Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'freedom'

English Word: freedom

Key Russian Translations:

• свобода /svɐˈbodə/ - [Formal, Singular]

Frequency: High (commonly used in everyday language, literature, and political discourse)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; requires understanding of noun declensions and basic vocabulary)

Pronunciation (Russian):

свобода: /svɐˈbodə/

Note on свобода: The stress falls on the second syllable ('bo'), and the 'о' in the first syllable is reduced to a schwa sound in casual speech. Pay attention to the soft 'б' sound.

Audio: Listen to pronunciation of свобода (placeholder for audio player)

Meanings and Usage:

The state of being free from oppression, constraints, or control

Translation(s) & Context:

• свобода - Used in contexts of personal liberty, political rights, or philosophical discussions (e.g., in formal writing or speeches).

Usage Examples:

• В борьбе за свободу люди часто жертвуют многим.

  In the fight for freedom, people often sacrifice a lot.

• Свобода слова является основой демократического общества.

  Freedom of speech is the foundation of a democratic society.

• После революции страна обрела долгожданную свободу.

  After the revolution, the country gained its long-awaited freedom.

• Личная свобода включает право на выбор своей судьбы.

  Personal freedom includes the right to choose one's own destiny.

• В природе животных свобода движения является ключевым инстинктом.

  In the animal kingdom, freedom of movement is a key instinct.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"свобода" is a feminine noun in the first declension. It follows regular patterns for Russian nouns, with changes based on case and number. Below is a table of its inflections:

Note: This word does not have irregular inflections, making it straightforward for learners once basic declension rules are mastered.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • независимость (independence; often used in political contexts, implying autonomy from external control)
  • самостоятельность (self-reliance; more about personal capability than broad freedom)
• Antonyms:
  • рабство (slavery; direct opposite, implying total lack of freedom)
  • зависимость (dependence; used for relational or addictive contexts)

Related Phrases:

• борьба за свободу - Fight for freedom; commonly used in historical or revolutionary contexts.
• свобода слова - Freedom of speech; refers to the right to express opinions without censorship.
• личная свобода - Personal freedom; emphasizes individual rights and autonomy.
• политическая свобода - Political freedom; related to democratic rights and governance.

Usage Notes:

"свобода" directly corresponds to the English "freedom" in most contexts, but it carries a strong connotation of liberation from oppression, especially in Russian historical and cultural narratives. Use it in formal settings or when discussing rights; for informal conversations, it remains appropriate but may be paired with qualifiers like "личная" for specificity. Be mindful of declensions based on sentence structure, and choose it over synonyms like "независимость" when the focus is on general liberty rather than autonomy.

• In political discourse, it's often used in plural forms to discuss multiple freedoms (e.g., civil liberties).
• Avoid overusing it in casual speech to prevent sounding overly dramatic.

Common Errors:

One common mistake is confusing "свобода" with "свободный" (which means "free" as an adjective). For example, learners might incorrectly say "Я хочу свободный" when meaning "I want freedom," which should be "Я хочу свободу." The error stems from direct word-for-word translation; correct usage: Incorrect: "Свободный от работы" (if meaning freedom from work, but this means "free from work" as an adjective). Correct: "Свобода от работы" to mean "freedom from work." Another error is improper declension, such as using the nominative form in all cases, e.g., saying "за свободa" instead of "за свободу" in the accusative case.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "свобода" is deeply tied to historical events like the 1917 Revolution and the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, symbolizing emancipation from autocracy. It often evokes themes of resilience and national identity, as seen in literature by authors like Alexander Pushkin, who romanticized personal and societal freedom.

Related Concepts:

• демократия (democracy)
• права человека (human rights)
• равенство (equality)