Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'hag'

English Word: hag

Key Russian Translations:

• ведьма /ˈvʲedʲimə/ - [Formal, often used in literary or mythological contexts]
• старуха /ˈstarʊxə/ - [Informal, derogatory, used for an old woman]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature, folklore, and everyday speech, but not in formal or technical contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of basic noun inflections and cultural nuances)

Pronunciation (Russian):

ведьма: /ˈvʲedʲimə/

старуха: /ˈstarʊxə/

Note on ведьма: The initial 'в' is pronounced as a voiced labiodental fricative, and the soft sign 'ь' affects the preceding consonant, making it palatalized. Be cautious with the stress on the first syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: An ugly, frightening old woman, often with connotations of witchcraft or malice (e.g., in folklore).

Translation(s) & Context:

• ведьма - Used in contexts involving myths, stories, or supernatural elements; formal and literary.
• старуха - Informal, everyday language for an unpleasant old woman; can be mildly offensive.

Usage Examples:

• В лесу жила старая ведьма, которая пугала всех детей. (V lesu zhila staraya ved'ma, kotoraya pugala vsekh detey.)

  In the forest lived an old hag who scared all the children.

• Эта ведьма всегда готовила зелья из трав и кореньев. (Eta ved'ma vsegda gotovila zel'ya iz trav i korenev.)

  This hag always brewed potions from herbs and roots.

• В деревне все боялись местной старухи, которую звали ведьмой. (V derevne vse boyalis' mestnoy starukhi, kotoruyu zvali ved'moy.)

  In the village, everyone feared the local hag, whom they called a witch.

• Старуха в фильме была настоящей ведьмой, с крючковатым носом и злым взглядом. (Starukha v fil'me byla nastoyaschey ved'moy, s kryuchkovatym nosom i zlym vzglyadom.)

  The hag in the movie was a real witch, with a hooked nose and an evil glare.

Meaning 2: Figuratively, a disagreeable or unpleasant woman (more modern, slangy usage).

Translation(s) & Context:

• старуха - Informal, derogatory; used in casual conversations or arguments.

Usage Examples:

• Не слушай эту старуху, она всегда всем мешает. (Ne slushay etu starukhu, ona vsegda vsem meshayet.)

  Don't listen to that hag; she's always getting in everyone's way.

• В офисе работает одна старуха, которая ругает всех за мелкие ошибки. (V ofise rabotaet odna starukha, kotoraya rugayet vsekh za melkie oshibki.)

  At the office, there's one hag who scolds everyone for minor mistakes.

• Эта старуха на рынке торгуется так, будто она ведьма из сказки. (Eta starukha na rynke torguetsya tak, budto ona ved'ma iz skazki.)

  That hag at the market bargains as if she's a witch from a fairy tale.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "ведьма" and "старуха" are feminine nouns in Russian, which means they follow the standard feminine declension patterns. "Ведьма" is a first-declension noun with irregularities in some forms due to its historical roots.

Note: These nouns do not change in gender but inflect for case and number as shown. "Старуха" follows regular patterns, while "ведьма" has a soft sign that affects pronunciation in inflected forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • колдунья (koldunya) - More specifically for a witch or sorceress; often interchangeable with ведьма.
  • баба-яга (baba-yaga) - A specific folkloric figure, implying a hag from Russian fairy tales.
• Antonyms:
  • красавица (krasavitsa) - Beauty, the opposite of an ugly hag.
  • молодая женщина (molodaya zhenshchina) - Young woman, contrasting with the age implication.

Related Phrases:

• Ведьма на метле (Ved'ma na metle) - Witch on a broom; a common phrase in folklore, referring to stereotypical images of hags.
• Старая карга (Staraya karga) - Old hag; a derogatory fixed expression for an unpleasant woman.
• Ведьмина сила (Ved'mina sila) - Witch's power; used in contexts of magic or supernatural abilities.

Usage Notes:

"Hag" in English often carries a negative connotation, and its Russian equivalents like "ведьма" or "старуха" do the same. Choose "ведьма" for formal or literary contexts involving witchcraft, as it aligns closely with folklore. "Старуха" is more casual and can be offensive, so use it sparingly in spoken language. Be aware of gender sensitivity in Russian, where these terms are feminine and may not directly translate in mixed-gender scenarios. For example, if referring to a male equivalent, you might use "старик" instead, though it's not a perfect match.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "ведьма" in a neutral or positive context, e.g., saying "Она ведьма, но добрая" to mean "She is a hag, but kind," which sounds contradictory in Russian culture.
  Correct: Instead, use "волшебница" (volshebnitsa) for a kind witch. Error explanation: "Ведьма" implies malice, so it rarely pairs with positive adjectives without irony.
• Mistake: Forgetting to inflect the noun, e.g., saying "Я видел ведьма" instead of "Я видел ведьму."
  Correct: "Я видел ведьму" (Ya videl ved'mu). Error explanation: Russian nouns must agree in case; accusative is needed here for direct objects.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "ведьма" is deeply tied to Slavic folklore, often representing figures like Baba Yaga, a complex character who can be both helpful and harmful. This reflects broader themes in Russian literature and fairy tales, where hags symbolize wisdom, danger, or the unknown, differing from Western portrayals.

Related Concepts:

• Баба-Яга (Baba-Yaga)
• Колдун (Koldun)
• Мифология (Mifologiya)