Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Catastrophe'

English Word: Catastrophe

Key Russian Translations:

• Катастрофа [kətɐˈstrofə] - [Formal, General Use]
• Бедствие [bʲɪdˈstvʲɪjə] - [Formal, Often Natural Disasters]
• Крах [krɑx] - [Informal, Figurative for Failure or Collapse]

Frequency: Medium (Common in news, literature, and conversations about disasters or failures)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for all translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

Катастрофа: [kətɐˈstrofə]

Note on Катастрофа: Stress falls on the third syllable ("stro"). The "a" sounds are reduced in unstressed positions.

Бедствие: [bʲɪdˈstvʲɪjə]

Note on Бедствие: Stress on the second syllable ("stv"). The "e" is pronounced as a soft "ye".

Крах: [krɑx]

Note on Крах: A short, sharp word with stress on the single syllable. The "x" is a guttural sound, like the "ch" in "loch".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A disastrous event causing significant distress (literal disaster)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Катастрофа - Used for major accidents or disasters (e.g., plane crashes, industrial accidents).
• Бедствие - Often refers to natural disasters (e.g., floods, earthquakes).

Usage Examples:

• Авиационная катастрофа унесла десятки жизней.

  The aviation catastrophe claimed dozens of lives.

• Наводнение стало настоящим бедствием для региона.

  The flood became a real catastrophe for the region.

• Эта катастрофа могла быть предотвращена.

  This catastrophe could have been prevented.

2. A complete failure or collapse (figurative use)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Крах - Used metaphorically for personal, financial, or project failures.
• Катастрофа - Occasionally used in exaggerated informal contexts for failure.

Usage Examples:

• Его бизнес потерпел полный крах.

  His business suffered a complete catastrophe (collapse).

• Этот проект — настоящая катастрофа!

  This project is a real catastrophe!

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Катастрофа (Noun, Feminine): Follows the standard feminine declension pattern in Russian.

Бедствие (Noun, Neuter): Follows the standard neuter declension pattern.

Крах (Noun, Masculine): Follows the standard masculine declension pattern.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for Катастрофа/Бедствие/Крах:

• Трагедия (Tragedy, often emotional or personal)
• Провал (Failure, often for plans or projects)
• Разрушение (Destruction, often physical)

Antonyms for Катастрофа/Бедствие/Крах:

• Успех (Success)
• Триумф (Triumph)

Related Phrases:

• Природное бедствие - Natural disaster (used for events like earthquakes or hurricanes).
• Полный крах - Total collapse (used for complete failure of plans or endeavors).
• Катастрофа века - Catastrophe of the century (used hyperbolically for major historical events).

Usage Notes:

• Choosing the Right Word: Use "Катастрофа" for general disasters or accidents, "Бедствие" for natural calamities, and "Крах" for metaphorical collapses or failures.
• Register: "Катастрофа" and "Бедствие" are more formal and often used in news or official contexts, while "Крах" is conversational and figurative.
• Grammar: Pay attention to case endings, as they change based on the sentence structure (see declension tables above).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "Крах" for literal disasters. Incorrect: "Крах на дороге" (Crash on the road). Correct: "Катастрофа на дороге". Explanation: "Крах" is reserved for abstract failures, not physical accidents.
• Error: Misusing cases with "Катастрофа". Incorrect: "Я слышал о катастрофа". Correct: "Я слышал о катастрофе". Explanation: The preposition "о" requires the prepositional case.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the word "Катастрофа" often evokes strong emotional reactions due to historical events like the Chernobyl disaster (Чернобыльская катастрофа). It carries a heavy connotation of loss and tragedy. Similarly, "Бедствие" is frequently used in discussions of natural disasters, reflecting Russia's vast geography and exposure to such events.

Related Concepts:

• Трагедия (Tragedy)
• Несчастье (Misfortune)
• Авария (Accident)