Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'destroy'

English Word: destroy

Key Russian Translations:

• уничтожить [ʊnʲɪˈtɕtoʐɨtʲ] - [Formal, Perfective]
• разрушить [rɐzˈruʂɨtʲ] - [Formal/Informal, Perfective, Often for physical structures]
• ломать [ˈlomətʲ] - [Informal, Imperfective, Often for breaking or damaging]

Frequency: High (commonly used in various contexts)

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

Pronunciation (Russian):

уничтожить: [ʊnʲɪˈtɕtoʐɨtʲ]

Note on уничтожить: Stress on the third syllable; the "щ" sound is a soft, hissing "shch".

разрушить: [rɐzˈruʂɨtʲ]

Note on разрушить: Stress on the second syllable; "ш" is a retroflex "sh".

ломать: [ˈlomətʲ]

Note on ломать: Stress on the first syllable; a straightforward pronunciation for learners.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To cause complete damage or ruin (physical or abstract)

Translation(s) & Context:

• уничтожить - Used for complete annihilation, often in formal or serious contexts (e.g., destroying evidence, enemies).
• разрушить - Often used for physical destruction of structures or abstract concepts (e.g., buildings, hopes).

Usage Examples:

• Они уничтожили все документы.

  They destroyed all the documents.

• Война разрушила город.

  The war destroyed the city.

• Его слова уничтожили мою уверенность.

  His words destroyed my confidence.

2. To break or damage something (less formal or severe)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ломать - Used for breaking or damaging objects, often in everyday informal speech.

Usage Examples:

• Не ломай игрушку!

  Don’t destroy the toy!

• Он ломает всё, что трогает.

  He destroys everything he touches.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

уничтожить (Perfective Verb): Regular conjugation in past, future, and imperative forms. No imperfective counterpart in common use for this exact meaning.

разрушить (Perfective Verb): Similar to уничтожить, used as a perfective verb with a focus on physical or metaphorical destruction.

ломать (Imperfective Verb): Regular imperfective verb, often paired with perfective "сломать".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for уничтожить/разрушить:

• истребить (to exterminate)
• сокрушить (to crush, often metaphorically)

Note: "истребить" is more intense and often used for living beings; "сокрушить" can imply emotional or moral destruction.

Antonyms for уничтожить/разрушить:

• создать (to create)
• построить (to build)

Related Phrases:

• уничтожить врага - To destroy the enemy (often in military or serious contexts).
• разрушить мечты - To destroy dreams (metaphorical use).
• ломать голову - To rack one’s brain (idiomatic, not literal destruction).

Usage Notes:

• "уничтожить" is generally more formal and implies total annihilation, often used in serious or official contexts.
• "разрушить" can apply to both physical and abstract destruction, making it versatile for structures or emotions.
• "ломать" is more colloquial and often used for smaller-scale or everyday damage; it’s less intense than the other two.
• Pay attention to aspect (perfective vs. imperfective): "уничтожить" and "разрушить" are perfective (completed action), while "ломать" is imperfective (ongoing or repeated action).

Common Errors:

1. Confusing aspects: English speakers often misuse imperfective "ломать" when a completed action is meant, where "сломать" (perfective) would be correct. Example: Saying "Я ломаю дверь" (ongoing breaking) instead of "Я сломал дверь" (I broke the door).

2. Overusing уничтожить: Learners may overuse "уничтожить" for minor damage, sounding overly dramatic. Use "ломать" or "сломать" for everyday contexts like breaking a toy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, the concept of destruction, especially in historical and wartime contexts, carries heavy emotional weight due to the country’s history of conflicts. Words like "уничтожить" are often associated with profound loss or annihilation in literature and media.

Related Concepts:

• разрушение (destruction, noun)
• уничтожение (annihilation, noun)
• повреждение (damage, noun)