Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'dread'

English Word: dread

Key Russian Translations:

• Страх [ˈstrax] - [Noun, Formal/Informal]
• Бояться [bɐˈjaʦə] - [Verb, Informal, Used in everyday expressions of fear]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature, conversations, and media, but not as frequent as basic words like "страх" for general fear).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of noun/verb inflections and contextual usage. For "Бояться" as a verb, it might be B2 due to irregular reflexive forms.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Страх: [ˈstrax]

Note on Страх: The final 'х' is a voiceless velar fricative, similar to the 'ch' in Scottish "loch." Stress is on the first syllable.

Audio: []

Бояться: [bɐˈjaʦə]

Note on Бояться: This is a reflexive verb; the 'я' in the second syllable is pronounced as a soft 'ya' sound. Stress falls on the second syllable, and it often conjugates with particles like "ся" for reflexivity.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

As a noun: Great fear or apprehension, often intense and anticipatory.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Страх - Used in both formal contexts (e.g., psychological discussions) and informal everyday speech to describe deep-seated fear, such as fear of the unknown.

Usage Examples:

• Его страх перед будущим заставляет его избегать рискованных решений.

  His dread of the future makes him avoid risky decisions.

• Страх войны пронизывает всю историю этой страны.

  The dread of war permeates the entire history of this country.

• В детстве мой страх темноты был невыносимым.

  In childhood, my dread of the dark was unbearable.

• Страх потери близких – это вечная тема в русской литературе.

  Dread of losing loved ones is a perennial theme in Russian literature.

As a verb: To fear something greatly, often with anticipation of something unpleasant.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Бояться - Commonly used in informal contexts for personal fears, such as everyday anxieties; it's reflexive and pairs well with objects (e.g., бояться чего-то).

Usage Examples:

• Я боюсь летать на самолёте из-за турбулентности.

  I dread flying on a plane because of turbulence.

• Она боится одиночества, поэтому всегда окружена друзьями.

  She dreads loneliness, so she's always surrounded by friends.

• Дети боятся темноты, но со временем это проходит.

  Children dread the dark, but it fades over time.

• Мы боимся перемен, потому что они несут неопределённость.

  We dread changes because they bring uncertainty.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "Страх" (noun, masculine, 3rd declension): This is a regular masculine noun with standard inflections. It does not change in the nominative singular but follows typical patterns for other cases and numbers.

For "Бояться" (verb, imperfective, reflexive): This is an irregular reflexive verb that conjugates based on person, tense, and aspect. It uses the particle "ся" and has imperfective forms. Example conjugations in present tense:

Note: In past tense, it becomes "боялся/боялась" for masculine/feminine singular.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: Ужас (more intense, sudden fear), Паника (panic, often collective)
• Antonyms: Смелость (bravery, directly opposite to fear)

Related Phrases:

• Страх смерти - A common phrase meaning "fear of death," often used in philosophical or literary contexts to discuss existential dread.
• Бояться за кого-то - Means "to dread for someone," as in worrying about another's safety, commonly in familial or emotional scenarios.
• Без страха и упрёка - An idiomatic phrase meaning "without fear or reproach," used to describe heroic actions with a cultural connotation of ideal behavior.

Usage Notes:

"Dread" as "Страх" corresponds closely to intense, ongoing fear in Russian, but it's more formal than everyday words like "боязнь." For the verb form, "Бояться" is ideal for informal contexts, while "опасаться" might be a more precise synonym in formal settings. Be cautious with gender agreements in sentences; for example, adjectives and verbs must align with the subject. When choosing between translations, use "Страх" for nouns and "Бояться" for actions to maintain natural flow in Russian speech.

Common Errors:

• English learners often misuse "Страх" by treating it as unchangeable, forgetting inflections—e.g., incorrectly saying "Я имею страх" instead of "У меня страх." Correct: Use genitive in such constructions for possession.
• With "Бояться," a common mistake is omitting the reflexive particle, saying "Бою" instead of "Боюсь," which is grammatically incorrect. Example of error: "Я бою высоту" (wrong); Correct: "Я боюсь высоты" (I dread heights), as it requires the full reflexive form.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "страх" often carries deep literary and historical connotations, as seen in works by Dostoevsky, where dread is linked to existential and moral dilemmas. This reflects Russia's philosophical traditions, emphasizing internal fears over external threats, which can help English speakers appreciate the emotional depth in Russian art and daily life.

Related Concepts:

• Тревога (anxiety, a related but less intense form of fear)
• Паника (panic, escalation of dread in group settings)
• Фобия (phobia, a pathological level of dread)