearing in literature and folklore to describe oppression under feudal systems or during times of war. It evokes a sense of longing for freedom, a recurring theme in Russian history and storytelling.

Related Concepts:

• свобода (freedom)
• рабство (slavery)
• тюрьма (prison)