Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'foreboding'

English Word: foreboding

Key Russian Translations:

• Предчувствие [prʲɪt͡ɕʊˈvstvʲɪjə] - [Formal, often used in literary or introspective contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature, psychology, and everyday conversations about emotions, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary).

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of abstract nouns and emotional expressions, suitable for learners with a solid grasp of Russian grammar and vocabulary).

Pronunciation (Russian):

Предчувствие: [prʲɪt͡ɕʊˈvstvʲɪjə]

Note on Предчувствие: The stress falls on the third syllable ("vstvʲɪjə"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalized consonants. Pronounce it with a soft 'r' and 'ch' sounds similar to the 'ch' in "church".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A strong inner feeling or premonition of impending misfortune or danger.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Предчувствие - Used in formal or reflective contexts, such as literature, psychology, or personal narratives, to describe an intuitive sense of something bad about to happen.

Usage Examples:

• У меня предчувствие, что этот дождь принесёт беду. (U menya predchuvstvie, chto etot dozhd' prinesyot bedu.)

  I have a foreboding that this rain will bring trouble. (This example shows the word in a weather-related context, emphasizing emotional intuition.)

• Её предчувствие о будущем заставило её изменить планы. (Eyó predchuvstvie o budushchem zastavilo eyó izmenit' plany.)

  Her foreboding about the future made her change her plans. (Illustrates use in decision-making scenarios, highlighting personal agency.)

• В романе Достоевского предчувствие смерти пронизывает всю историю. (V romane Dostoevskogo predchuvstvie smerti pronizyvaet vsyu istoriyu.)

  In Dostoevsky's novel, the foreboding of death permeates the entire story. (Demonstrates literary usage, common in Russian classics.)

• Предчувствие надвигающейся бури охватило всю деревню. (Predchuvstvie nadvigayushcheysya buri okhvatilo vsyu derevnyu.)

  A foreboding of the approaching storm gripped the entire village. (Shows metaphorical use in describing collective anxiety.)

• Его предчувствие оказалось правдой, когда новости пришли. (Yego predchuvstvie okazalos' pravdoy, kogda novosti prishli.)

  His foreboding turned out to be true when the news arrived. (Exemplifies how the word can relate to verified intuitions in real-life situations.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Предчувствие is a neuter noun in Russian, which means it follows the standard declension pattern for neuter nouns ending in -ие. It is not irregular but requires attention to case changes based on its role in a sentence. Below is a table outlining its basic inflections:

Note: This noun does not change in gender and is invariant in form across most contexts, making it relatively straightforward once basic declension rules are learned.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Чувство опасности (chuvstvo opasnosti) - More literal, emphasizing a sense of danger.
  • Интуиция (intuiciya) - Broader term for intuition, often used interchangeably in casual contexts but less specific to negative feelings.
• Antonyms:
  • Уверенность (uverenost') - Confidence or assurance, implying the opposite of unease.
  • Оптимизм (optimism) - Optimism, used when there's no sense of impending negativity.

Related Phrases:

• Предчувствие беды (predchuvstvie bedy) - Foreboding of trouble; a common phrase in storytelling to build tension.
• Тёмное предчувствие (tyomnoe predchuvstvie) - Dark foreboding; used to describe a particularly ominous feeling, often in psychological or literary contexts.
• Предчувствие конца (predchuvstvie kontsa) - Foreboding of the end; implies a sense of finality, as in apocalyptic or dramatic scenarios.

Usage Notes:

Предчувствие directly corresponds to 'foreboding' as an emotional state, but it's more commonly used in formal or literary Russian rather than everyday casual speech. English learners should note that it often pairs with verbs like 'иметь' (to have) or 'охватывать' (to grip) to express personal experiences. When choosing between synonyms, opt for Предчувствие in contexts involving intuition about negative events, as it carries a subtle connotation of inevitability. Be mindful of case agreement in sentences, as Russian requires the noun to change based on its grammatical function.

Common Errors:

• English learners often misuse the genitive case, saying "предчувствие от" instead of "предчувствие о" when describing "foreboding about something." Correct usage: "Предчувствие о будущем" (Foreboding about the future). Error example: "Предчувствие от будущего" (incorrect, as it implies causation rather than topic).

• Confusing it with similar words like "предсказание" (prediction), which is more about foretelling based on evidence. Correct: Use Предчувствие for intuitive feelings without proof. Error example: Treating it as a factual prediction in sentences like "Его предчувствие было точным" when it should emphasize emotion over accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, especially in literature by authors like Dostoevsky or Tolstoy, 'предчувствие' often symbolizes the weight of fate and human psychology. It's frequently tied to themes of existential dread, reflecting Russia's historical experiences with uncertainty, such as wars and revolutions. This makes it a poignant word in discussions of personal or national introspection.

Related Concepts:

• Страх (strakh) - Fear
• Интуиция (intuiciya) - Intuition
• Беда (beda) - Trouble or misfortune