Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'firebrand'

English Word: firebrand

Key Russian Translations:

• провокатор [prɐvɐˈkatər] - [Informal, often used in political or social contexts]
• агитатор [ɐɡʲɪˈtatər] - [Formal, emphasizing agitation or propaganda]
• радикал [rɐˈdʲikəl] - [Neutral, when referring to extreme or revolutionary figures]

Frequency: Medium (Common in discussions of politics, history, and social issues, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate level; requires understanding of Russian noun declensions and contextual nuances for accurate use)

Pronunciation (Russian):

провокатор: [prɐvɐˈkatər] (Note: The stress is on the second syllable; the 'о' in the second syllable is pronounced as a short 'a' sound)

агитатор: [ɐɡʲɪˈtatər] (Note: The soft sign 'ь' after 'г' softens the preceding consonant, which can be tricky for English speakers)

радикал: [rɐˈdʲikəl] (Note: The 'дʲ' indicates a palatalized 'd', common in Russian but absent in English phonetics)

Audio: []

Note on провокатор: Be cautious with the rolling 'r' sound, which is more guttural in Russian than in English.

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A person who stirs up trouble, causes unrest, or acts as a radical agitator (often in a metaphorical sense, e.g., in politics or social movements).

Translation(s) & Context:

• провокатор - Used in contexts involving deliberate incitement, such as protests or debates, to describe someone who escalates situations.
• агитатор - Applied in formal or historical settings, like revolutionary movements, to highlight persuasive or propagandistic behavior.
• радикал - More general, for individuals with extreme views, often in ideological discussions.

Usage Examples:

• В студенческих протестах он выступал как настоящий провокатор, разжигая толпу своими речами.

  In the student protests, he acted as a real firebrand, stirring up the crowd with his speeches.

• Этот политик известен как агитатор, который всегда подогревает общественные дебаты.

  This politician is known as a firebrand who always heats up public debates.

• Как радикал в партии, она часто вызывала споры своими смелыми предложениями.

  As a firebrand in the party, she often sparked controversies with her bold proposals.

• Провокатор в толпе начал скандировать лозунги, что быстро переросло в беспорядки.

  The firebrand in the crowd started chanting slogans, which quickly escalated into riots.

• Агитатор на митинге использовал эмоциональные аргументы, чтобы зажечь аудиторию.

  The firebrand at the rally used emotional arguments to ignite the audience.

Meaning 2: Literal sense, though rare: A piece of burning wood or brand (e.g., in historical or poetic contexts).

Translation(s) & Context:

• зажигатель - Used in literal or archaic contexts, such as describing tools or in folklore.

Usage Examples:

• В древних сказках зажигатель символизировал начало восстания.

  In ancient tales, the firebrand symbolized the start of an uprising.

• Зажигатель из костра упал на сухую траву, вызвав небольшой пожар.

  The firebrand from the campfire fell on dry grass, causing a small fire.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For the key translations, which are primarily masculine nouns, Russian exhibits standard declension patterns. Below is a table for 'провокатор' as an example; similar patterns apply to 'агитатор' and 'радикал' with minor variations.

Note: These nouns follow the standard second declension for masculine nouns ending in a consonant. 'Радикал' has identical inflection patterns. For 'агитатор', the plural forms are regular but may vary slightly in poetic or archaic use. If the word is used as an adjective (e.g., in compounds), it remains uninflected in some contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • агитатор (similar to 'firebrand' but with a focus on persuasion)
  • радикал (emphasizes extremism, often interchangeable in casual speech)
  • бунтарь (more about rebellion, with a rebellious connotation)
• Antonyms:
  • миролюб (peace-loving, opposite in temperament)
  • консерватор (conservative, contrasting with radical behavior)

Related Phrases:

• политический провокатор - A political firebrand; used to describe figures in elections or movements.
• зажигать толпу - To stir up a crowd (literally 'to ignite the crowd'); a phrase evoking the essence of a firebrand.
• агитатор масс - Agitator of the masses; common in historical contexts like Soviet-era discussions.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'провокатор' directly corresponds to the metaphorical English 'firebrand' in contexts of social or political unrest, but it carries a stronger implication of intentional provocation. Choose 'агитатор' for formal or historical settings where persuasion is key, and 'радикал' for broader ideological extremism. Be mindful of the noun's gender (masculine) and always decline it according to Russian case rules. In informal speech, these words might appear in neutral or negative contexts, so context is crucial to avoid misinterpretation. For literal 'firebrand', 'зажигатель' is rarely used outside specialized or poetic language.

Common Errors:

• Common mistake: Confusing 'провокатор' with 'провокация' (which means 'provocation' as a noun). English learners might say 'Он провокация' instead of 'Он провокатор'. Correct usage: 'Он — провокатор' (He is a firebrand). Explanation: 'Провокация' is the act, not the person, so always check the root word for accuracy.

• Another error: Forgetting to decline the noun, e.g., saying 'с провокатор' instead of 'с провокатором' in the instrumental case. Correct: Use the proper case as shown in the inflections table to maintain grammatical agreement.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like 'провокатор' often evoke images of historical figures from revolutions, such as those in the 1917 Russian Revolution, where agitators played pivotal roles. This reflects a cultural emphasis on rhetoric and dissent in literature and media, seen in works by authors like Tolstoy or in Soviet propaganda, adding a layer of historical weight to the word beyond its English counterpart.

Related Concepts:

• революционер
• бунтарь
• идеолог