Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'incite'

English Word: incite

Key Russian Translations:

• возбуждать (IPA: vɐzˈbuʐdətʲ) - [Formal, often used in legal or psychological contexts]
• подстрекать (IPA: pɐdˈstrʲekətʲ) - [Informal, commonly in everyday speech or historical narratives]
• провоцировать (IPA: prəvɐˈtsɨrəvətʲ) - [Neutral, versatile in media or conflict-related discussions]

Frequency: Medium (The word and its translations are encountered in news, literature, and discussions, but not as common as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and nuanced contexts, though basic forms are accessible to upper beginners.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

возбуждать: vɐzˈbuʐdətʲ

Note on возбуждать: The stress falls on the second syllable; be cautious with the soft 'ж' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers due to its fricative quality.

Audio: []

подстрекать: pɐdˈstrʲekətʲ

Note on подстрекать: Pronounce the 'str' cluster smoothly; the 'е' in the final syllable is reduced in fast speech, common in Russian phonetics.

Audio: []

провоцировать: prəvɐˈtsɨrəvətʲ

Note on провоцировать: The 'о' in the first syllable is often pronounced as a schwa; this verb has a borrowed feel from French, influencing its intonation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To encourage or stir up violent or unlawful behavior

Translation(s) & Context:

• подстрекать - Used in contexts involving instigation, such as in protests or criminal acts (e.g., in informal or legal English-Russian discussions).
• провоцировать - Applied when provoking reactions, often in emotional or social scenarios (e.g., in media reports).

Usage Examples:

• Он подстрекал толпу к бунту. (On podstrekal tolpu k buntu.)

  He incited the crowd to riot.

• Её речь провоцировала насилие среди протестующих. (Eyó rečʹ provotsirovala nasilie sredi protestuyushchikh.)

  Her speech incited violence among the protesters.

• Вожди подстрекали народ к восстанию. (Vozhdi podstrekali narod k vosstaniyu.)

  The leaders incited the people to rebellion.

• Слова политика провоцировали конфликт. (Slova politika provotsirovali konflikt.)

  The politician's words incited conflict.

Meaning 2: To stimulate or provoke a response in a non-violent context

Translation(s) & Context:

• возбуждать - Used for intellectual or emotional stimulation, such as in debates or creative processes (e.g., in formal or academic settings).
• провоцировать - In lighter contexts, like sparking curiosity or debate (e.g., in everyday conversations).

Usage Examples:

• Эта книга возбуждает интерес к истории. (Eta kniga vozbudhaet interes k istorii.)

  This book incites interest in history.

• Его комментарий провоцировал дискуссию. (Ego kommentarii provotsiroval diskussiyu.)

  His comment incited discussion.

• Фильм возбуждает эмоции зрителей. (Film vozbudhaet emotsii zritelei.)

  The film incites emotions in viewers.

• Реклама провоцирует покупки. (Reklama provotsiruet pokupki.)

  The advertisement incites purchases.

• Лекция возбуждает любопытство студентов. (Lektsiya vozbudhaet lyubopytstvo studentov.)

  The lecture incites curiosity among students.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily verbs, which in Russian undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. For example, 'возбуждать' and 'подстрекать' are imperfective verbs, while 'провоцировать' can be used in both aspects but is often imperfective in common usage.

Note: These verbs follow standard first-conjugation patterns with irregularities in stem changes. Adverbs or nouns derived from these (e.g., 'подстрекательство' for incitement as a noun) do not change in the same way and remain invariable in certain forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • возбуждать - стимулировать (stimulirovatʹ; more neutral, often for positive stimulation)
  • подстрекать - разжигать (razzhigatʹ; implies fueling, with a fiery connotation)
  • провоцировать - раздражать (razdrazhatʹ; focuses on irritation, but less intense)
• Antonyms:
  • успокаивать (uspokivatʹ; to calm)
  • сдерживать (sderzhivatʹ; to restrain)
  • умиротворять (umirotvoryatʹ; to pacify)

Related Phrases:

• Подстрекать к насилию (Podstrekatʹ k nasiliyu) - To incite violence; used in legal or social contexts to describe provocation leading to harm.
• Провоцировать конфликт (Provotsirovatʹ konflikt) - To incite conflict; common in diplomatic or interpersonal discussions.
• Возбуждать интерес (Vozbudhatʹ interes) - To incite interest; often in educational or marketing scenarios to spark curiosity.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'incite' translations like 'подстрекать' carry a strong negative connotation, often implying illegal or immoral actions, whereas 'возбуждать' can be more neutral or positive. Choose based on context: use 'провоцировать' for everyday provocations. Be mindful of aspect—imperfective forms show ongoing action, perfective (e.g., 'возбудить') for completed. English users should note that Russian verbs require agreement in person and number, unlike English 'incite'.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'возбуждать' interchangeably with 'подстрекать' without considering formality. Incorrect: Он возбуждает толпу к бунту (implies sexual arousal, not intended). Correct: Он подстрекат толпу к бунту. Explanation: 'Возбуждать' has a specific meaning related to excitement or arousal; opt for 'подстрекать' for incitement.
• Mistake: Forgetting verb conjugation, e.g., saying 'я провоцировать' instead of 'я провоцирую'. Incorrect: Я провоцировать дискуссию. Correct: Я провоцирую дискуссию. Explanation: Russian verbs must be conjugated; this error stems from direct word-for-word translation.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'подстрекать' often evoke historical contexts, such as the Russian Revolution, where incitement played a key role in social upheaval. This reflects a cultural sensitivity to authority and collective action, making these terms emotionally charged in modern discourse.

Related Concepts:

• возмущение (vozmushchenie; outrage)
• провокация (provokatsiya; provocation)
• стимул (stimul; stimulus)