Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'lust'

English Word: lust

Key Russian Translations:

• похоть [pɐˈxotʲ] - [Informal, relating to sexual desire, often with negative connotations]
• вожделение [vəʐdʲɪˈlʲenʲɪje] - [Formal, broader sense of intense or passionate desire, not always sexual]
• жажда [ˈʐaʐdə] - [Neutral, used for general intense longing or craving, e.g., for power or objects]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature, psychology, or discussions about human emotions, but not in everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of nuanced vocabulary and cultural contexts; for 'похоть', it may lean towards B2 due to its sensitive connotations, while 'жажда' could be A2 for basic uses)

Pronunciation (Russian):

похоть: [pɐˈxotʲ]

вожделение: [vəʐdʲɪˈlʲenʲɪje]

жажда: [ˈʐaʐdə]

Note on похоть: The 'х' sound is a voiceless velar fricative, similar to the 'ch' in Scottish "loch"; pronounce it from the back of your throat for authenticity. For вожделение, stress the third syllable and note the soft 'л' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Intense sexual desire

Translation(s) & Context:

• похоть - Typically used in contexts involving temptation, passion, or moral discussions, often with a negative or cautionary tone in literature or psychology.
• вожделение - Applied in more poetic or formal settings, such as describing overwhelming attraction in relationships or art.

Usage Examples:

• Его охватила неудержимая похоть при виде красавицы. (Yego okhvatila nyeudyerzhimaya pokhot' pri vide krasavitsy.)

  He was overcome by uncontrollable lust at the sight of the beauty.

• В фильме показано, как похоть приводит к разрушительным последствиям. (V fil'me pokazano, kak pokhot' privodit k razrushitel'nym posledstviyam.)

  The film shows how lust leads to destructive consequences.

• Она боролась с внутренним вожделением, но уступила искушению. (Ona borolas' s vnutrennim vozhdeleniyem, no ustupila iskusheniyu.)

  She struggled with inner lust but gave in to temptation.

• Похоть часто изображается в классической литературе как опасная сила. (Pokhot' chasto izobrazhaetsya v klassicheskoy literature kak opasnaya sila.)

  Lust is often depicted in classical literature as a dangerous force.

2. Strong non-sexual desire or craving

Translation(s) & Context:

• жажда - Used for intense longing in non-sexual contexts, such as ambition or material desires, in everyday or motivational language.
• вожделение - Less common, but can extend to passionate pursuits like art or knowledge.

Usage Examples:

• Его жажда власти сделала его безжалостным лидером. (Yego zhazhda vlasti sdelala yego bezzhalostnym liderom.)

  His lust for power made him a ruthless leader.

• Вожделение к знаниям мотивировало её продолжать учёбу. (Vozhdeleniye k znaniyam motivirovalo yeyu prodolzhat' uchebu.)

  Her lust for knowledge motivated her to continue studying.

• Жажда приключений заставила его отправиться в кругосветное путешествие. (Zhazhda priklyucheniy zastavila yego otpravitstya v krugosvetnoye puteshestviye.)

  His lust for adventure made him embark on a world tour.

• Иногда жажда богатства ослепляет людей. (Inogda zhazhda bogatstva osleplayet lyudey.)

  Sometimes lust for wealth blinds people.

• Вожделение свободы вдохновило революцию. (Vozhdeleniye svobody vdokhnovilо revolyutsiyu.)

  Lust for freedom inspired the revolution.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily nouns, which inflect based on Russian grammatical cases, number, and gender. 'Похоть' is a feminine noun, 'вожделение' is neuter, and 'жажда' is feminine. They follow standard Russian noun declension patterns, which are regular but require attention to case endings.

These words do not have irregular inflections but change based on context. For example, in plural forms, they are used less frequently and may imply multiple instances of desire.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • страсть [ˈstrastʲ] (passion; similar to вожделение but more emotional)
  • желание [ʐɪˈlanʲɪje] (desire; broader and less intense than жажда)
• Antonyms:
  • отвращение [ɐtvrɐˈʐenʲɪje] (aversion; direct opposite of intense desire)
  • апатия [ɐˈpatʲɪjə] (apathy; lack of desire)

Related Phrases:

• Горячая похоть [Gor'chaya pokhot'] - "Burning lust"; used to describe overwhelming sexual passion, often in dramatic contexts.
• Жажда мести [Zhazhda mesti] - "Lust for revenge"; a common phrase in literature for intense desire for retribution.
• Вожделение богатства [Vozhdeleniye bogatstva] - "Lust for wealth"; implies a greedy or obsessive pursuit of money.

Usage Notes:

'Lust' in English often carries a sexual connotation, which aligns closely with 'похоть' in Russian, but 'вожделение' or 'жажда' can be more neutral. Choose 'похоть' for informal or negative contexts, as it's less common in polite conversation. Be mindful of gender and case agreements in sentences; for example, 'похоть' must agree with feminine nouns. In formal writing, 'вожделение' is preferred for its literary tone. Avoid direct translations in idiomatic expressions, as Russian may use metaphors differently.

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'похоть' with 'любовь' (love): Learners might overuse 'похоть' where 'любовь' is more appropriate, e.g., saying "Его похоть к ней" instead of "Его любовь к ней" for romantic affection. Correct: Use 'похоть' only for purely physical desire.

• Case errors: Forgetting to inflect, e.g., saying "Жажда власть" instead of "Жажда власти" (Genitive case). Explanation: Always check the required case based on the preposition or sentence structure.

• Overgeneralizing: Using 'вожделение' in casual speech, which sounds overly formal. Correct example: Instead of "Я имею вожделение к еде", say "У меня жажда еды" for everyday hunger.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'похоть' often appear in literature (e.g., Dostoevsky's works) to explore moral dilemmas, reflecting Orthodox Christian influences that view lust as a sin. 'Жажда' for non-sexual desires can evoke themes of ambition in Soviet-era stories, symbolizing the human drive amidst hardship.

Related Concepts:

• страсть (passion)
• любовь (love)
• искушение (temptation)
• апатия (apathy)