Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'famine'

English Word: famine

Key Russian Translations:

• голод [ˈɡo.lət] - [Formal, Historical contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in news, historical texts, and discussions about global issues, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: Intermediate (B1-B2 on CEFR scale; requires understanding of Russian noun declensions and formal vocabulary)

Pronunciation (Russian):

голод: [ˈɡo.lət]

Note on голод: The stress is on the first syllable; the 'o' is pronounced as a mid-back rounded vowel. Be cautious with the soft 'л' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The severe lack of food in a region, leading to widespread hunger and starvation.

Translation(s) & Context:

• голод - Used in formal, historical, or journalistic contexts to describe large-scale food shortages, often implying social or economic crises.

Usage Examples:

• В России был сильный голод в 1930-х годах из-за коллективизации.

  In Russia, there was a severe famine in the 1930s due to collectivization.

• Голод в Африке часто вызван засухой и конфликтами.

  Famine in Africa is often caused by drought and conflicts.

• Правительство ввело меры для предотвращения голода во время войны.

  The government introduced measures to prevent famine during the war.

• Исторический голод в Ирландии известен как "Великий голод".

  The historical famine in Ireland is known as the "Great Famine".

• Международные организации борются с голодом в развивающихся странах.

  International organizations are fighting famine in developing countries.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Голод" is a masculine noun in Russian, belonging to the third declension. It follows standard patterns for masculine nouns ending in a consonant. Below is a table of its inflections:

Note: The plural forms are irregular and less frequently used, as "famine" is often discussed in singular contexts. If the word is used as part of a compound or in idiomatic expressions, inflections may vary slightly.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • недоедание (nedoedanie) - Less severe, implying undernourishment rather than widespread famine.
  • голодовка (golodovka) - Specifically for hunger strikes or voluntary fasting.
• Antonyms:
  • изобилие (izobiliye) - Abundance or plentiful food supply.
  • сытость (syotost') - Satiety or fullness.

Related Phrases:

• голод в мире (golod v mire) - World hunger; refers to global food insecurity issues.
• предотвратить голод (predotvratit' golod) - To prevent famine; used in policy or aid contexts.
• массовый голод (massovyy golod) - Mass famine; emphasizes large-scale impact.

Usage Notes:

"Голод" directly corresponds to "famine" in English but is more formal and often used in historical or serious discussions. It should be distinguished from everyday hunger ("голод как чувство"), which is more casual. In Russian, always consider the context: use it with prepositions like "в" (in) for locations (e.g., голод в регионе). For learners, choose "голод" over synonyms when describing large-scale crises, but be aware of regional variations in Russia where historical connotations (e.g., Soviet-era famines) might influence usage.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "голод" with "голодный" (hungry, an adjective). Error: Saying "Я голод" to mean "I am hungry" (incorrect, as it means "I am famine"). Correct: "Я голодный". Explanation: "Голод" is a noun; use the adjective form for personal states.

• Improper declension, e.g., using nominative in all cases. Error: "Из-за голод" instead of "Из-за голода". Correct: "Из-за голода" (genitive case). Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, so always decline based on sentence structure.

• Overusing in informal speech. Error: Using "голод" in casual conversation about personal hunger. Correct: Use "голод" only for serious contexts; say "я хочу есть" for "I'm hungry". Explanation: This maintains appropriate register and avoids sounding overly dramatic.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "голод" often evokes memories of historical events like the Holodomor in Ukraine (1932-1933) or the Russian famines of the early 20th century, which are sensitive topics tied to Soviet policies. It carries connotations of tragedy and resilience, influencing literature and national discourse, such as in works by authors like Alexander Solzhenitsyn.

Related Concepts:

• голодание (golodanie) - Starvation or fasting.
• недостаток пищи (nedostatok pishchi) - Food shortage.
• кризис продовольствия (krizis prodovol'stviya) - Food crisis.