Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'detente'

English Word: detente

Key Russian Translations:

• разрядка /rɐˈzrajdkə/ - [Formal, used in diplomatic or political contexts]
• снижение напряженности /snʲɪˈʐenʲjə nɐˈprʲeʐənnəstʲi/ - [Formal, more descriptive and less concise, often in analytical discussions]

Frequency: Medium (Common in political and historical discussions, but not in everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of geopolitical contexts, with "разрядка" being straightforward for learners at this level, while "снижение напряженности" may vary slightly in complexity)

Pronunciation (Russian):

разрядка: /rɐˈzrajdkə/

снижение напряженности: /snʲɪˈʐenʲjə nɐˈprʲeʐənnəstʲi/

Note on разрядка: The stress falls on the second syllable; be careful with the rolled 'r' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers. Variations may occur in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Political easing of tensions

Translation(s) & Context:

• разрядка - Used in formal diplomatic contexts to describe the relaxation of strained relations, such as during the Cold War.
• снижение напряженности - Applied in broader analytical or journalistic contexts for a more explicit description of tension reduction.

Usage Examples:

• Во время холодной войны разрядка между США и СССР помогла избежать ядерной катастрофы.

  During the Cold War, detente between the USA and the USSR helped avoid a nuclear catastrophe.

• Политики обсуждают возможное снижение напряженности в отношениях между двумя странами.

  Politicians are discussing the possible detente in relations between the two countries.

• Разрядка в международных отношениях часто требует дипломатических переговоров.

  Detente in international relations often requires diplomatic negotiations.

• Снижение напряженности в регионе стало результатом совместных усилий мировых лидеров.

  The detente in the region resulted from the joint efforts of world leaders.

• Историки анализируют, как разрядка 1970-х годов повлияла на глобальную политику.

  Historians analyze how the detente of the 1970s influenced global politics.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are nouns. "Разрядка" is a feminine noun in the first declension, which follows regular patterns in Russian. "Снижение напряженности" is a phrase where "снижение" is a neuter noun and "напряженности" is a feminine genitive noun.

For "разрядка" (feminine, singular):

"Снижение напряженности" does not inflect as a single unit but follows standard rules for its components. It remains relatively unchanged in most contexts due to its phrasal nature.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • улучшение отношений (uluchshenie otnosheniy) - More general, implies improvement without specifying tension reduction.
  • нормализация (normalizatsiya) - Focuses on returning to normalcy, often in post-conflict scenarios.
• Antonyms:
  • эскалация (eskalatsiya) - Refers to the intensification of conflicts.
  • обострение (obostrenie) - Indicates a sharpening or worsening of tensions.

Related Phrases:

• холодная война разрядка (kholodnaya voyna razryadka) - Refers to the detente during the Cold War; used in historical analyses.
• снижение международной напряженности (snizhenie mezhdunarodnoy napryazhennosti) - A phrase for broader international detente efforts; implies global peace initiatives.
• договор о разрядке (dogovor o razryadke) - Meaning a treaty aimed at easing tensions, common in diplomatic language.

Usage Notes:

"Разрядка" directly corresponds to "detente" in English, especially in Cold War contexts, and is preferred in formal writing. "Снижение напряженности" is more verbose and used when a detailed explanation is needed. Both are formal; avoid in casual conversation. When choosing between translations, opt for "разрядка" for brevity in political discussions. Grammatically, ensure proper case agreement, as Russian nouns inflect based on sentence structure.

Common Errors:

• English learners often misuse "разрядка" by treating it as invariable, leading to errors like saying "разрядка война" instead of the correct "разрядка в войне" (detente in the war). Correct usage: Ensure genitive case for contexts involving possession or relation, e.g., "разрядка между странами" (detente between countries).

• Confusing it with "разряд" (razryad, meaning discharge or category), which is unrelated. For example, a learner might write "электрическая разрядка" thinking it means electrical detente, but that's incorrect; use "разрядка" only for tension relief.

Cultural Notes:

"Разрядка" is deeply tied to Cold War history, particularly the 1970s era of U.S.-Soviet relations under leaders like Nixon and Brezhnev. It symbolizes a period of cautious cooperation amidst ideological rivalry, reflecting Russia's emphasis on diplomacy in international affairs. Understanding this context enriches its use beyond mere translation.

Related Concepts:

• перестройка (perestroika)
• гласность (glasnost)
• дипломатия (diplomatia)