Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'incident'

English Word: incident

Key Russian Translations:

• инцидент [ɪnʲˈt͡sʲɪdʲənt] - [Formal, Used in official, diplomatic, or journalistic contexts]
• случай [ˈslu.t͡ɕəj] - [Informal, Plural forms common, Used in everyday conversations for minor events]
• происшествие [prə.ɪˈʂɛstvʲɪjə] - [Formal, Plural, Often used in legal or emergency contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in news, legal, and professional discussions, but less frequent in casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate for 'инцидент' and 'происшествие'; A2 for 'случай' due to its simpler usage in basic narratives)

Pronunciation (Russian):

инцидент: [ɪnʲˈt͡sʲɪdʲənt]

случай: [ˈslu.t͡ɕəj]

происшествие: [prə.ɪˈʂɛstvʲɪjə]

Note on инцидент: The stress is on the second syllable; be mindful of the soft 'н' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalization.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. An event or occurrence, often unplanned or noteworthy.

Translation(s) & Context:

• инцидент - Used in formal settings like international relations or reports for events that may involve conflict.
• случай - Applied in informal contexts for everyday mishaps or situations.

Usage Examples:

• Вчера произошёл неприятный инцидент на границе. (Vchera proizoshel nepriyatnyy intsident na granitse.)

  Yesterday, an unpleasant incident occurred at the border.

• Этот случай с потерей документов может привести к проблемам. (Etot sluchay s poteryey dokumentov mozhet privesti k problemam.)

  This incident with the loss of documents could lead to problems.

• Во время встречи возникло небольшое происшествие из-за технической неисправности. (Vo vremya vstrechi vozniklo nebol'shoye proisshestviye iz-za tekhnicheskoy neispravnosti.)

  During the meeting, a minor incident arose due to a technical malfunction.

• Инцидент был улажен дипломатическим путём. (Intsident byl ulazhen diplomaticheskim putem.)

  The incident was resolved through diplomatic means.

• В повседневной жизни такие случаи происходят часто. (V povsednevnoy zhizni takie sluchai proiskhodyat chasto.)

  Such incidents happen frequently in everyday life.

2. A specific event in a sequence, often with negative connotations like a dispute.

Translation(s) & Context:

• происшествие - Common in narratives or reports of accidents or emergencies.
• инцидент - Preferred in contexts involving interpersonal or international conflicts.

Usage Examples:

• Полиция расследует это происшествие как возможное преступление. (Politsiya rasleduyet eto proisshestviye kak vozmozhnoye prestupleniye.)

  The police are investigating this incident as a possible crime.

• Между двумя странами возник инцидент из-за территориального спора. (Mezhdu dvumya stranami voznik intsident iz-za territorial'nogo spora.)

  An incident arose between the two countries due to a territorial dispute.

• Это мелкое происшествие не стоит вашего внимания. (Eto melkoye proisshestviye ne stoit vashego vnimaniya.)

  This minor incident isn't worth your attention.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'инцидент' is a masculine noun (3rd declension), which follows regular patterns with inflections for case and number. 'случай' is also masculine (2nd declension), and 'происшествие' is neuter (2nd declension). Below is a table for 'инцидент' as an example; similar patterns apply to others with variations.

For 'случай', it is mostly regular but can have irregularities in plural forms. 'происшествие' follows standard neuter patterns and does not change in gender.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • случай (more neutral, often for everyday events)
  • происшествие (emphasizes occurrence, with a slight formal tone)
  • событие (general event, but less negative connotation)
• Antonyms:
  • решение (resolution, as it contrasts with an unresolved incident)
  • норма (norm, implying something routine rather than exceptional)

Related Phrases:

• Международный инцидент (Mezhdunarodnyy intsident) - A phrase for an international incident, often involving diplomacy.
• Случай из жизни (Sluchay iz zhizni) - Refers to a real-life incident or anecdote from everyday experience.
• Происшествие на дороге (Proisshestviye na doroge) - Used for a traffic incident or accident on the road.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'инцидент' directly corresponds to the English 'incident' in formal contexts like news or law, but it carries a more serious tone. Choose 'случай' for informal or casual situations to avoid sounding overly formal. Be aware of grammatical gender: 'инцидент' is masculine, so adjectives and verbs must agree (e.g., "большой инцидент" for "big incident"). When multiple translations exist, select based on context—use 'происшествие' for events with potential danger. Always consider the audience; in spoken Russian, these words adapt to regional dialects.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'инцидент' in everyday casual talk, which can sound unnatural. Correct: Opt for 'случай' instead, e.g., Incorrect: "Это был инцидент в магазине." (This was an incident in the store.) Correct: "Это был случай в магазине." Explanation: 'Случай' fits better in informal settings to maintain natural flow.
• Mistake: Forgetting case inflections, e.g., saying "из инцидент" instead of "из инцидента". Correct: "Из инцидента вытекают последствия." (From the incident, consequences arise.) Explanation: Russian requires genitive case after prepositions like 'из', so always check agreement.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'инцидент' often appear in historical or political contexts, such as the Cold War-era incidents between the USSR and the West. They can carry undertones of tension or resolution, reflecting Russia's emphasis on diplomacy and resilience in narratives.

Related Concepts:

• конфликт (conflict)
• событие (event)
• кризис (crisis)