Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'mammonism'

English Word: mammonism

Key Russian Translations:

• Маммонизм /məˈmo.nʲɪzm/ - [Formal, Literary]
• Алчность /ˈalʲt͡ɕnəsʲtʲ/ - [Formal, General use]
• Стяжательство /stʲɪˈʐat͡ɕɪstvə/ - [Formal, Legal or Historical contexts]

Frequency: Low (This term is rare in everyday Russian and is mostly encountered in literary, philosophical, or religious discussions.)

Difficulty: C1 (Advanced) - Due to its specialized, archaic connotations; learners at B2 might recognize it in context, but full mastery requires familiarity with Russian literature and biblical influences.

Pronunciation (Russian):

Маммонизм: /məˈmo.nʲɪzm/ (Stress on the second syllable; the "м" is soft, and the "нʲ" indicates a palatalized 'n'.)

Note on Маммонизм: This word is a direct borrowing from English/Greek via biblical sources, so pronunciation may vary slightly in regional dialects, but the standard is as above. Pay attention to the soft consonants for accurate articulation.

Алчность: /ˈalʲt͡ɕnəsʲtʲ/ (Stress on the first syllable; the "лʲ" and "т͡ɕ" are palatalized, common in Russian nouns.)

Стяжательство: /stʲɪˈʐat͡ɕɪstvə/ (Stress on the third syllable; features a mix of hard and soft consonants, typical of abstract nouns.)

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: The excessive pursuit of wealth or material gain, often with negative connotations of greed.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Маммонизм - Used in formal, literary, or religious contexts to directly reference the biblical concept of Mammon, emphasizing idolatry of wealth. (e.g., In philosophical essays or critiques of capitalism.)
• Алчность - A more general term for greed, applicable in everyday discussions about personal finance or ethics. (e.g., In psychological or social contexts.)
• Стяжательство - Employed in legal or historical settings to denote acquisitiveness, often implying unethical accumulation. (e.g., In discussions of corruption or property laws.)

Usage Examples:

• В современном обществе маммонизм часто маскируется под успешность.

  In modern society, mammonism is often disguised as success.

• Его алчность не знала границ, превращая друзей в соперников.

  His greed knew no bounds, turning friends into rivals.

• Стяжательство правителей привело к социальному неравенству.

  The acquisitiveness of rulers led to social inequality.

• Маммонизм как идеология разрушает духовные ценности.

  Mammonism as an ideology destroys spiritual values.

• Алчность в бизнесе может привести к этическим конфликтам.

  Greed in business can lead to ethical conflicts.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily nouns, which in Russian undergo declension based on case, number, and gender. "Маммонизм" and "Алчность" are masculine nouns, while "Стяжательство" is a neuter noun. Below is a table outlining key inflections for each:

Note: These words do not have plural forms in common usage due to their abstract nature, but if pluralized (e.g., in rare contexts), they follow standard patterns: e.g., Маммонизмы (Nominative plural).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Сребролюбие (focuses on love of money, often with a moralistic tone)
  • Материализм (emphasizes material over spiritual values, broader than pure greed)
  • Азарт (in contexts of compulsive pursuit, like gambling-related greed)
• Antonyms:
  • Благотворительность (philanthropy, selflessness)
  • Аскетизм (asceticism, renunciation of material desires)
  • Самоотверженность (self-sacrifice, altruism)

Related Phrases:

• Культ маммонизма - The cult of mammonism; refers to societal worship of wealth. (Often used in critiques of consumerism.)
• Алчность к власти - Greed for power; extends the concept to non-material pursuits. (Common in political discourse.)
• Стяжательство богатств - Accumulation of wealth; implies unethical hoarding. (Used in historical or legal contexts.)

Usage Notes:

"Маммонизм" directly mirrors the English term, derived from biblical sources, and is best used in formal or academic writing to convey a sense of moral condemnation. "Алчность" is more versatile for everyday conversations but carries a negative connotation, so avoid it in neutral descriptions. When choosing between translations, opt for "Стяжательство" in legal contexts. Be mindful of Russian's case system, as these nouns change form based on sentence structure, which can affect emphasis (e.g., genitive for possession). English speakers might overgeneralize from "greed," but Russian nuances tie these words to cultural critiques of materialism.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "Маммонизм" interchangeably with "Алчность" without context, leading to overly formal language in casual speech. Correct: Reserve "Маммонизм" for literary discussions; e.g., Incorrect: "Его алчность — это маммонизм." (His greed is mammonism.) Correct: "Его алчность граничит с маммонизмом." (His greed borders on mammonism.) Explanation: This maintains precision and avoids redundancy.

• Error: Forgetting declensions, such as using nominative in all cases (e.g., "из-за Маммонизм" instead of "из-за Маммонизма"). Correct: Always adjust for case; e.g., "из-за Маммонизма" (genitive). Explanation: Russian grammar requires this for grammatical agreement, which English lacks, so learners must practice sentence structures.

Cultural Notes:

"Маммонизм" originates from the biblical figure of Mammon, symbolizing wealth in the New Testament, and carries a strong Christian undertone in Russian culture. In Russian literature (e.g., Dostoevsky), it often critiques the moral decay of society under tsarist or Soviet regimes, reflecting a broader Slavic tradition of contrasting material and spiritual pursuits. This makes it a loaded term in discussions of post-Soviet capitalism.

Related Concepts:

• Капитализм
• Материализм
• Сребролюбие
• Азарт