Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'entreaty'

English Word: entreaty

Key Russian Translations:

• просьба [prɐˈsbə] - [Formal, Singular]
• мольба [ˈmolʲbə] - [Informal, Emotional, Singular]
• умоляние [ʊmɐˈlʲanʲije] - [Formal, Intense, Singular]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday conversations, literature, and formal requests, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary like "hello").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun cases and emotional nuances, suitable for learners with basic grammar knowledge. For 'просьба', it's B1; for 'мольба', it may lean towards B2 due to its expressive connotations.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

просьба: [prɐˈsbə] (The stress is on the second syllable; note the soft 'b' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalization.)

Note on просьба: Pay attention to the soft 's' in the stressed syllable; it might sound like a quick 'sh' blend. Common variation in fast speech omits the final vowel slightly.

мольба: [ˈmolʲbə] (Stress on the first syllable; the 'lʲ' is a palatalized 'l', similar to the 'l' in 'million' in English.)

Note on мольба: This word often carries a pleading tone; the palatalization can make it sound more emotive. In some dialects, the ending vowel is softened.

умоляние: [ʊmɐˈlʲanʲije] (Stress on the third syllable; note the multiple palatalized consonants.)

Note on умоляние: The word has a rhythmic flow; beginners might confuse the stress, leading to mispronunciation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A serious or earnest request or plea

Translation(s) & Context:

• просьба - Used in formal or polite contexts, such as making a request in professional settings or writing.
• мольба - Applied in emotional or desperate situations, like begging or personal appeals.

Usage Examples:

• Его просьба о помощи была отклонена начальством. (His entreaty for help was rejected by the management.)

  English: His request for help was rejected by the management. (This example shows 'просьба' in a formal, workplace context.)

• Мольба ребенка тронула сердце матери. (The child's entreaty touched the mother's heart.)

  English: The child's entreaty touched the mother's heart. (Here, 'мольба' illustrates an emotional, familial plea.)

• В письме он выразил умоляние о прощении. (In the letter, he expressed an entreaty for forgiveness.)

  English: In the letter, he expressed an entreaty for forgiveness. (This demonstrates 'умоляние' in a written, intense context.)

• Её просьба была простой, но искренней. (Her entreaty was simple but sincere.)

  English: Her entreaty was simple but sincere. (Shows 'просьба' in everyday, genuine interactions.)

• Мольба о мире эхом разнеслась по миру. (The entreaty for peace echoed around the world.)

  English: The entreaty for peace echoed around the world. (Emphasizes 'мольба' in a broader, humanitarian context.)

2. An act of begging or imploring

Translation(s) & Context:

• умоляние - Used when the request is more desperate or repeated.
• мольба - In contexts involving deep emotion, such as literature or drama.

Usage Examples:

• Умоляние друга не помогло изменить решение. (The entreaty of the friend did not help change the decision.)

  English: The entreaty of the friend did not help change the decision. (This highlights 'умоляние' in interpersonal persuasion.)

• Её мольба была полна слёз. (Her entreaty was full of tears.)

  English: Her entreaty was full of tears. (Shows 'мольба' with emotional intensity.)

• В фильме героиня выразила просьбу, которая переросла в умоляние. (In the film, the heroine expressed an entreaty that escalated into begging.)

  English: In the film, the heroine expressed an entreaty that escalated into begging. (Illustrates progression from 'просьба' to 'умоляние'.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily nouns, which in Russian undergo declension based on case, number, and gender. 'Просьба' and 'мольба' are feminine nouns, while 'умоляние' is neuter. They follow standard patterns but have irregularities in certain cases.

Note: These words do not change in plural forms as frequently in modern usage, but 'просьбы' can become 'просьб' in genitive plural for brevity. They are invariant in gender-specific contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • запрос (zapros) - More formal, often used in official requests; less emotional than 'мольба'.
  • призыв (prizyv) - Implies a call or appeal, suitable for public contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • отказ (otkaz) - Direct refusal, contrasting the pleading nature.
  • команда (komanda) - A command or order, opposite in tone and intent.

Related Phrases:

• По вашей просьбе (Po vashey prosʹbe) - At your request; used in customer service or formal responses.
• Мольба о помощи (Molʹba o pomoshchi) - Plea for help; common in emotional or emergency contexts.
• Умоляющее письмо (Umolyayushchee pisʹmo) - Begging letter; refers to written entreaties in literature or personal correspondence.

Usage Notes:

'Просьба' is the most neutral and common translation for 'entreaty' in everyday Russian, ideal for polite or professional scenarios, while 'мольба' adds emotional weight, making it suitable for dramatic or heartfelt situations. Choose based on context: use 'умоляние' for intense begging to convey desperation. Note that Russian nouns like these must agree in case with surrounding words, which can differ from English's fixed word order. For example, in sentences, they often follow prepositions that dictate case changes.

• Always consider the gender and case when integrating into sentences.
• In formal writing, 'просьба' pairs well with verbs like 'выразить' (to express).

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse case endings, such as saying 'по просьба' instead of the correct genitive 'по просьбе'. Error: 'Я ответил на просьба.' (Incorrect: missing dative case.) Correct: 'Я ответил на просьбу.' (With accusative case.) Explanation: Russian requires precise case agreement; always check the preposition's requirements to avoid this.

Another common mistake is overusing 'мольба' in non-emotional contexts, which can sound exaggerated. Error: 'Моя мольба о кофе' (for a simple coffee request). Correct: 'Моя просьба о кофе' – Use 'просьба' for mundane requests to maintain appropriateness.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, entreaties like 'мольба' are prevalent in literature (e.g., Dostoevsky's works) and Orthodox traditions, where pleas for divine intervention are common. This reflects a cultural emphasis on emotional expression and resilience, often seen in folk tales where characters make heartfelt appeals to overcome adversity.

Related Concepts:

• просить (prosítʹ) - To ask or request.
• молить (molítʹ) - To beg or implore.
• апелляция (apel-lyatsiya) - Appeal, in a legal or formal sense.