Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'homesick'

English Word: homesick

Key Russian Translations:

• тоска по дому [/ˈtoskə pə ˈdomʊ/] - [Informal, commonly used in everyday emotional contexts]
• ностальгия по дому [/nɐstɐlʲˈɡʲijə pə ˈdomʊ/] - [Formal, often in literary or reflective settings]

Frequency: Medium (This term appears regularly in conversations about emotions, literature, and personal experiences, but not as frequently as basic everyday vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of emotional vocabulary and basic noun phrases. For 'тоска по дому', it's B1; for 'ностальгия по дому', it might lean towards B2 due to its more nuanced connotations.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

тоска по дому: /ˈtoskə pə ˈdomʊ/

ностальгия по дому: /nɐstɐlʲˈɡʲijə pə ˈdomʊ/

Note on тоска по дому: The stress on the first syllable of "тоска" can vary slightly in rapid speech, potentially sounding like /tɐsˈka/ in some dialects; pay attention to the soft 'к' sound.

Note on ностальгия по дому: The 'г' in "ностальгия" is pronounced as a soft 'g' (/ɡʲ/), which may be challenging for beginners; it's derived from Greek roots.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The feeling of longing for one's home or familiar surroundings, often accompanied by sadness.

Translation(s) & Context:

• тоска по дому - Used in informal, everyday situations to express a deep, emotional yearning for home, such as when traveling or living abroad.
• ностальгия по дому - Applied in more formal or introspective contexts, like writing or discussions about past experiences, emphasizing a reflective nostalgia.

Usage Examples:

• После недели в чужой стране, меня охватила тоска по дому.

  After a week in a foreign country, I was overcome with homesickness.

• Студент, живущий в общежитии, часто испытывает тоску по дому, особенно по праздникам.

  A student living in a dormitory often feels homesick, especially during holidays.

• Ностальгия по дому заставила его вернуться в родной город раньше, чем планировалось.

  Homesickness made him return to his hometown earlier than planned.

• В письме к другу она описала свою тоску по дому как непреодолимую волну эмоций.

  In her letter to a friend, she described her homesickness as an overwhelming wave of emotions.

• После долгой командировки, ностальгия по дому превратилась в сильное желание увидеть семью.

  After a long business trip, homesickness turned into a strong desire to see family.

Another nuance: A more general sense of emotional disconnection from home, possibly in metaphorical contexts.

Translation(s) & Context:

• тоска по родным местам - Used when referring to missing not just a physical home but familiar environments, in casual or poetic speech.

Usage Examples:

• Путешественник ощущал тоску по родным местам, вспоминая детство.

  The traveler felt homesick, reminiscing about childhood.

• Тоска по родным местам иногда мотивирует людей возвращаться к корням.

  Homesickness for one's native places sometimes motivates people to return to their roots.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'тоска по дому', 'тоска' is a feminine noun (from the first declension). It follows standard Russian noun inflections, which are regular but can vary by case and number. 'По дому' is a prepositional phrase where 'дом' (house/home) is a masculine noun from the second declension.

For 'ностальгия', it is also a feminine noun with similar regular inflections: Nominative - ностальгия; Genitive - ностальгии, etc. The phrase 'по дому' inflects as above for 'дом'.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • ностальгия (similar but more focused on fond memories; often interchangeable in formal contexts)
  • тоска (a broader term for longing, which can apply here but is less specific)
• Antonyms:
  • радость (joy, as it contrasts the sadness of missing home)
  • удовлетворенность (contentment, implying no longing)

Related Phrases:

• соскучиться по дому - A verb phrase meaning "to become homesick"; used in contexts of growing longing over time. (English: Often implies a developing feeling of missing home.)
• тоска по родине - Meaning "homesickness for one's homeland"; common in discussions of emigration or travel. (English: Emphasizes national or cultural ties.)
• чувствовать ностальгию по прошлому - Meaning "to feel nostalgic for the past"; related but broader, including homesickness. (English: Useful in storytelling or personal reflection.)

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'homesick' doesn't have a direct one-word equivalent, so phrases like 'тоска по дому' are used instead. Choose 'тоска по дому' for everyday, emotional conversations, as it conveys a raw, heartfelt longing. 'Ностальгия по дому' is better for formal or written contexts, as it implies a more intellectual or reflective state. Be mindful of grammatical gender and case agreements; for example, always pair 'тоска' with feminine adjectives. English speakers might over-translate directly, but remember that Russian often uses prepositional phrases to express complex emotions.

• Context tip: In informal settings, combine with verbs like 'испытывать' (to experience) for natural flow.
• Multiple translations: Opt for 'тоска' if the emphasis is on immediate emotion; use 'ностальгия' for longer-term reflections.

Common Errors:

English learners often mistakenly use 'тоска' alone without 'по дому', which can make the sentence vague (e.g., Incorrect: "Я тоска" instead of Correct: "Я испытываю тоску по дому"). This errors because 'тоска' needs context to specify what is longed for. Another common mistake is confusing it with 'соскучиться', which is a verb (e.g., Incorrect: "Я соскучился по дому as a noun" when it should be used as "Я соскучился по дому" meaning "I became homesick"). Always ensure proper case usage, as in genitive for 'по дому'.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'тоска' represents a profound, almost existential longing, often romanticized in literature like in the works of Chekhov or Turgenev. It's not just about missing home but can embody a deeper melancholy tied to national identity or personal history, especially in contexts of exile or migration. This cultural depth makes 'тоска по дому' more emotionally charged than the English 'homesick', reflecting Russia's historical experiences with displacement.

Related Concepts:

• грусть (sadness)
• тоска (general longing)
• родина (homeland)