Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Despair'

English Word: Despair

Key Russian Translations:

• отчаяние [ɐtˈt͡ɕajənʲɪjə] - [Neutral, Common]
• безнадёжность [bʲɪznɐˈdʲoʐnəsʲtʲ] - [Formal, Abstract]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "отчаяние"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "безнадёжность"

Pronunciation (Russian):

отчаяние: [ɐtˈt͡ɕajənʲɪjə]

Note on отчаяние: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "ч" sound is a soft affricate, similar to 'ch' in "church."

безнадёжность: [bʲɪznɐˈdʲoʐnəsʲtʲ]

Note on безнадёжность: Stress on the third syllable. The "ё" is always stressed and pronounced as 'yo'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A feeling of complete loss of hope

Translation(s) & Context:

• отчаяние - Commonly used to express a personal, emotional state of despair or hopelessness.
• безнадёжность - More abstract, often used in formal or philosophical contexts to describe a situation or condition of hopelessness.

Usage Examples:

• Он впал в отчаяние после потери работы.

  He fell into despair after losing his job.

• Её голос был полон отчаяния, когда она говорила о будущем.

  Her voice was full of despair as she spoke about the future.

• Безнадёжность ситуации заставила всех опустить руки.

  The hopelessness of the situation made everyone give up.

• В его словах сквозила безнадёжность, когда он описывал кризис.

  There was a sense of hopelessness in his words as he described the crisis.

• Отчаяние охватило её, когда она поняла, что помощи не будет.

  Despair overwhelmed her when she realized no help was coming.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

отчаяние (noun, neuter): Regular declension following the second declension pattern for neuter nouns.

безнадёжность (noun, feminine): Regular declension following the first declension pattern for feminine nouns ending in -ость.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for отчаяние:

• уныние (more melancholic, less intense)
• безысходность (closer to a dead-end feeling)

Synonyms for безнадёжность:

• безысходность (similar, often interchangeable)

Antonyms:

• надежда (hope)
• оптимизм (optimism)

Related Phrases:

• впасть в отчаяние - to fall into despair (used for sudden emotional states)
• крик отчаяния - a cry of despair (dramatic expression of hopelessness)
• полная безнадёжность - complete hopelessness (used for describing dire situations)

Usage Notes:

• "отчаяние" is the more common and versatile term, suitable for personal emotions and everyday contexts. It directly corresponds to "despair" in most cases.
• "безнадёжность" is more formal and often used to describe situations or abstract concepts rather than personal feelings. It aligns closely with "hopelessness."
• Be mindful of the context when choosing between the two; using "безнадёжность" to describe personal emotions might sound overly formal or detached.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "безнадёжность" for personal despair. Incorrect: "Я чувствую безнадёжность." (I feel hopelessness.)
  Correct: "Я чувствую отчаяние." (I feel despair.)
  Explanation: "безнадёжность" is better suited for describing situations, not personal emotions.
• Error: Misplacing stress in "отчаяние" as [ɐtʃɐˈjanʲɪjə].
  Correct: [ɐtˈt͡ɕajənʲɪjə].
  Explanation: Stress on the second syllable is crucial for correct pronunciation.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressions of "отчаяние" (despair) are often linked to dramatic or intense emotional contexts, frequently appearing in literature and folklore as a reflection of existential struggles or harsh life conditions. It may carry a deeper, almost poetic connotation compared to English usage.

Related Concepts:

• уныние (melancholy)
• тоска (longing, anguish)
• безысходность (hopelessness, dead-end)