Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'epistle'

English Word: epistle

Key Russian Translations:

• эпистола [ɛˈpʲistələ] - [Formal, Literary, Used in religious or historical contexts]
• послание [pɐˈslaɲʲɪje] - [Formal, General, Plural form common in modern usage]

Frequency: Low (This word and its translations are not commonly used in everyday conversation but appear in literary, religious, or academic texts.)

Difficulty: B2-Intermediate for 'эпистола' (requires understanding of literary vocabulary), C1-Advanced for 'послание' (due to its contextual nuances and potential for inflectional variations).

Pronunciation (Russian):

эпистола: [ɛˈpʲistələ]

Note on эпистола: The stress falls on the third syllable; be mindful of the palatalized 'п' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

послание: [pɐˈslaɲʲɪje]

Note on послание: The 'ня' sound is a soft palatalized 'н', common in Russian nouns; it softens in plural forms. Avoid overemphasizing the final 'e' for natural flow.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A formal letter or written communication, often in a literary or religious context (e.g., biblical epistles).

Translation(s) & Context:

• эпистола - Used in formal, historical, or ecclesiastical settings, such as referring to New Testament letters.
• послание - Applied in broader contexts, like official messages or modern correspondence, emphasizing authority or depth.

Usage Examples:

• В Новом Завете много эпистол, написанных апостолами.

  In the New Testament, there are many epistles written by the apostles.

• Это послание от президента содержит важные указания для народа.

  This epistle from the president contains important instructions for the people.

• Литературная эпистола Шекспира остается актуальной и сегодня.

  Shakespeare's literary epistle remains relevant even today.

• Послание от друга пришло в виде длинного письма, полного советов.

  The epistle from a friend came in the form of a long letter full of advice.

• В архивах найдена древняя эпистола, описывающая события войны.

  In the archives, an ancient epistle was found describing events of the war.

Meaning 2: A piece of writing intended as a didactic or moral lesson (e.g., in philosophy or poetry).

Translation(s) & Context:

• эпистола - Preferred in artistic or philosophical discussions, highlighting its educational tone.
• послание - Used when the text serves as a message with broader implications, such as in public speeches or writings.

Usage Examples:

• Эпистола Пушкина к друзьям раскрывает его философские взгляды.

  Pushkin's epistle to his friends reveals his philosophical views.

• Это послание поэта стало манифестом нового литературного движения.

  This epistle by the poet became a manifesto for a new literary movement.

• В эпистоле древнего мыслителя обсуждаются этические вопросы.

  In the epistle of the ancient thinker, ethical questions are discussed.

• Послание учителя ученикам подчеркивает важность дисциплины.

  The epistle from the teacher to the students emphasizes the importance of discipline.

• Эпистола в форме стихов передаёт эмоциональную глубину автора.

  The epistle in the form of verses conveys the author's emotional depth.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'эпистола' and 'послание' are feminine nouns in Russian, following standard declension patterns for third-declension nouns. 'Эпистола' is less commonly inflected in modern usage due to its archaic nature, while 'послание' shows regular changes.

Note: These nouns do not change in gender but follow predictable patterns; 'эпистола' is invariant in some fixed phrases.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • письмо (pis'mo) - More general term for a letter, with less formal connotation.
  • сообщение (soobshcheniye) - Used for messages, often in digital or informal contexts; differs by being less literary.
• Antonyms:
  • молва (molva) - Rumors or oral traditions, contrasting with written formality.
  • тишина (tishina) - Silence, implying the absence of communication.

Related Phrases:

• Апостольское послание (Apostolic epistle) - A phrase referring to biblical letters; used in religious contexts to denote authoritative teachings.
• Литературная эпистола (Literary epistle) - Common in discussions of poetry or prose; implies a creative, non-standard letter form.
• Официальное послание (Official epistle) - Refers to formal communications in government or diplomacy; highlights bureaucratic usage.

Usage Notes:

When translating 'epistle' to Russian, choose 'эпистола' for literary or biblical contexts to maintain a formal, archaic tone, as it directly mirrors the English word's origins. 'Послание' is more versatile and modern, suitable for everyday or official communications. Be aware of grammatical gender (feminine) and ensure proper declension based on sentence structure. English learners should note that Russian often pairs these words with prepositions like 'от' (from) or 'к' (to) to specify sender and recipient, e.g., 'послание от друга'.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'эпистола' in casual contexts, e.g., saying "Это просто эпистола" for a casual email. Correct: Use 'письмо' instead. Explanation: 'Эпистола' sounds overly formal and may confuse listeners in informal settings.
• Mistake: Incorrect declension, e.g., saying "Я читал эпистола" instead of "Я читал эпистолу". Correct: "Я читал эпистолу" (Accusative case). Explanation: Russian nouns must agree in case with verbs and prepositions; neglecting this leads to grammatical errors.
• Mistake: Confusing with 'послание' in plural forms, e.g., "посланиe" instead of "послания". Correct: "послания" for plural nominative. Explanation: Plural forms require specific endings, and mixing them can alter meaning or make the sentence incoherent.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'эпистола' often evokes references to Orthodox Christian texts, such as the Epistles in the Bible, which hold significant religious importance. 'Послание' may carry echoes of Soviet-era official communications, symbolizing authority and propaganda, helping English speakers understand the word's deeper historical and societal connotations in Russian literature and politics.

Related Concepts:

• письмо
• сообщение
• манифест