Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Depress'

English Word: depress

Key Russian Translations:

• угнетать [ʊɡnʲɪˈtatʲ] - [Formal, Often used for emotional or psychological states]
• подавлять [pədɐˈvlʲatʲ] - [Neutral, Can refer to emotions or actions]
• притеснять [prʲɪtʲɪsˈnʲatʲ] - [Formal, Often used in contexts of oppression]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in psychological and emotional contexts)

Difficulty: B1-B2 (Intermediate; varies slightly by translation)

Pronunciation (Russian):

угнетать: [ʊɡnʲɪˈtatʲ]

Note on угнетать: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "г" is pronounced softly due to the following "н".

подавлять: [pədɐˈvlʲatʲ]

Note on подавлять: Stress on the third syllable. The "л" is palatalized, sounding softer.

притеснять: [prʲɪtʲɪsˈnʲatʲ]

Note on притеснять: Stress on the third syllable. Pay attention to the soft "т" and "н".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To cause sadness or low spirits (Emotional)

Translation(s) & Context:

• угнетать - Used to describe a deep emotional burden or gloom, often in personal contexts.
• подавлять - Refers to suppressing emotions or causing a general feeling of sadness.

Usage Examples:

• Эта новость меня сильно угнетает.

  This news depresses me a lot.

• Его слова подавляют моё настроение.

  His words depress my mood.

• Мрачные мысли угнетают её каждый день.

  Dark thoughts depress her every day.

2. To suppress or oppress (Physical or Abstract)

Translation(s) & Context:

• подавлять - Often used for suppressing actions, ideas, or resistance.
• притеснять - Refers to oppressing or discriminating against someone, often in a social context.

Usage Examples:

• Власти подавляют любые протесты.

  The authorities depress (suppress) any protests.

• Они притесняют меньшинства в этом регионе.

  They depress (oppress) minorities in this region.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

угнетать (Verb, Imperfective Aspect):

Note: Perfective form is "угнести" (rarely used).

подавлять and притеснять follow similar imperfective verb conjugation patterns. Perfective forms are "подавить" and "притеснить", respectively.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for угнетать/подавлять:

• давить
• гнести
• утеснять (for притеснять)

Note: "давить" often implies a physical or immediate pressure, while "гнести" is more archaic and emotional.

Antonyms:

• ободрять (to encourage)
• вдохновлять (to inspire)

Related Phrases:

• угнетать душу - "to depress the soul" (to weigh heavily on someone emotionally)
• подавлять волю - "to depress/suppress the will" (to break someone’s spirit or determination)
• притеснять права - "to depress/oppress rights" (to infringe on someone’s rights)

Usage Notes:

• "угнетать" is more commonly used for emotional or psychological depression, while "подавлять" can apply to both emotions and actions (e.g., suppressing a revolt).
• "притеснять" is more specific to social oppression or discrimination and is less common in casual speech.
• Be mindful of aspect: All three verbs are imperfective, implying an ongoing action. Use perfective forms (e.g., "подавить") for completed actions.

Common Errors:

Error 1: Using "угнетать" for physical suppression instead of emotional contexts.

Incorrect: Его угнетают в спортзале. (Intended: He is being physically suppressed at the gym.)

Correct: Его подавляют в спортзале. (He is being suppressed at the gym.)

Explanation: "угнетать" is rarely used for physical contexts; "подавлять" or "давить" are better choices.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressing emotional states like depression often carries a heavier, more dramatic tone compared to English. Using "угнетать" might imply a deeper, more profound sadness or burden, often tied to historical or social contexts of hardship.

Related Concepts:

• тоска (melancholy)
• грусть (sadness)
• давление (pressure)