Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'exorcise'

English Word: exorcise

Key Russian Translations:

• изгнать [izˈɡnatʲ] - [Formal, used in religious or ceremonial contexts]
• экзорцизм [ɛkˌsɔrˈt͡sizm] - [Religious, specific to ritual practices]
• выгнать беса [vɨˈɡnatʲ ˈbʲesa] - [Informal, everyday language for spiritual cleansing]

Frequency: Low (This word and its translations are rarely used outside religious or supernatural contexts in modern Russian.)

Difficulty: Advanced (C1-C2; Requires understanding of Russian verb conjugations and cultural nuances. For 'изгнать', it's C1; for 'экзорцизм', it's C2 due to specialized vocabulary.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

изгнать: [izˈɡnatʲ]

экзорцизм: [ɛkˌsɔrˈt͡sizm]

выгнать беса: [vɨˈɡnatʲ ˈbʲesa]

Note on изгнать: This verb has a soft 'г' sound in some forms, which can be tricky for learners; it stresses the second syllable in imperfective forms.

Note on экзорцизм: Pronounced with a borrowed English influence; the 'ц' is a soft 'ts' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To drive out or expel an evil spirit from a person or place

Translation(s) & Context:

• изгнать беса - Used in formal religious rituals, such as Orthodox ceremonies.
• экзорцизм - Applied in specific Christian contexts, often involving priests.
• выгнать беса - Informal usage in storytelling or casual discussions about supernatural events.

Usage Examples:

• Священник изгнал беса из одержимого человека во время ритуала.

  The priest exorcised the demon from the possessed person during the ritual.

• В фильме герой попытался выгнать беса из старого дома, но это закончилось неудачей.

  In the movie, the hero tried to exorcise the demon from the old house, but it ended in failure.

• Экзорцизм считается редким обрядом в современной России, но он всё ещё практикуется в некоторых церквях.

  Exorcism is considered a rare ritual in modern Russia, but it is still practiced in some churches.

• Бабушка рассказывала, как шаман выгнал беса из деревни, спасая жителей от проклятия.

  Grandma told how the shaman exorcised the demon from the village, saving the residents from a curse.

• Во время сеанса экзорцизма священник изгнал духа, используя древние молитвы.

  During the exorcism session, the priest exorcised the spirit using ancient prayers.

Meaning 2: Figuratively, to rid something of an unwanted influence or habit (less common in Russian)

Translation(s) & Context:

• изгнать (negative influence) - In metaphorical contexts, like overcoming addictions.

Usage Examples:

• Он решил изгнать свои страхи, пройдя курс терапии.

  He decided to exorcise his fears by undergoing therapy.

• Чтобы изгнать старые привычки, ей пришлось изменить образ жизни.

  To exorcise old habits, she had to change her lifestyle.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'изгнать' (a verb, imperfective: изгонять), it follows standard Russian verb conjugation patterns for first-conjugation verbs. It is irregular in some aspects due to its perfective form.

For 'экзорцизм' (a noun, masculine), it is indeclinable in most cases due to its foreign origin: Nominative: экзорцизм; Genitive: экзорцизма (no changes in other cases).

'выгнать беса' is a phrase; 'выгнать' conjugates like above, while 'беса' (genitive of 'бес') follows standard masculine noun declension.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: выгнать (similar but more general, often used for physical expulsion), очищать (to cleanse spiritually)
• Antonyms: впустить (to let in), привлечь (to attract, in a supernatural sense)

Related Phrases:

• ритуал изгнания - A ritual of exorcism (used in religious ceremonies to describe the full process).
• выгнать нечистую силу - To drive out unclean forces (common in folklore for banishing evil spirits).
• экзорцизм в православии - Exorcism in Orthodoxy (refers to its specific practice in the Russian Orthodox Church).

Usage Notes:

The English word 'exorcise' directly corresponds to Russian verbs like 'изгнать' in religious contexts, but Russian often emphasizes the ritual aspect more than English. Use 'изгнать' for formal or spiritual scenarios, and avoid it in everyday conversation to prevent sounding overly dramatic. When choosing between translations, opt for 'экзорцизм' if discussing Christian traditions, as it's a direct loanword. Grammatically, ensure verbs agree with subject gender and number, e.g., 'изгнал' for masculine past tense.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'изгнать' interchangeably with 'выгнать' without context, e.g., saying 'Я выгнал беса' when a more formal tone is needed. Correct: 'Я изгнал беса' in religious contexts. Explanation: 'Выгнать' implies physical removal, while 'изгнать' is spiritual.
• Mistake: Incorrect conjugation, e.g., saying 'Я изгонял' for future tense. Correct: 'Я изгоню'. Explanation: Russian verbs have distinct aspects; use perfective for completed actions.
• Mistake: Overusing 'экзорцизм' in non-religious settings. Correct: Use 'изгнать' for general supernatural themes. Explanation: This can make speech sound unnatural or pretentious.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, particularly within the Orthodox Church, exorcism (экзорцизм) is tied to ancient traditions and is often depicted in literature and folklore as a battle against evil spirits. It's influenced by Slavic pagan beliefs merged with Christianity, symbolizing the triumph of faith over darkness, as seen in works like those of Dostoevsky.

Related Concepts:

• бес (demon)
• одержимость (possession)
• нечистая сила (unclean forces)