Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'hysteria'

English Word: hysteria

Key Russian Translations:

• истерия [ɪsʲˈtʲerʲɪjə] - [Formal, Medical/Psychological context]
• истерика [ɪsʲˈtʲerʲɪkə] - [Informal, Everyday emotional context]

Frequency: Medium (Common in psychological discussions, literature, and media, but not in casual everyday conversation.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for "истерия" (requires understanding of psychological terms); A2 (Beginner) for "истерика" in simple emotional contexts.

Pronunciation (Russian):

истерия: [ɪsʲˈtʲerʲɪjə]

истерика: [ɪsʲˈtʲerʲɪkə]

Note on истерия: The stress is on the second syllable, which can be challenging for English speakers due to the palatalized 's' sound (ʲ). Pronounce it with a soft, almost 'sh'-like quality.

Note on истерика: Similar to "истерия," but the final 'a' sound is softer; avoid over-emphasizing the 'k' to sound natural in informal speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: An overwhelming emotional outburst or psychological state characterized by uncontrolled excitement, fear, or anxiety.

Translation(s) & Context:

• истерия - Used in formal or medical contexts, such as describing a psychological disorder or historical events.
• истерика - Used in informal settings to describe everyday emotional meltdowns, like in family arguments.

Usage Examples:

• Она впала в истерию после получения плохих новостей о семье. (Ona vpala v isteriyu posle polucheniya plokhikh novostey o sem'ye.)

  She fell into hysteria after receiving bad news about her family. (This example shows "истерия" in a psychological context, highlighting emotional overload.)

• Во время скандала ребенок устроил настоящую истерику, крича и плача. (Vo vremya skandala rebenok ustroil nastoyashchuyu isteriku, kriya i placha.)

  During the argument, the child threw a real hysteria, screaming and crying. (Here, "истерика" is used informally to describe a child's tantrum, common in domestic scenarios.)

• В толпе возникла массовая истерия из-за ложной тревоги. (V tolpe voznikla massovaya isteriya iz-za lozhnoi trevogi.)

  Mass hysteria broke out in the crowd due to a false alarm. (This demonstrates "истерия" in a social or crowd context, often in news or historical descriptions.)

• Его истерика в офисе заставила коллег вмешаться. (Yego isterika v ofise zastavila kolleg vmeshatsya.)

  His hysteria in the office forced his colleagues to intervene. (An example of "истерика" in a professional setting, showing escalation of emotions.)

• Истерия во время войны часто приводила к панике среди населения. (Isteriya vo vremya voyny chasto privodila k panike sredi naseleniya.)

  Hysteria during the war often led to panic among the population. (This illustrates "истерия" in historical or wartime contexts, emphasizing broader implications.)

Secondary Meaning: Exaggerated or unfounded excitement, often in a non-medical sense (e.g., public frenzy).

Translation(s) & Context:

• истерия - In media or cultural discussions, to describe overblown reactions.

Usage Examples:

• СМИ раздули истерию вокруг политического скандала. (SMI razduli isteriyu vokrug politicheskogo skandala.)

  The media whipped up hysteria around the political scandal. (This shows "истерия" in a journalistic context, indicating amplified public reaction.)

• Интернет-истерия по поводу новой технологии быстро утихла. (Internet-isteriya po povodu novoy tekhnologii bystro ukhikhla.)

  Internet hysteria about the new technology quickly died down. (Example of "истерия" in modern digital contexts, demonstrating temporary excitement.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "истерия" and "истерика" are feminine nouns in Russian, which means they follow standard feminine declension patterns. They are invariable in terms of gender but change based on case and number.

Note: These follow regular patterns for feminine nouns ending in -я/-ия, with no irregularities. For example, in plural, they can describe multiple instances of hysteria.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • паника (panika) - More general term for panic, often interchangeable in emotional contexts.
  • эмоциональный срыв (emotsional'nyy sryv) - Emphasizes emotional breakdown, slightly more formal.
• Antonyms:
  • спокойствие (spokoystvo) - Calmness, directly opposite in emotional state.
  • самоконтроль (samokontrol') - Self-control, highlighting restraint.

Related Phrases:

• впадать в истерику (vpadat' v isteriku) - To fall into hysteria; used for sudden emotional outbursts. (Common in describing personal crises.)
• массовое помешательство (massovoye pomeshatel'stvo) - Mass hysteria; refers to group phenomena. (Often in historical or social contexts.)
• истерический припадок (istericheskiy pripadok) - Hysteric fit; a medical or dramatic term for an episode. (Used in literature or psychology.)

Usage Notes:

"Истерия" is the more precise translation for the medical or psychological concept of hysteria, aligning closely with English usage in clinical settings. In contrast, "истерика" is more colloquial and should be used for everyday emotional scenarios to avoid sounding overly formal. Be cautious with context: in Russian, these words can carry a negative connotation, implying irrationality, so they are best avoided in polite or professional discussions unless necessary. When choosing between translations, opt for "истерия" in written or academic contexts and "истерика" in spoken language. Grammatically, always treat them as feminine nouns and adjust for case as needed.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "истерия" with "истерика" in formal writing: English learners might use "истерика" in a medical report, which sounds informal. Correct usage: Use "истерия" for professional contexts. Example of error: "Пациент имеет истерику" (wrong, too casual); Correct: "Пациент страдает от истерии".
• Mispronouncing the stressed syllable: Learners often stress the first syllable, e.g., [ˈɪsʲtʲerʲɪjə] instead of [ɪsʲˈtʲerʲɪjə]. This can make the word sound unnatural; practice with native audio to correct.
• Overusing in casual speech: Beginners might apply "истерия" everywhere, but it's not common in daily talk. Instead, Russians might say "нервы сдали" (nerves gave out) for a lighter tone.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "истерия" has historical ties to 19th-century psychology, influenced by Western ideas like those of Freud, and was often associated with women's emotional states in literature (e.g., in works by Chekhov). Today, it can carry a gendered stereotype, so using it carelessly might reinforce outdated views. In modern contexts, it's more neutral but still evokes images of Soviet-era emotional repression versus outbursts.

Related Concepts:

• паника (panika)
• стресс (stress)
• эмоциональный дисбаланс (emotsional'nyy disbalans)