Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'fraternal'

English Word: fraternal

Key Russian Translations:

• братский [ˈbratskʲɪj] - [Formal, Adjective; Used in contexts involving brotherhood, family, or organizational bonds]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literary, formal, and familial discussions, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; Requires understanding of Russian adjective declensions and basic family-related vocabulary)

Pronunciation (Russian):

братский: [ˈbratskʲɪj]

Note on братский: The stress is on the first syllable. The 'цк' sound is a palatalized 'ts' followed by 'k', which can be tricky for English speakers; it sounds like "braht-skee."

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Relating to brothers or brotherly relationships (e.g., familial or emotional bonds)

Translation(s) & Context:

• братский - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe brotherly affection, such as in families or fraternal organizations; common in written Russian or speeches.

Usage Examples:

• Мои братские чувства к нему сильны, несмотря на годы разлуки.

  My fraternal feelings towards him are strong, despite the years of separation.

• Братский дух в нашей семье всегда помогал преодолевать трудности.

  The fraternal spirit in our family has always helped us overcome difficulties.

• В братском обществе члены поддерживают друг друга в любых ситуациях.

  In a fraternal society, members support each other in any situation.

• Его братский жест — поделиться всем, что у него есть, — тронул всех нас.

  His fraternal gesture of sharing everything he has touched all of us.

• Братские узы между братьями крепки, но требуют усилий для поддержания.

  Fraternal bonds between brothers are strong but require effort to maintain.

Meaning 2: Pertaining to a fraternity or brotherly organization (e.g., social or professional groups)

Translation(s) & Context:

• братский - Applied in contexts like university fraternities or brotherhood-based groups; less common in everyday speech but frequent in historical or modern organizational discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Братский орден был основан для поддержки молодых ученых.

  The fraternal order was founded to support young scholars.

• В братском клубе члены делятся опытом и знаниями.

  In the fraternal club, members share experiences and knowledge.

• Ее речь подчеркнула братский характер их организации.

  Her speech highlighted the fraternal nature of their organization.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

братский is an adjective in Russian and follows the standard adjectival declension patterns. It agrees in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies. As it ends in -ский, it is a possessive adjective derived from "брат" (brother), and it inflects regularly.

Note: This adjective does not have irregular forms, making it relatively straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • братственный (brotherly; more poetic and less common, often used in literary contexts)
  • родственный (kinship-related; implies familial ties but broader than just brothers)
• Antonyms:
  • враждующий (hostile; implies enmity or opposition)
  • чужой (foreign or alien; suggests a lack of closeness)

Related Phrases:

• братский союз - Fraternal alliance (a union or partnership based on brotherly bonds, often in political or social contexts)
• братские узы - Fraternal bonds (strong emotional ties, especially between siblings)
• братский дух - Fraternal spirit (the sense of camaraderie in a group or organization)

Usage Notes:

братский directly corresponds to the English "fraternal" in its emphasis on brotherly relationships, but it is more commonly used in formal, literary, or historical contexts in Russian. Be mindful of its declension to match the noun it describes, as Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case. When choosing between братский and other synonyms like братственный, opt for братский in everyday or neutral descriptions; братственный is better for poetic or elevated language. In modern Russian, it's often used in discussions of family dynamics or organizational structures, but avoid it in casual conversations where simpler terms might suffice.

Common Errors:

• Error: Failing to decline братский correctly, e.g., using "братский" with a feminine noun like "сестра" (sister), resulting in "братский сестра" instead of "братская сестра."

  Correct: братская сестра (fraternal sister). Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree with the noun; this mistake often stems from English speakers treating adjectives as invariable.

• Error: Overusing братский in non-familial contexts, e.g., translating "fraternal twins" as "братские близнецы" when it could be more precisely "близнецы" without the adjective if context is clear.

  Correct: Use братские близнецы only if emphasizing the brotherly aspect; otherwise, близнецы suffices. Explanation: Adding unnecessary adjectives can make Russian sound unnatural.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of "fraternal" bonds, as in братский, often evokes themes from literature and history, such as the brotherhood among revolutionaries in the 19th and 20th centuries (e.g., in works by Dostoevsky). It reflects the cultural emphasis on collectivism and family loyalty, where such ties are idealized in folklore and national identity, contrasting with more individualistic Western views.

Related Concepts:

• родственный (kinship)
• дружеский (friendly)
• общинный (communal)