Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'incendiary'

English Word: incendiary

Key Russian Translations:

• зажигательный [zəʐɨɡɐˈtʲelʲnɨj] - [Formal, used in contexts involving explosives or fire-starting devices]
• провокационный [prəvɐkɐˈt͡sɨjnɨj] - [Informal, used in social or rhetorical contexts for provocative or inflammatory content]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in news, military, or political discussions, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjectives and their nuances, with some vocabulary building for context-specific usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

зажигательный: [zəʐɨɡɐˈtʲelʲnɨj]

провокационный: [prəvɐkɐˈt͡sɨjnɨj]

Note on зажигательный: The stress falls on the third syllable; be cautious with the soft 'тʲ' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers. Variations in regional accents may soften the 'ж' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: As an adjective, meaning capable of causing fire, explosion, or inflammation (e.g., referring to devices or substances).

Translation(s) & Context:

• зажигательный - Used in formal or technical contexts, such as military or scientific discussions, to describe something that ignites or provokes fire.

Usage Examples:

• Войска использовали зажигательные бомбы для уничтожения вражеских укреплений.

  The troops used incendiary bombs to destroy enemy fortifications.

• Зажигательное вещество в гранате быстро распространяет пламя.

  The incendiary substance in the grenade quickly spreads flames.

• Этот зажигательный материал требует особой осторожности при хранении.

  This incendiary material requires special caution when storing.

• Зажигательные устройства часто применяются в промышленных тестах на огнестойкость.

  Incendiary devices are often used in industrial tests for fire resistance.

Meaning 2: As an adjective, meaning provocative or inflammatory, stirring up strong emotions or conflict (e.g., in speech or writing).

Translation(s) & Context:

• провокационный - Common in informal or media contexts, such as debates or social media, to describe content that incites anger or unrest.

Usage Examples:

• Его провокационная речь вызвала массовые протесты в городе.

  His incendiary speech sparked mass protests in the city.

• Провокационные статьи в газете разожгли напряжение между группами.

  The incendiary articles in the newspaper fueled tension between groups.

• Эта провокационная кампания в интернете привлекла внимание тысяч пользователей.

  This incendiary campaign on the internet caught the attention of thousands of users.

• Провокационные комментарии политика только ухудшили ситуацию.

  The politician's incendiary comments only worsened the situation.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are adjectives, which in Russian typically follow patterns of agreement with nouns in gender, number, and case. They are regular adjectives, meaning they inflect predictably.

For зажигательный (masc., singular):

For провокационный, it follows the same pattern:

These adjectives do not have irregular forms, making them straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • взрывной (vzryvnoi) - Similar to провокационный, but more intense, often implying literal explosions.
  • воспламеняющий (vosplamenyayushchiy) - Synonym for зажигательный, emphasizing ignition.
• Antonyms:
  • мирный (mirnyi) - Peaceful, opposite of provocative contexts.
  • негорючий (negoruchiy) - Non-flammable, opposite of fire-related meanings.

Related Phrases:

• Зажигательная смесь (zazhigatel'naya smes') - Incendiary mixture; a common term in chemistry or warfare, referring to flammable compounds.
• Провокационная тактика (provokatsionnaya taktika) - Incendiary tactics; used in strategy or politics to describe provocative maneuvers.
• Зажигательное оружие (zazhigatel'noye oruzhiye) - Incendiary weapon; refers to fire-based armaments in military contexts.

Usage Notes:

зажигательный is the more precise translation for the literal sense of "incendiary" as a fire-causing device, often used in formal or technical English-Russian contexts. In contrast, провокационный aligns with the metaphorical sense, such as in rhetoric or social issues. Choose based on context: use зажигательный for physical hazards and провокационный for emotional or social ones. Note that Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify, which is a key grammatical difference from English. Avoid direct word-for-word translations; instead, consider the broader implications in Russian discourse.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using зажигательный in non-physical contexts, e.g., saying "зажигательный речь" instead of "провокационная речь".
  Correct: провокационная речь (provocative speech). Explanation: These words are not interchangeable; mixing them can lead to confusion between literal and figurative meanings.
• Mistake: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "зажигательный бомба" (incorrect feminine form).
  Correct: зажигательная бомба. Explanation: Russian requires adjectives to match the noun's gender (bomba is feminine), so always check the noun's properties before inflecting.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and history, terms like зажигательный often evoke memories of World War II, where incendiary bombs were used extensively. This can add a layer of sensitivity in discussions, as it relates to wartime experiences and national resilience. провокационный might be linked to political rhetoric in modern Russia, where inflammatory media plays a role in public discourse, reflecting broader themes of censorship and expression.

Related Concepts:

• взрывчатка (vzryvchatka) - Explosives
• пламя (plamya) - Flame
• провокация (provokatsiya) - Provocation