Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'indoctrinate'

English Word: indoctrinate

Key Russian Translations:

• индоктринировать /ɪn.dɐk.trʲɪˈnʲi.rə.vatʲ/ - [Formal, used in academic or political contexts]
• промывать мозги /prəˈmɨ.vətʲ ˈmoz.ɡʲi/ - [Informal, idiomatic expression for brainwashing]

Frequency: Medium - This verb is not everyday vocabulary but appears frequently in discussions of education, politics, or media influence.

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) - Requires understanding of advanced verb conjugations and contextual nuances; for "промывать мозги," it may be A2 (Beginner) due to its idiomatic nature but still needs cultural context.

Pronunciation (Russian):

индоктринировать: /ɪn.dɐk.trʲɪˈnʲi.rə.vatʲ/ - Stress on the fourth syllable; note the soft consonants (e.g., 'рʲ' and 'нʲ') which can be challenging for English speakers.

промывать мозги: /prəˈmɨ.vətʲ ˈmoz.ɡʲi/ - Stress on the second syllable of each word; the 'ы' sound (/ɨ/) is a distinct Russian vowel not found in English.

Note on индоктринировать: Be cautious with the rolling 'r' sound in 'рʲ', which varies by dialect; in some regions, it may soften further.

Note on промывать мозги: This is a phrase, so pronounce it as two separate words; the 'гʲ' in 'мозги' is palatalized, making it sound softer.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Main meaning: To teach someone to accept a set of beliefs uncritically, often with a negative connotation related to propaganda or ideological influence.

Translation(s) & Context:

• индоктринировать - Used in formal settings, such as education or politics, to describe systematic indoctrination.
• промывать мозги - Informal, metaphorical usage in everyday conversations, implying manipulation or brainwashing through media or advertising.

Usage Examples:

• Они пытаются индоктринировать молодёжь через школьные программы. (They are trying to indoctrinate the youth through school programs.)

  English: They are trying to indoctrinate the youth through school programs.

• Правительство промывает мозги гражданам с помощью государственной пропаганды. (The government is brainwashing citizens with state propaganda.)

  English: The government is brainwashing citizens with state propaganda. (This shows informal, everyday usage.)

• Родители не хотят, чтобы их детей индоктринировали в религиозных школах. (Parents don't want their children to be indoctrinated in religious schools.)

  English: Parents don't want their children to be indoctrinated in religious schools. (Illustrates passive voice in context.)

• Социальные сети часто используются для промывания мозгов пользователям. (Social media is often used to brainwash users.)

  English: Social media is often used to brainwash users. (Demonstrates modern, digital context.)

• В фильме показано, как культ индоктринирует новых членов. (The film shows how the cult indoctrinates new members.)

  English: The film shows how the cult indoctrinates new members. (Highlights narrative or storytelling usage.)

Secondary meaning: To instill ideas repeatedly, sometimes without negative intent (e.g., in education).

Translation(s) & Context:

• индоктринировать - In neutral contexts, like teaching core values, but less common than in negative scenarios.

Usage Examples:

• Учителя иногда невольно индоктринируют студентов своими взглядами. (Teachers sometimes inadvertently indoctrinate students with their views.)

  English: Teachers sometimes inadvertently indoctrinate students with their views.

• Книга предназначена для того, чтобы индоктринировать читателей в экологическом мышлении. (The book is intended to indoctrinate readers in ecological thinking.)

  English: The book is intended to indoctrinate readers in ecological thinking. (Shows positive or neutral intent.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are verbs, so they follow Russian verb conjugation patterns. "Индоктринировать" is a first-conjugation verb with regular patterns, while "промывать" (from "промывать мозги") is also first-conjugation but part of a phrase, so its inflection applies only to the verb.

For "индоктринировать" (infinitive):

For "промывать" (infinitive of the verb in the phrase):

It follows a similar pattern but is irregular in some aspects due to its prefix. The phrase "промывать мозги" as a whole does not inflect; only the verb changes (e.g., "промываю" for first person).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • внушать (vnushat' - to instill or suggest, often subtly)
  • зомбировать (zombirovat' - to zombie-fy, implying complete control, more informal)
• Antonyms:
  • освобождать (osvobozhdat' - to liberate or free from ideas)
  • просвещать (prosveshchat' - to enlighten, with a positive connotation)

Note: "Внушать" is a milder synonym, often used for positive influence, whereas "зомбировать" emphasizes total manipulation.

Related Phrases:

• Промывать мозги пропагандой (promyvat' mozgi propagandoy) - To brainwash with propaganda; used in contexts of media control.
• Индоктринировать массы (indoktrinirovat' massy) - To indoctrinate the masses; common in political discussions.
• Внушать ложные идеи (vnushat' lozhnye idei) - To instill false ideas; a related idiomatic expression for subtle manipulation.

Usage Notes:

"Индоктринировать" directly mirrors the English "indoctrinate" and is best used in formal writing or speeches, while "промывать мозги" is more colloquial and carries a stronger negative tone. Choose based on context: formal for academic settings, informal for everyday talk. Be aware of gender agreement in past tense conjugations (e.g., "индоктринировал" for masculine, "индоктринировала" for feminine). In Russian, these verbs often imply a power imbalance, so they are rarely neutral.

• Avoid direct translation in casual speech; "промывать мозги" is more natural than "индоктринировать" in modern Russian.
• Grammar note: These are imperfective verbs, so they describe ongoing actions; use perfective forms like "индоктринировать" with prefixes if needed for completed actions.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "индоктринировать" with "инструктировать" (instruktirovat' - to instruct): Error - Using "индоктринировать" when meaning simple teaching. Correct: Use "инструктировать" for neutral education. Example: Incorrect: "Я индоктринирую класс." (I am indoctrinating the class.) Correct: "Я учу класс." (I am teaching the class.)
• Overusing "промывать мозги" in formal contexts: Error - Treating it as a literal phrase. Correct: Reserve for informal settings; in formal writing, use "индоктринировать." Example: Incorrect: "В статье обсуждается промывание мозгов." Correct: "В статье обсуждается индоктринирование."
• Misconjugating verbs: Error - Forgetting gender in past tense (e.g., saying "индоктринировал" for a female subject). Correct: Adjust for gender, as in "Она индоктринировала аудиторию." (She indoctrinated the audience.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like "промывать мозги" are often linked to historical events such as Soviet-era propaganda, evoking Cold War imagery. This reflects a societal sensitivity to ideological manipulation, stemming from experiences with state-controlled media, which can add a layer of distrust when these words are used today.

Related Concepts:

• пропаганда (propaganda)
• идеология (ideologiya)
• манипуляция (manipulyatsiya)