Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'foretaste'

English Word: foretaste

Key Russian Translations:

• предвкушение /prʲɪdvˈkuʂənʲjɛ/ - [Formal, used in contexts of anticipation or preliminary experience]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in literature, conversations about emotions, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate, as it involves understanding abstract emotions and basic noun inflections; learners at this level can grasp it with practice)

Pronunciation (Russian):

предвкушение: /prʲɪdvˈkuʂənʲjɛ/

Note on предвкушение: The stress falls on the third syllable ("ku"), which is a common challenge for English speakers due to Russian's mobile stress patterns. The "щ" sound is soft and palatalized, similar to "sh" in "she" but with more friction.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A preliminary or initial experience of something positive, often involving anticipation.

Translation(s) & Context:

• предвкушение - Used in formal or emotional contexts, such as describing excitement before an event, e.g., in literature or personal narratives.

Usage Examples:

• Я с предвкушением жду новогодних праздников.

  I am looking forward to the New Year holidays with anticipation.

• Его предвкушение от поездки развеялось, когда он увидел погоду.

  His foretaste of the trip vanished when he saw the weather.

• В детстве предвкушение подарков делало Рождество волшебным.

  In childhood, the foretaste of gifts made Christmas magical.

• Предвкушение успеха мотивирует её работать усерднее.

  The foretaste of success motivates her to work harder.

• Несмотря на предвкушение, реальность оказалась разочаровывающей.

  Despite the foretaste, reality turned out to be disappointing.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Предвкушение" is a neuter noun in Russian, following the standard patterns of third-declension nouns. It is invariable in some forms but changes according to case and number. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: This word does not have irregular forms, making it relatively straightforward for learners, but pay attention to the soft endings in certain cases.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • ожидание (ozhidanie) - More general term for expectation, often used interchangeably but with less emotional intensity.
  • предвосхищение (predvoskhochenie) - Emphasizes foresight or prediction, suitable in formal contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • разочарование (razocharovanie) - Directly contrasts by implying disappointment after the initial anticipation.
  • неожиданность (neozhidannost') - Refers to something unforeseen, highlighting the opposite of planned foretaste.

Related Phrases:

• с предвкушением - With anticipation; used to describe eager waiting, e.g., in emotional or narrative contexts.
• предвкушать что-то - To foretaste something; a verb form meaning to anticipate with pleasure, often in personal stories.
• в предвкушении события - In foretaste of an event; a common phrase in literature to build suspense.

Usage Notes:

• Предвкушение directly corresponds to "foretaste" in English as an abstract noun, but it's more commonly used in Russian for positive anticipations, such as events or emotions, rather than negative ones. Always consider the context: use it in formal writing or spoken language for depth, but avoid in ultra-casual conversations.
• When choosing between translations, opt for предвкушение if the emphasis is on emotional buildup; for literal tastes (e.g., food), "проба" might be better, though it's less common for this word.
• Grammatically, it must agree with case, number, and gender in sentences, so English learners should practice declensions to avoid errors in complex sentences.

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse "предвкушение" with "ожидание" (expectation), using them interchangeably. Error: Saying "Я ожидание жду" instead of "Я с предвкушением жду". Correct: "Я с предвкушением жду" – because предвкушение implies emotional anticipation, while ожидание is more neutral. Explanation: This mix-up stems from similar meanings, but предвкушение adds a layer of excitement.
• Another error is incorrect inflection, e.g., using "предвкушении" in nominative case. Error: "Предвкушении хорошее" (incorrect). Correct: "Предвкушение хорошее". Explanation: Always check the case based on sentence structure to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "предвкушение" often appears in literature and everyday discussions about holidays or personal milestones, reflecting the value placed on emotional depth and anticipation. For instance, in works by authors like Tolstoy, it's used to describe the buildup to events, emphasizing how Russians savor life's moments before they occur, which ties into a broader cultural appreciation for introspection and emotional expression.

Related Concepts:

• надежда (hope)
• волнение (excitement)
• эмоциональный подъем (emotional uplift)