Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'fire'

English Word: fire

Key Russian Translations:

• огонь /ɐˈɡonʲ/ - [Noun, Common, Singular; used in everyday contexts for literal flames]
• стрелять /strʲɪˈlʲatʲ/ - [Verb, Informal; used for shooting or firing a weapon]
• уволить /u.vɐˈlʲitʲ/ - [Verb, Formal; used in professional contexts for dismissing someone from a job]

Frequency: High for 'огонь' (commonly encountered in daily language); Medium for 'стрелять' and 'уволить' (context-dependent, more frequent in specific scenarios like military or workplace discussions).

Difficulty: A1 for 'огонь' (beginner level, basic vocabulary); B1 for 'стрелять' (intermediate, involves action verbs); B2 for 'уволить' (upper intermediate, often in formal or professional settings).

Pronunciation (Russian):

огонь: /ɐˈɡonʲ/ (The stress is on the second syllable; note the soft 'нʲ' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalization.)

стрелять: /strʲɪˈlʲatʲ/ (Stress on the last syllable; the 'strʲ' cluster requires careful articulation of the soft 'r' sound.)

уволить: /u.vɐˈlʲitʲ/ (Stress on the third syllable; pay attention to the soft 'лʲ' for proper Russian pronunciation.)

Note on огонь: This word has a voiceless 'г' in some dialects, but standard pronunciation is as above. Variations may occur in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. The state, process, or instance of combustion in which fuel or material is ignited and combined with oxygen, giving off light, heat, and flame.

Translation(s) & Context:

• огонь - Used in literal contexts like describing a campfire or wildfire; common in both formal and informal settings.

Usage Examples:

• В лесу разгорелся большой огонь.

  In the forest, a big fire broke out.

• Огонь в камине согревал комнату всю ночь.

  The fire in the fireplace warmed the room all night.

• Из-за сильного ветра огонь быстро распространился.

  Due to the strong wind, the fire spread quickly.

• Дети наблюдали, как огонь потрескивает в костре.

  The children watched as the fire crackled in the bonfire.

2. To discharge a gun or other weapon, or to cause something to be expelled forcefully.

Translation(s) & Context:

• стрелять - Used in contexts involving weapons, hunting, or metaphorical expressions; informal and action-oriented.

Usage Examples:

• Солдаты начали стрелять по врагу на рассвете.

  The soldiers started firing at the enemy at dawn.

• В фильме герой стреляет из пистолета, спасая друзей.

  In the movie, the hero fires his gun to save his friends.

• Охотник стреляет в цель, чтобы не промахнуться.

  The hunter fires at the target to not miss.

• Во время фестиваля люди стреляют фейерверками в небо.

  During the festival, people fire fireworks into the sky.

3. To dismiss someone from a job or position.

Translation(s) & Context:

• уволить - Primarily used in formal, professional contexts; implies a permanent separation from employment.

Usage Examples:

• Компания уволила сотрудника за систематические опоздания.

  The company fired the employee for repeated tardiness.

• Начальник решил уволить менеджера из-за плохих результатов.

  The boss decided to fire the manager due to poor performance.

• После скандала фирма уволила нескольких работников.

  After the scandal, the firm fired several employees.

• Его уволили, но он быстро нашел новую работу.

  He was fired, but he quickly found a new job.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'огонь' (a masculine noun):

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	огонь	огни
Genitive	огня	огней
Dative	огню	огням
Accusative	огонь	огни
Instrumental	огнем	огнями
Prepositional	огне	огнях

For 'стрелять' (a verb, imperfective):

It conjugates irregularly in some forms. Example: Present tense - я стреляю, ты стреляешь, он стреляет; Past tense: стрелять (for masculine), стрелять (feminine), etc.

For 'уволить' (a verb, perfective): Conjugates as я уволю, ты уволишь, etc. It is aspectually perfective, so it doesn't have ongoing forms like imperfectives.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Пламя (plamya) - Similar to огонь but often implies a more intense or visible flame; used poetically.
  • Выстрелить (vystrelit') - Synonym for стрелять, but more specific to a single shot.
  • Убрать с работы (ubrat' s raboty) - Informal synonym for уволить, less formal phrasing.
• Antonyms:
  • Вода (voda) - For огонь, as it opposes fire in elemental terms.
  • Молчать (molchat') - For стрелять, meaning to be silent or not fire.
  • Нанять (nanyat') - For уволить, meaning to hire someone.

Related Phrases:

• Разжечь огонь (razzhech' ogon') - To start a fire; used in camping or survival contexts. (Literal: To kindle a fire)
• Открыть огонь (otkryt' ogon') - To open fire; military or confrontational usage. (Literal: To open fire)
• Быть уволенным (byt' uvolennym) - To be fired; phrase for discussing job loss. (Literal: To be dismissed)

Usage Notes:

'Огонь' directly corresponds to the literal English 'fire' and is neutral in tone, but be cautious in poetic or metaphorical uses where it might evoke strong emotions. 'Стрелятъ' is best for dynamic actions and should be avoided in formal writing unless describing events. For 'уволить', it's a formal term; in casual speech, Russians might use euphemisms like 'выгнать' for a harsher tone. When choosing between translations, consider context: use 'огонь' for physical fire, 'стрелять' for weapons, and 'уволить' for employment. Grammar note: Verbs like 'стрелять' require aspect consideration (imperfective for ongoing actions).

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'огонь' interchangeably with 'пожар' (fire as in a blaze or disaster). Correct: 'Пожар' specifically means a large, uncontrolled fire, while 'огонь' is more general. Example of error: Saying "Это пожар в камине" instead of "Это огонь в камине". Explanation: This overstates the intensity.
• Mistake: Forgetting verb aspects with 'стрелять'. Correct: Use imperfective 'стрелять' for repeated actions and perfective 'выстрелить' for single events. Example of error: "Я стрелять каждый день" (incorrect aspect usage); Correct: "Я стреляем каждый день" for ongoing practice.
• Mistake: Confusing 'уволить' with 'покинуть' (to leave). Correct: 'Уволить' implies employer action, not voluntary resignation. Example of error: "Я уволил себя" (awkward); Correct: "Я ушёл с работы" for self-resignation.

Cultural Notes:

'Огонь' holds symbolic importance in Russian culture, often representing warmth, destruction, or renewal in folklore and literature (e.g., in fairy tales like those by Pushkin). In historical contexts, such as World War II, phrases like 'открыть огонь' evoke memories of conflict and resilience. 'Уволить' reflects the Soviet-era job security culture, where dismissals were rare, making it a sensitive topic in modern discussions about employment.

Related Concepts:

• Пламя (flame)
• Горение (combustion)
• Боевые действия (combat actions)
• Работа (work/job)