Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'doom'

English Word: doom

Key Russian Translations:

• гибель [ɡʲɪˈbʲelʲ] - [Formal, often used in literary or serious contexts]
• рок [rok] - [Informal, Literary, implying fate or inevitable destiny]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literature, news, and discussions about fate or catastrophe, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of abstract concepts and noun inflections for 'гибель', while 'рок' may vary based on context)

Pronunciation (Russian):

гибель: [ɡʲɪˈbʲelʲ]

Note on гибель: The stress is on the second syllable; the soft sign (ь) affects the pronunciation, making it softer and more palatalized. Be cautious with the initial 'г' sound, which is voiced.

рок: [rok]

Note on рок: A simple, one-syllable word with a hard 'р' sound; it's straightforward but can vary in emphasis in poetic contexts.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Inevitable destruction or fate

Translation(s) & Context:

• гибель - Used in formal or dramatic contexts to describe total destruction or doom, such as in historical or apocalyptic scenarios.
• рок - Applied in literary or philosophical contexts to mean an inescapable fate or doom, often with a sense of predestination.

Usage Examples:

• Война принесла гибель тысячам людей. (The war brought doom to thousands of people.)

  English Translation: The war brought doom to thousands of people.

• Его рок был предопределен с рождения. (His doom was predetermined from birth.)

  English Translation: His doom was predetermined from birth.

• Город ожидал неизбежной гибели от наводнения. (The city awaited inevitable doom from the flood.)

  English Translation: The city awaited inevitable doom from the flood.

• Рок судьбы неумолим, как древнее пророчество. (The doom of fate is inexorable, like an ancient prophecy.)

  English Translation: The doom of fate is inexorable, like an ancient prophecy.

• Подвергнуться гибели в битве — это трагедия героев. (To face doom in battle is a tragedy of heroes.)

  English Translation: To face doom in battle is a tragedy of heroes.

Secondary Meaning: A sense of impending misfortune

Translation(s) & Context:

• рок - In everyday or emotional contexts, referring to a looming sense of doom or bad luck.

Usage Examples:

• Её предчувствие рока оказалось правдой. (Her sense of doom turned out to be true.)

  English Translation: Her sense of doom turned out to be true.

• Рок навис над семьей после потери работы. (Doom loomed over the family after the job loss.)

  English Translation: Doom loomed over the family after the job loss.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'гибель' (a feminine noun, 3rd declension):

For 'рок' (an indeclinable masculine noun):

This word does not change in most cases and remains 'рок' in singular and plural forms, making it invariant. It is often used in fixed expressions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • судьба (sudba) - More neutral, meaning fate, but can imply doom in certain contexts.
  • катастрофа (katastrofa) - Emphasizes disaster, with a slight difference in scale from 'гибель'.
  • погибель (pogibel') - Similar to 'гибель', but slightly more poetic or archaic.
• Antonyms:
  • спасение (spasenie) - Salvation or rescue.
  • удача (udacha) - Luck or fortune.

Related Phrases:

• Гибель цивилизации (Gibel' tsivilizatsii) - Refers to the doom of civilization; used in discussions about environmental or historical collapse.
• Рок судьбы (Rok sudby) - The doom of fate; a common phrase in literature to describe inevitable outcomes.
• Неизбежная гибель (Neizbezhnaya gibel') - Inevitable doom; often in contexts of tragedy or prophecy, with a formal tone.

Usage Notes:

• 'Гибель' directly corresponds to 'doom' in the sense of destruction and is preferred in formal writing or news, while 'рок' aligns more with 'doom' as fate and is common in artistic or philosophical contexts.
• Be mindful of context: 'Рок' can sound overly dramatic in casual speech, so it's best for literary use.
• Grammar note: As a noun, 'гибель' requires correct case agreement, e.g., in prepositional phrases like "о гибели" (about the doom).
• When choosing between translations, opt for 'гибель' for physical destruction and 'рок' for metaphysical or fated doom.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'гибель' interchangeably with 'смерть' (death), assuming they mean the same. Correct: 'Гибель' implies broader doom, not just individual death. Example: Incorrect: "Его гибель" for a simple death; Correct: "Его гибель в катастрофе" for doom in a disaster.
• Error: Forgetting to inflect 'гибель' in sentences, e.g., saying "в гибель" instead of "в гибели". Correct: Use the proper genitive form for prepositions like "в". Explanation: Russian requires case changes, which English learners often overlook.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'рок' often carry echoes of literary traditions, such as in the works of Pushkin or Dostoevsky, where fate and doom are central themes. This reflects a broader Slavic worldview emphasizing destiny and the inescapability of life's tragedies, influencing modern media and folklore.

Related Concepts:

• судьба (sudba)
• катастрофа (katastrofa)
• апокалипсис (apokalipsis)