Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'hallucinate'

English Word: hallucinate

Key Russian Translations:

• галлюцинировать /ɡəlʲjuˈt͡sinirəvətʲ/ - [Formal, Used in medical or psychological contexts]
• видеть галлюцинации /ˈvʲidʲetʲ ɡəlʲjuˈt͡sinət͡sɨi/ - [Informal, Literal phrase for everyday descriptions]

Frequency: Low (This verb is not commonly used in everyday conversation but appears in specialized fields like psychology and medicine.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires familiarity with Russian verb conjugations and medical vocabulary, with the first translation being slightly more challenging due to its borrowed origin.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

галлюцинировать: /ɡəlʲjuˈt͡sinirəvətʲ/

видеть галлюцинации: /ˈvʲidʲetʲ ɡəlʲjuˈt͡sinət͡sɨi/

Note on галлюцинировать: The stress falls on the fourth syllable, and the 'лʲ' sound is a soft 'l', which can be tricky for English speakers. Pronounce it with a clear emphasis to avoid confusion with similar words.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: To experience perceptions that are not based on reality, often due to mental health conditions.

Translation(s) & Context:

• галлюцинировать - Used in formal or clinical settings, such as describing symptoms in a doctor's office.
• видеть галлюцинации - More informal, often in casual conversations about dreams or hallucinations.

Usage Examples:

• Он начал галлюцинировать после долгого недосыпа. (He started hallucinating after a long period of sleep deprivation.)

  English Translation: He started hallucinating after a long period of sleep deprivation.

• В фильме героиня видит галлюцинации, которые пугают её. (In the movie, the heroine sees hallucinations that scare her.)

  English Translation: In the movie, the heroine sees hallucinations that scare her.

• Пациент галлюцинировал звуки, которых не было на самом деле. (The patient was hallucinating sounds that weren't actually there.)

  English Translation: The patient was hallucinating sounds that weren't actually there.

• Под влиянием наркотиков, он видел галлюцинации в виде ярких цветов. (Under the influence of drugs, he saw hallucinations in the form of bright colors.)

  English Translation: Under the influence of drugs, he saw hallucinations in the form of bright colors.

• Доктор объяснил, что галлюцинировать может быть симптомом серьёзного заболевания. (The doctor explained that hallucinating can be a symptom of a serious illness.)

  English Translation: The doctor explained that hallucinating can be a symptom of a serious illness.

Secondary Meaning: To imagine or perceive something inaccurately in a non-clinical context, e.g., in literature or metaphorically.

Translation(s) & Context:

• галлюцинировать - Used metaphorically in creative writing or discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Поэты иногда галлюцинируют миры, которые существуют только в их воображении. (Poets sometimes hallucinate worlds that exist only in their imagination.)

  English Translation: Poets sometimes hallucinate worlds that exist only in their imagination.

• В жару пустыни люди могут галлюцинировать оазисы. (In the desert heat, people can hallucinate oases.)

  English Translation: In the desert heat, people can hallucinate oases.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

галлюцинировать is a verb of the first conjugation in Russian, which means it follows regular patterns for most forms. It is an imperfective verb, often used to describe ongoing or repeated actions.

видеть галлюцинации is a phrase where "видеть" is a verb that conjugates regularly, and "галлюцинации" is a plural noun in the accusative case. It remains relatively unchanged in basic forms but adjusts for case and number in sentences.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • иметь галлюцинации (to have hallucinations; more descriptive in casual speech)
  • призрачно видеть (to see ghost-like visions; used in poetic contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • реально воспринимать (to perceive realistically; emphasizes clear, factual perception)
  • не фантазировать (not to fantasize; contrasts with imagined scenarios)

Related Phrases:

• Видеть розовых слонов - A idiomatic expression meaning to hallucinate due to alcohol; literally "to see pink elephants."
• Галлюцинации от усталости - Hallucinations from fatigue; used in contexts discussing exhaustion.
• Призрачные видения - Ghostly visions; a phrase for non-clinical hallucinations in stories.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "галлюцинировать" is a direct borrowing from English and is most appropriate in formal or medical contexts, similar to its English counterpart. Avoid using it in everyday informal speech, where phrases like "видеть галлюцинации" are more natural. Be mindful of verb conjugation based on subject and tense, as Russian requires agreement. When choosing between translations, opt for "галлюцинировать" in professional settings and the phrasal form for casual discussions to ensure idiomatic accuracy.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "галлюцинировать" in informal contexts without conjugation, e.g., saying "Я галлюцинировать" instead of "Я галлюцинирую".
  Correct: "Я галлюцинирую" (I am hallucinating). Explanation: Russian verbs must be conjugated for person and number; this error stems from direct word-for-word translation from English.
• Mistake: Confusing it with "фантазировать" (to fantasize), which is less severe and not tied to hallucinations.
  Correct: Use "галлюцинировать" for perceptual distortions, not creative imagination. Explanation: These words overlap semantically but differ in intensity; misuse can lead to misunderstandings in medical contexts.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, hallucinations are often depicted in literature and folklore, such as in works by Dostoevsky, where they symbolize inner turmoil or spiritual experiences. The phrase "видеть розовых слонов" reflects a humorous take on alcohol-induced hallucinations, similar to English idioms, highlighting cultural attitudes toward substance use and perception.

Related Concepts:

• иллюзия (illusion)
• психоз (psychosis)
• мираж (mirage)