Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'epic'

English Word: epic

Key Russian Translations:

• эпический /ɛˈpʲit͡s.kʲij/ - [Formal, Adjective]
• эпос /ˈɛ.pəs/ - [Formal, Noun]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literary and cultural discussions, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires familiarity with Russian adjectives and nouns, as per CEFR standards)

Pronunciation (Russian):

эпический: /ɛˈpʲit͡s.kʲij/

Note on эпический: The stress falls on the second syllable; be mindful of the palatalized 'п' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers. Pronounce it with a soft 'p' as in "peace."

эпос: /ˈɛ.pəs/

Note on эпос: The stress is on the first syllable; the 'о' is pronounced as a short 'o', similar to "pot" in English.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

As an adjective (grand, heroic, or impressive)

Translation(s) & Context:

• эпический - Used in formal literary, cinematic, or historical contexts to describe something monumental or larger-than-life, such as an epic film or battle.

Usage Examples:

• Этот фильм рассказывает об эпической истории древней Руси.

  This film tells an epic story of ancient Rus.

• Ее речь была эпической, полная вдохновения и силы.

  Her speech was epic, full of inspiration and power.

• В горах мы пережили эпическое приключение, полное опасностей.

  In the mountains, we experienced an epic adventure full of dangers.

• Эпическая поэзия России, как "Слово о полку Игореве", остается бессмертной.

  Russian epic poetry, like "The Tale of Igor's Campaign," remains immortal.

• Игра включает эпические сражения, которые захватывают дух.

  The game features epic battles that captivate the spirit.

As a noun (referring to an epic poem or saga)

Translation(s) & Context:

• эпос - Typically used in academic or cultural contexts to denote a long narrative poem or a grand story, often with historical or mythical elements.

Usage Examples:

• Русский эпос "Война и мир" Толстого считается шедевром мировой литературы.

  The Russian epic "War and Peace" by Tolstoy is considered a masterpiece of world literature.

• В фольклоре эпос часто передается устно от поколения к поколению.

  In folklore, epic is often passed down orally from generation to generation.

• Этот эпос описывает героические подвиги древних воинов.

  This epic describes the heroic deeds of ancient warriors.

• Современные эпосы в кино вдохновлены классическими сказаниями.

  Modern epics in film are inspired by classical tales.

• Эпос может включать элементы мифологии и реальной истории.

  An epic can include elements of mythology and real history.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For эпический (adjective): This is a first-declension adjective in Russian, which follows regular patterns for adjectives. It changes based on gender, number, and case.

For эпос (noun): This is a masculine noun of the second declension. It follows standard noun inflections but has no irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: грандиозный (grand, more emphatic on scale), героический (heroic, focusing on bravery)
• Antonyms: тривиальный (trivial, everyday and unremarkable), обыденный (mundane, lacking grandeur)

Related Phrases:

• эпический роман - Epic novel (A long, narrative story with grand themes, often used in literary discussions.)
• эпическая поэма - Epic poem (A lengthy poem recounting heroic events, common in Russian folklore.)
• эпический масштаб - Epic scale (Referring to something of vast proportions, like a historical event.)

Usage Notes:

Эпический as an adjective closely mirrors the English "epic" in meaning grand or heroic, but it's more common in formal or artistic contexts in Russian. For everyday speech, opt for simpler synonyms like грандиозный. Эпос, as a noun, directly corresponds to epic literary works and is often used in educational or cultural settings. When choosing between translations, use эпический for descriptive purposes and эпос for referring to genres or specific works. Note the grammatical agreement: adjectives like эпический must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using эпический without proper case agreement, e.g., saying "в эпический фильме" instead of "в эпическом фильме." Correct: в эпическом фильме. Explanation: Russian adjectives must inflect to match the noun's case; this error stems from direct word-for-word translation from English.
• Mistake: Confusing эпос with эпоха (epoch), leading to sentences like "Это эпос в истории" meaning "This epoch in history" instead of the intended epic. Correct: Use эпос only for narrative works. Explanation: The words sound similar but have distinct meanings; always check context.
• Mistake: Overusing эпос in informal speech, e.g., describing a fun outing as an "эпос." Correct: Reserve it for serious, literary contexts. Explanation: This can make speech sound overly dramatic or pretentious in casual settings.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of "epic" is deeply tied to historical and literary traditions, such as the ancient epics like "The Tale of Igor's Campaign" or works by authors like Tolstoy. These often reflect national identity, heroism, and the vastness of Russian landscapes, emphasizing themes of endurance and glory that resonate in modern media.

Related Concepts:

• легенда (legend)
• мифология (mythology)
• героический эпос (heroic epic)