Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'inflame'

English Word: inflame

Key Russian Translations:

• воспалить [vɐspɐˈlʲitʲ] - [Medical context, e.g., for physical inflammation]
• разжигать [rɐˈʐʐɨɡɐtʲ] - [Emotional or figurative context, e.g., to stir up anger or passion]

Frequency: Medium - The word and its translations are commonly encountered in medical, emotional, or literary contexts, but not in everyday casual conversation.

Difficulty: B1-B2 (Intermediate) - Learners at this level can grasp the basic usage, but mastering inflections and contextual nuances may require practice. For 'воспалить', it's slightly easier due to its medical specificity; for 'разжигать', it may vary to B2 due to its metaphorical applications.

Pronunciation (Russian):

воспалить: [vɐspɐˈlʲitʲ]

Note on воспалить: The stress falls on the last syllable ('-лить'), which is common in Russian verbs. Be mindful of the soft 'л' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers.

разжигать: [rɐˈʐʐɨɡɐtʲ]

Note on разжигать: The initial 'р' is rolled, and the double 'ж' creates a prolonged fricative sound. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To cause inflammation (medical sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• воспалить - Used in health-related discussions, such as describing physical reactions in the body. Context: Formal medical or scientific writing.

Usage Examples:

• Врач предупредил, что укус насекомого может воспалить кожу.

  The doctor warned that an insect bite could inflame the skin.

• Если не лечить инфекцию, она воспалит лёгкие и вызовет осложнения.

  If the infection is not treated, it will inflame the lungs and cause complications.

• Аллергия часто воспаляет слизистые оболочки, что приводит к отёку.

  Allergies often inflame the mucous membranes, leading to swelling.

• Воспалить рану — значит увеличить риск заражения.

  To inflame a wound means to increase the risk of infection.

Meaning 2: To stir up or provoke strong emotions (figurative sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• разжигать - Used in discussions of emotions, conflicts, or rhetoric. Context: Informal or formal settings like debates, literature, or media.

Usage Examples:

• Его речь разжигает ненависть среди толпы.

  His speech inflames hatred among the crowd.

• СМИ часто разжигают страсти вокруг политических скандалов.

  The media often inflames passions around political scandals.

• Разжигать конфликт — не лучший способ решить проблему.

  Inflaming a conflict is not the best way to solve the problem.

• Её слова разожгли энтузиазм в команде.

  Her words inflamed enthusiasm in the team.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are verbs, which undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number in Russian. Russian verbs are imperfective or perfective; 'воспалить' is perfective, while 'разжигать' is imperfective.

Note: These verbs are regular in many aspects but follow standard Russian conjugation patterns. 'воспалить' does not change in the infinitive form and is used for completed actions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • возбуждать (vozbudhat') - Similar to разжигать, but often implies arousal or excitement; used in emotional contexts.
  • раздражать (razdrazhat') - Milder synonym for разжигать, focusing on irritation rather than full inflammation.
  • воспламенить (vosplamenit') - A poetic synonym for воспалить, emphasizing sudden ignition.
• Antonyms:
  • успокаивать (uspokaivat') - To calm or soothe, opposite of emotional inflammation.
  • лечить (lechit') - To heal, directly opposing medical inflammation.

Related Phrases:

• Разжигать огонь - To inflame a fire (literally or metaphorically); used for starting conflicts or passions.
• Воспалить ситуацию - To inflame the situation; implies escalating a problem in emotional contexts.
• Разжигать ненависть - To inflame hatred; a common phrase in discussions of social issues.

Usage Notes:

In English, 'inflame' can be both literal (medical) and figurative (emotional), and Russian translations mirror this duality. Choose 'воспалить' for physical or health-related contexts, as it directly corresponds to inflammation processes. For emotional stirring, 'разжигать' is more appropriate, especially in formal or literary settings. Be cautious with aspect: use perfective forms like 'воспалить' for completed actions and imperfective like 'разжигать' for ongoing ones. In casual speech, synonyms like 'возбуждать' might be preferred for subtlety.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Confusing 'воспалить' with 'воспламенить' and using it in emotional contexts. Correct: Use 'разжигать' for emotions. Example of error: *Воспалить гнев* (incorrect, as it sounds medical). Correct example: Разжигать гнев.
• Mistake: Incorrect conjugation, e.g., saying 'я воспалю' when a present tense is needed. Correct: Use imperfective forms for ongoing actions, like 'я разжигаю'.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like 'разжигать ненависть' are often linked to historical contexts such as revolutionary rhetoric or propaganda, reflecting Russia's turbulent past. This adds a layer of intensity to the word, making it more emotive in literature or media compared to its neutral English counterpart.

Related Concepts:

• воспаление (inflammation)
• раздражение (irritation)
• возбуждение (excitement or arousal)