Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'feud'

English Word: feud

Key Russian Translations:

• Вражда /vrɐˈʐda/ - [Formal, used for prolonged conflicts]
• Ссора /ˈssora/ - [Informal, used for temporary disputes]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literature and historical contexts, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun declensions and contextual usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Вражда: /vrɐˈʐda/

Ссора: /ˈssora/

Note on Вражда: The 'ж' sound (/ʐ/) is a voiced retroflex fricative, similar to the 's' in "measure" in English, but can be challenging for beginners.

Note on Ссора: The double 'с' creates a sharp /s/ sound; stress is on the first syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A prolonged and bitter quarrel or dispute, often between families or groups.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Вражда - Used in formal or historical contexts, such as family feuds or rivalries in literature.
• Ссора - Used in everyday informal settings for arguments that are not necessarily long-term.

Usage Examples:

• Эта вражда между двумя семьями длилась веками.

  This feud between the two families lasted for centuries.

• Вражда в их отношениях началась из-за наследства.

  The feud in their relationship started because of the inheritance.

• Ссора между соседями переросла в настоящую вражду.

  The quarrel between the neighbors escalated into a real feud.

• Из-за этой ссоры они не разговаривают уже неделю.

  Because of this feud, they haven't spoken for a week.

2. A state of mutual hostility or enmity.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Вражда - Emphasizes ongoing enmity, often in political or social contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Политическая вражда между партиями влияет на страну.

  The political feud between the parties affects the country.

• Эта вражда коренится в исторических обидах.

  This feud is rooted in historical grievances.

• Ссора в семье иногда перерастает в долгую вражду.

  A family quarrel sometimes turns into a long-lasting feud.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "Вражда" and "Ссора" are feminine nouns in Russian, which means they follow the standard feminine declension patterns. They are third-declension nouns and do not have irregularities, but they change based on case and number.

Note: These nouns do not change in the plural for all cases as regularly as in singular, but the patterns above are standard.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Конфликт (konflikt) - More general term for conflict.
  • Разлад (razlad) - Disagreement or discord, often in relationships.
• Antonyms:
  • Мир (mir) - Peace, directly opposite to hostility.
  • Согласие (soglasie) - Agreement or harmony.

Related Phrases:

• Семейная вражда - Family feud; Refers to ongoing conflicts within a family.
• Политическая ссора - Political quarrel; Used for debates or disputes in politics.
• Вести вражду - To carry on a feud; Implies actively maintaining hostility.

Usage Notes:

"Вражда" is the most precise translation for a long-term feud, similar to English, and is often used in formal writing or historical narratives. In contrast, "Ссора" is better for short-term arguments and is more common in spoken language. When choosing between them, consider the duration and intensity: use "Вражда" for enduring enmity and "Ссора" for immediate disputes. Be mindful of Russian's grammatical gender and cases; for example, always decline the noun based on its role in the sentence. This helps avoid awkward phrasing in real conversations.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "Вражда" interchangeably with "Ссора" without considering context. For example, learners might say "Ежедневная вражда" (Daily feud) when "Ежедневная ссора" (Daily quarrel) is more appropriate for minor daily arguments.

  Correct: "Ежедневная ссора" - This distinguishes temporary spats from prolonged feuds.

• Error: Forgetting to decline the noun, e.g., saying "Из-за вражда" instead of "Из-за вражды" (Because of the feud).

  Correct: "Из-за вражды" - Always use the genitive case after prepositions like "из-за".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, feuds like "вражда" often appear in literature and folklore, such as in stories of Cossack rivalries or noble family disputes in classic novels by Tolstoy. This reflects a historical emphasis on honor and lineage, where personal enmities can span generations, influencing social interactions even today.

Related Concepts:

• Конфликт
• Разногласие
• Война