Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Clash'

English Word: clash

Key Russian Translations:

• столкновение [stɐlkˈnovʲɪnʲɪje] - [Neutral, Often Physical or Figurative Conflict]
• конфликт [kɐnˈflʲikt] - [Neutral, Often Social or Emotional]
• ссора [ˈsːorə] - [Informal, Personal Argument]

Frequency: Medium (used moderately in various contexts)

Difficulty: столкновение (B1/Intermediate), конфликт (A2/Beginner-Intermediate), ссора (A2/Beginner-Intermediate)

Pronunciation (Russian):

столкновение: [stɐlkˈnovʲɪnʲɪje]

Note on столкновение: Stress on the third syllable; the "к" is pronounced clearly even in fast speech.

конфликт: [kɐnˈflʲikt]

Note on конфликт: Stress on the second syllable; borrowed word with a hard "т" at the end.

ссора: [ˈsːorə]

Note on ссора: Stress on the first syllable; the double "с" is pronounced with emphasis.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Physical Collision or Conflict

Translation(s) & Context:

• столкновение - Used for literal collisions (e.g., vehicles) or figurative clashes (e.g., ideas).

Usage Examples:

• На дороге произошло столкновение двух машин.

  A clash of two cars occurred on the road.

• Столкновение интересов привело к спору.

  A clash of interests led to a dispute.

• Их мнения вступили в столкновение.

  Their opinions clashed.

2. Social or Emotional Conflict

Translation(s) & Context:

• конфликт - Used for disagreements or disputes, often in a formal or serious tone.
• ссора - Used for personal arguments or quarrels, more informal.

Usage Examples:

• Между ними возник конфликт из-за денег.

  A clash arose between them over money.

• Конфликт на работе нужно решать мирно.

  A clash at work should be resolved peacefully.

• У нас с братом случилась ссора из-за мелочи.

  My brother and I had a clash over a trivial matter.

• После ссоры они не разговаривали неделю.

  After the clash, they didn’t speak for a week.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

столкновение (Noun, Neuter):

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	столкновение	столкновения
Genitive	столкновения	столкновений
Dative	столкновению	столкновениям
Accusative	столкновение	столкновения
Instrumental	столкновением	столкновениями
Prepositional	о столкновении	о столкновениях

конфликт (Noun, Masculine) and ссора (Noun, Feminine): Follow regular declension patterns for their respective genders. Detailed tables can be provided upon request.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for столкновение:

• схватка (physical clash or skirmish)
• коллизия (formal, often literary conflict)

Synonyms for конфликт/ссора:

• разногласие (disagreement)
• спор (argument)

Antonyms:

• согласие (agreement)
• мир (peace)

Related Phrases:

• столкновение интересов - Clash of interests (used in discussions of opposing goals or priorities).
• конфликт поколений - Generational clash (refers to disagreements between different age groups).
• ссора из-за пустяка - Clash over a trifle (a minor personal argument).

Usage Notes:

• "столкновение" is versatile and can refer to both physical and abstract clashes. It’s the most neutral and widely applicable term for "clash."
• "конфликт" is often used in more serious or formal contexts, such as political or workplace disputes.
• "ссора" is strictly personal and informal, best used for arguments between friends or family.
• Choose the translation based on the context: physical (столкновение), formal conflict (конфликт), or personal quarrel (ссора).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "ссора" for formal or non-personal conflicts. Incorrect: "На работе была ссора между отделами." Correct: "На работе был конфликт между отделами." (A clash between departments at work should use "конфликт").
• Error: Misusing "столкновение" for personal arguments without a physical or metaphorical "collision" sense. Incorrect: "У нас было столкновение с другом." Correct: "У нас была ссора с другом." (A personal clash with a friend should use "ссора").

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, personal clashes ("ссора") are often seen as emotional and temporary, and reconciliation is valued. The term "конфликт" may carry a heavier connotation, often implying a deeper or more structural issue, especially in professional or societal contexts.

Related Concepts:

• разногласие (disagreement)
• противостояние (confrontation)
• борьба (struggle)