Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'divinity'

English Word: divinity

Key Russian Translations:

• божественность (/bɐˈʐɛstvʲɪnnəsʲtʲ/) - [Formal, used in philosophical or religious contexts]
• божество (/bɐˈʐɛstvə/) - [Formal, often referring to a divine being or godhood]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in religious, philosophical, or literary texts, but not in everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of abstract concepts and noun inflections, with variations in nuance between translations)

Pronunciation (Russian):

божественность: /bɐˈʐɛstvʲɪnnəsʲtʲ/ (Stress on the third syllable; the 'ж' is a voiced palatal fricative, similar to the 's' in 'measure')

божество: /bɐˈʐɛstvə/ (Stress on the third syllable; note the soft ending, which affects vowel pronunciation)

Note on божественность: This word can have slight regional variations in stress in spoken Russian, particularly in faster speech; be cautious with the palatalized consonants.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The state or quality of being divine, often in a religious or spiritual sense

Translation(s) & Context:

• божественность - Used in formal discussions of theology or metaphysics, emphasizing inherent divinity.
• божество - Applied in contexts involving gods or divine entities, such as in mythology.

Usage Examples:

• В христианстве божественность Иисуса Христа является фундаментальным догматом.

  In Christianity, the divinity of Jesus Christ is a fundamental doctrine.

• Философы часто размышляют о божественности природы, видя в ней отражение высших сил.

  Philosophers often contemplate the divinity of nature, seeing in it a reflection of higher powers.

• Божество древних богов, как Зевс, вдохновляло мифы и легенды.

  The divinity of ancient gods, like Zeus, inspired myths and legends.

• В русской литературе божественность часто противопоставляется человеческой слабости.

  In Russian literature, divinity is often contrasted with human weakness.

• Изучение божественности помогает понять культурные различия в мировых религиях.

  Studying divinity helps understand cultural differences in world religions.

A field of study, such as theology or divinity school

Translation(s) & Context:

• божественность - Less common for this meaning; prefer богословие in academic contexts.
• богословие - Used specifically for the study of divine matters.

Usage Examples:

• Студент выбрал специализацию в богословии, чтобы глубже изучить божественность.

  The student chose a specialization in theology to study divinity more deeply.

• В университете лекции по божественности сочетают историю и философию.

  At the university, lectures on divinity combine history and philosophy.

• Богословие как дисциплина исследует аспекты божественности в различных традициях.

  Theology as a discipline examines aspects of divinity in various traditions.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are nouns. "Божественность" is a feminine noun (from the root "божественный"), and it follows standard first-declension patterns. "Божество" is a neuter noun and also inflects regularly.

Note: These words do not have irregular inflections, making them straightforward for learners at B2 level.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • божество (similar to 'divinity' as a divine entity, but more concrete)
  • святость (/svʲɪˈatosʲtʲ/) (emphasizes holiness, often used in religious contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • человечность (/t͡ɕɪlɐˈvʲet͡ɕɪnskəsʲtʲ/) (humanity, contrasting with divine nature)
  • земность (/zʲɛmnəsʲtʲ/) (earthliness, implying mortality)

Related Phrases:

• Божественная природа - Refers to the divine essence or nature of something.
• Потеря божественности - Means the loss of divinity, often in a metaphorical sense.
• В поисках божества - Implies a quest for divine connection or godhood.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "божественность" directly corresponds to the abstract quality of divinity, while "божество" is better for personified or entity-based meanings. Use "божественность" in formal essays or religious discussions, but avoid it in casual speech where it might sound overly academic. When translating from English, consider the context: if "divinity" refers to a school or study, opt for "богословие" instead. Grammatically, always inflect according to case, as Russian requires agreement with other elements in the sentence.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "божественность" with "божество": Learners often use "божественность" when "божество" is more appropriate for divine beings, e.g., Incorrect: "Божественность Зевса" (should be "Божество Зевса"). Correct: "Божество Зевса" to specify the god itself.

• Forgetting inflections: A common mistake is using the nominative form in all cases, e.g., Incorrect: "О божественность" (should be "О божественности" in prepositional case). Explanation: Russian nouns must change endings based on grammatical role to maintain sentence structure.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts of divinity are heavily influenced by Orthodox Christianity, where "божественность" often relates to the divine nature of Christ or saints. This reflects a historical emphasis on spirituality in Russian literature and art, such as in Dostoevsky's works, where divinity symbolizes moral and existential struggles.

Related Concepts:

• духовность
• священность
• богословие