Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Desolation'

English Word: desolation

Key Russian Translations:

• запустение [zəpʊsˈtʲenʲɪjə] - [Neutral, Often used for physical or emotional desolation]
• опустошение [ɐpʊstɐˈʂenʲɪjə] - [Neutral to Formal, Emphasizes devastation or emotional emptiness]
• безлюдность [bʲɪzˈlʲudnəsʲtʲ] - [Neutral, Refers to uninhabited or deserted places]

Frequency: Medium (used in literature and formal contexts more often than in everyday speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for "запустение" and "безлюдность"; C1 (Advanced) for "опустошение" due to nuanced emotional usage

Pronunciation (Russian):

запустение: [zəpʊsˈtʲenʲɪjə]

Note on запустение: Stress falls on the third syllable. The "е" is pronounced as a soft "ye" sound.

опустошение: [ɐpʊstɐˈʂenʲɪjə]

Note on опустошение: Stress on the fourth syllable. The "ш" is a retroflex sound, distinct from English "sh".

безлюдность: [bʲɪzˈlʲudnəsʲtʲ]

Note on безлюдность: Stress on the second syllable. The "л" is palatalized (soft).

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Physical Desolation (Abandonment or Deserted State)

Translation(s) & Context:

• запустение - Used for abandoned places or neglected areas, often with a sense of decay.
• безлюдность - Refers to a lack of people, emphasizing emptiness of a location.

Usage Examples:

• Деревня пришла в запустение после войны.

  The village fell into desolation after the war.

• Безлюдность этих мест пугает туристов.

  The desolation of these places scares tourists.

• Старый дом стоял в запустении многие годы.

  The old house stood in desolation for many years.

2. Emotional Desolation (Feeling of Emptiness or Devastation)

Translation(s) & Context:

• опустошение - Used for emotional or spiritual emptiness, often after a loss or trauma.

Usage Examples:

• После его ухода я чувствовал полное опустошение.

  After he left, I felt complete desolation.

• Опустошение в душе не давало мне покоя.

  The desolation in my soul gave me no peace.

• Эта новость принесла нам только опустошение.

  This news brought us nothing but desolation.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

запустение (neuter noun): Regular declension in singular and plural.

опустошение (neuter noun): Follows similar regular declension patterns as above.

безлюдность (feminine noun): Regular feminine declension with soft stem.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for запустение:

• заброшенность (abandonment, neglect)
• упадок (decline, decay)

Synonyms for опустошение:

• пустота (emptiness)
• разорение (ruin, devastation)

Antonyms:

• оживление (revival, animation)
• процветание (prosperity)

Related Phrases:

• прийти в запустение - to fall into desolation (used for places or things becoming neglected)
• чувство опустошения - a feeling of desolation (emotional emptiness)
• безлюдность местности - desolation of an area (lack of people in a location)

Usage Notes:

• "запустение" is most commonly used for physical abandonment or neglect, such as of buildings or areas, but can also imply a metaphorical sense of decay.
• "опустошение" carries a stronger emotional connotation and is often used in contexts of grief, loss, or devastation.
• "безлюдность" strictly refers to the absence of people and is less common in emotional contexts.
• When choosing between translations, consider whether the desolation is physical (use "запустение" or "безлюдность") or emotional (use "опустошение").

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "опустошение" for physical desolation.
  Incorrect: Этот город в опустошении. (This city is in desolation.)
  Correct: Этот город в запустении. (This city is in desolation.)
  Explanation: "опустошение" implies emotional or catastrophic devastation, not mere abandonment.
• Error: Misusing "безлюдность" for emotional states.
  Incorrect: Я чувствую безлюдность. (I feel desolation.)
  Correct: Я чувствую опустошение. (I feel desolation.)
  Explanation: "безлюдность" refers to a lack of people in a place, not a personal feeling.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of "запустение" often evokes images of abandoned villages or decaying infrastructure, a theme tied to historical events like wars or the Soviet collapse. "опустошение" may carry deeper emotional weight, often associated with personal or collective trauma in literature and poetry.

Related Concepts:

• одиночество (loneliness)
• тоска (melancholy, yearning)
• разрушение (destruction)