Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'deity'

English Word: deity

Key Russian Translations:

• божество [boʐɨˈstvo] - [Neutral, Formal/Informal]
• бог [bok] - [Common, Often refers to a specific god, Informal/Formal]

Frequency: Medium (used in religious, mythological, and literary contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "бог"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "божество" due to less frequent usage

Pronunciation (Russian):

божество: [boʐɨˈstvo]

Note on божество: Stress falls on the second syllable; the "ж" sound is a voiced fricative, similar to the 's' in 'measure'.

бог: [bok]

Note on бог: A short, simple word with stress on the single syllable; the 'o' is pronounced as a clear 'o' in most contexts.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A divine being or god (general concept)

Translation(s) & Context:

• божество - Used for the abstract concept of a deity or divine entity, often in mythology or philosophy.
• бог - Commonly refers to a specific god or God (in monotheistic contexts), more personal and direct.

Usage Examples:

• Древние греки поклонялись многим божествам.

  The ancient Greeks worshipped many deities.

• Божество гор было почитаемо в этой культуре.

  The deity of the mountains was revered in this culture.

• Он верит в одного Бога.

  He believes in one God.

• Бог войны в их мифологии был очень жестоким.

  The god of war in their mythology was very cruel.

• В этой религии нет понятия божества как личности.

  In this religion, there is no concept of a deity as a person.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

божество (neuter noun): Regular declension for neuter nouns.

бог (masculine noun): Regular declension for masculine nouns ending in a consonant.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "божество":

• дух (spirit, in some contexts)
• идол (idol, in specific cultural contexts)

Note: "дух" is more abstract and can refer to spirits, while "идол" often implies a physical representation of a deity.

Synonyms for "бог":

• творец (creator, often in religious contexts)

Antonyms:

• дьявол (devil, as an opposing force)
• демон (demon, in mythological contexts)

Related Phrases:

• поклоняться божеству - to worship a deity
• бог на небе - God in heaven (common expression)
• бог войны - god of war (used in mythology)

Usage Notes:

• "божество" is more abstract and formal, often used in discussions of mythology or philosophy, while "бог" is more common and can refer to a specific god or the monotheistic God.
• In religious contexts, "Бог" (capitalized) specifically refers to the Christian God.
• Be mindful of cultural sensitivity when using "бог" in casual conversation, as it may carry strong personal or religious connotations.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "божество" when referring to the Christian God. Incorrect: Я верю в божество. Correct: Я верю в Бога.
• Error: Confusing grammatical cases, e.g., using nominative "бог" instead of genitive "бога" after prepositions like "без" (without). Incorrect: Без бог. Correct: Без бога.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of "бог" is deeply tied to Orthodox Christianity, and the word is often used with reverence. Meanwhile, "божество" might evoke pre-Christian Slavic mythology or foreign pantheons, such as Greek or Roman gods. Expressions like "Слава Богу" (Thank God) are common in everyday speech, even among non-religious speakers.

Related Concepts:

• религия (religion)
• мифология (mythology)
• душа (soul)