Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'imprecation'

English Word: imprecation

Key Russian Translations:

• проклятие /prɐˈklʲætʲɪje/ - [Formal, often used in literary or serious contexts]
• ругательство /rʊɡɐˈtʲelʲstvə/ - [Informal, commonly in everyday speech or colloquial settings]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations appear regularly in literature, media, and casual conversations, but not as frequently as everyday vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of basic noun inflections and contextual usage. For 'проклятие', it is B1; for 'ругательство', it is A2 due to its simpler structure.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

проклятие: /prɐˈklʲætʲɪje/ (Stress on the third syllable; the 'лʲ' sound is a palatalized 'l', which can be challenging for English speakers.)

Note on проклятие: Be mindful of the soft sign (ʲ) which affects pronunciation; it softens the preceding consonant. Variations may occur in regional dialects.

Audio: []

ругательство: /rʊɡɐˈtʲelʲstvə/ (Stress on the fourth syllable; the ending 'ство' is pronounced with a soft 'tʲ'.)

Note on ругательство: This word has a more fluid pronunciation in fast speech, potentially blending vowels.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A spoken curse or swear word, often expressing anger or invoking harm.

Translation(s) & Context:

• проклятие - Used in formal or literary contexts, such as in novels or historical discussions, to denote a serious curse.
• ругательство - Applied in informal, everyday situations, like arguments or casual venting, to refer to profanity.

Usage Examples:

• Он проклял врага в гневе. (He cursed his enemy in anger.)

  Translation: He imprecated his enemy in anger. (This example shows 'проклятие' in a formal, emotional context with a verb form.)

• Её ругательства эхом разнеслись по комнате. (Her imprecations echoed through the room.)

  Translation: Her curses echoed through the room. (Illustrates 'ругательство' in a plural, informal setting, emphasizing sound and intensity.)

• В старых сказках часто встречаются проклятия, которые влияют на судьбу героев. (In old fairy tales, imprecations often influence the heroes' fate.)

  Translation: In old fairy tales, curses often influence the heroes' fate. (Demonstrates 'проклятие' in a narrative, literary context.)

• Он избегал ругательств в присутствии детей. (He avoided imprecations in the presence of children.)

  Translation: He avoided curses in the presence of children. (Shows 'ругательство' in a social, restrained context, highlighting politeness.)

• Проклятие предка навлекло беду на семью. (The ancestor's imprecation brought misfortune upon the family.)

  Translation: The ancestor's curse brought misfortune upon the family. (This uses 'проклятие' in a historical or superstitious narrative.)

A formal or ritualistic invocation of harm, as in folklore.

Translation(s) & Context:

• проклятие - Preferred in cultural or mythical contexts, such as Russian folklore.

Usage Examples:

• В русской мифологии проклятия колдунов часто были неотвратимы. (In Russian mythology, witches' imprecations were often inevitable.)

  Translation: In Russian mythology, witches' curses were often inevitable. (This example highlights cultural usage in a broader thematic context.)

• Ругательства в повседневной жизни не так опасны, как древние проклятия. (Imprecations in everyday life are not as dangerous as ancient curses.)

  Translation: Curses in everyday life are not as dangerous as ancient imprecations. (Compares 'ругательство' and 'проклятие' in contrasting contexts.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are nouns. 'Проклятие' is a neuter noun in the second declension, which follows regular patterns. 'Ругательство' is also neuter and follows similar rules. Below is a table for 'проклятие' as an example; 'ругательство' inflects similarly.

For 'ругательство', it is invariant in most forms but changes to 'ругательств' in plural genitive. These are regular inflections, making them straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • проклинанье (more poetic, often used in literature)
  • клятва (with a nuance of oath, but can imply cursing)
  • брань (general swearing, less formal than проклятие)
• Antonyms:
  • благословение (a blessing, opposite in connotation)
  • похвала (praise, contrasting with negative invocation)

Related Phrases:

• Проклятие судьбы - (A curse of fate; refers to inevitable bad luck in life.)
• Выпустить ругательства - (To let out imprecations; means to vent anger through swearing.)
• Древнее проклятие - (Ancient curse; often used in stories about historical or mythical events.)

Usage Notes:

'Imprecation' directly corresponds to 'проклятие' in formal contexts and 'ругательство' in informal ones. Choose 'проклятие' for literary or serious discussions to maintain a elevated tone, while 'ругательство' suits casual conversations. Be aware of Russian's grammatical gender and cases; always inflect based on sentence structure. In spoken Russian, these words can carry strong emotional weight, so use them cautiously in social settings.

• Avoid direct translation in idioms; for example, 'проклятие' might not always mean a literal curse but could imply frustration.
• In formal writing, pair with adjectives like 'древнее проклятие' for precision.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse 'проклятие' with 'клятва' (oath), leading to misuse in contexts of promises. For example:

• Incorrect: Он дал проклятие (He gave an imprecation) when meaning a promise. Correct: Он дал клятву. Explanation: 'Проклятие' implies cursing, not pledging, so use 'клятва' for oaths to avoid semantic errors.
• Incorrect inflection: Saying 'проклятию' in nominative case. Correct: Use 'проклятие' for nominative. Explanation: Proper case agreement is crucial in Russian sentences.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'проклятие' often appears in folklore and literature, such as in tales by Pushkin, where curses symbolize fate or divine retribution. This reflects a historical belief in the power of words, influencing modern expressions of anger or superstition.

Related Concepts:

• заклинание (spell or incantation)
• проклятье (a variant form, emphasizing cursing)
• благословение (blessing, as a contrasting idea)