Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'divine'

English Word: divine

Key Russian Translations:

• божественный [bɐˈʐɛstvʲɪnɨj] - [Formal, Adjective form]
• предсказывать [prʲɪd.skɐˈzɨ.vɐtʲ] - [Informal, Verb form, Used in contexts of prophecy or prediction]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literary, religious, and philosophical texts, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "божественный"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "предсказывать", as it involves verb conjugations and contextual nuances

Pronunciation (Russian):

божественный: [bɐˈʐɛstvʲɪnɨj]

предсказывать: [prʲɪd.skɐˈzɨ.vɐtʲ]

Note on божественный: The stress falls on the third syllable; be cautious with the soft 'т' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers due to its palatalization.

Note on предсказывать: This is a verb with a strong emphasis on the infinitive ending; variations in speed may alter vowel clarity.

Audio: []

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: As an adjective referring to something godly, sacred, or heavenly

Translation(s) & Context:

• божественный - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe divine qualities, such as in religious texts or art criticism.

Usage Examples:

• Божественный свет озаряет собор в полночь.

  The divine light illuminates the cathedral at midnight.

• Её божественный голос заворожил аудиторию.

  Her divine voice captivated the audience.

• Божественный вкус десерта был непревзойденным.

  The divine taste of the dessert was unparalleled.

• В божественной гармонии природы ощущается вечность.

  In the divine harmony of nature, one feels eternity.

Meaning 2: As a verb meaning to predict or prophesy

Translation(s) & Context:

• предсказывать - Commonly used in informal or narrative contexts, such as storytelling or discussions about future events.

Usage Examples:

• Он предсказывает, что погода будет солнечной завтра.

  He predicts that the weather will be sunny tomorrow.

• Пророк предсказывал события, которые произошли спустя годы.

  The prophet foretold events that occurred years later.

• Астролог предсказывает финансовый успех для этого знака зодиака.

  The astrologer predicts financial success for this zodiac sign.

• Она предсказывает изменения в политике на основе текущих тенденций.

  She predicts changes in politics based on current trends.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "божественный" (adjective):

This is a standard Russian adjective that follows the first declension pattern. It changes based on gender, number, and case. Below is a table of its inflections:

For "предсказывать" (verb):

This is a first-conjugation verb with regular inflections. It changes based on tense, aspect, and person. Example in present tense:

Note: The verb is imperfective; for perfective, use "предсказать".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • богатый (wealthy or abundant, with a connotation of grandeur)
  • небесный (heavenly, often used interchangeably in religious contexts)
  • пророческий (prophetic, for verb forms)
• Antonyms:
  • земной (earthly, implying the opposite of divine)
  • обыденный (mundane, for everyday as opposed to prophetic)

Related Phrases:

• Божественная комедия - Refers to a famous literary work, often meaning "Divine Comedy" in the context of Dante's epic.
• Предсказывать будущее - A common phrase meaning "to predict the future," used in fortune-telling or planning scenarios.
• Божественный промысел - Means "divine providence," implying fate or higher intervention in events.

Usage Notes:

"Божественный" directly corresponds to the adjective form of "divine" in English, ideal for formal or poetic language, but avoid it in casual speech to prevent sounding overly dramatic. "Предсказывать" aligns with the verb form, emphasizing ongoing prediction rather than a one-time event—use the perfective "предсказать" for completed actions. In Russian, adjectives like "божественный" must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, which is a key grammatical difference from English. When choosing between translations, opt for "божественный" in religious or artistic contexts and "предсказывать" for prophetic ones.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "божественный" without proper case agreement, e.g., saying "божественный женщина" instead of "божественная женщина". Correct: Ensure the adjective matches the noun's gender and case. Explanation: Russian requires full agreement, unlike English, which can lead to confusion for beginners.

• Error: Conjugating "предсказывать" incorrectly in the present tense, e.g., saying "предсказываю" as "предсказывай" for first person. Correct: Use "предсказываю" for "I predict." Explanation: Verb endings are crucial; mixing them up can alter the subject or tense, making the sentence grammatically incorrect.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "божественный" often carry deep Orthodox Christian connotations, reflecting Russia's historical ties to Eastern Christianity. For instance, it's frequently used in literature and art to evoke a sense of the sublime, as seen in works by Pushkin or in descriptions of icons, highlighting the intersection of spirituality and national identity.

Related Concepts:

• святой (holy)
• пророк (prophet)
• небеса (heavens)