Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'massacre'

English Word: massacre

Key Russian Translations:

• резня /rʲɪzˈnʲa/ - [Formal, Historical contexts]
• массовое убийство /ˈmasəvəɪ uˈblʲɪstvə/ - [Formal, Legal or journalistic contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in news, historical texts, and discussions of conflicts, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of complex nouns and historical vocabulary; for "резня", it's B2 due to irregular inflections, while "массовое убийство" is also B2 as a compound phrase)

Pronunciation (Russian):

резня: /rʲɪzˈnʲa/ (The 'р' is a soft, rolled 'r'; stress on the second syllable. Note: Non-native speakers often struggle with the palatalized 'з' sound.)

массовое убийство: /ˈmasəvəɪ uˈblʲɪstvə/ (Stress on the first syllable of each word; 'у' in 'убийство' is pronounced as a short 'u'. Note: The phrase is compound, so practice linking words for natural flow.)

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The act of killing a large number of people, often indiscriminately, in a violent event

Translation(s) & Context:

• резня - Used in historical or narrative contexts to describe brutal, organized killings, such as in wars or uprisings.
• массовое убийство - Employed in modern, legal, or media contexts to denote large-scale killings, often with implications of criminality or tragedy.

Usage Examples:

• Во время войны произошла ужасная резня в деревне.

  During the war, a horrific massacre occurred in the village.

• Этот исторический документ описывает массовое убийство невинных жителей.

  This historical document describes the massacre of innocent residents.

• Резня в городе шокировала весь мир и привела к международным протестам.

  The massacre in the city shocked the world and led to international protests.

• Массовое убийство было результатом политического конфликта, унесшего тысячи жизней.

  The massacre was the result of a political conflict that claimed thousands of lives.

• После резни солдаты пытались скрыть следы преступления.

  After the massacre, the soldiers tried to cover up the traces of the crime.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"резня" is a feminine noun in the third declension, which means it has irregular inflections. It does not change in the nominative singular but varies in other cases. "массовое убийство" is a phrase where "массовое" is an adjective agreeing with "убийство" (neuter noun).

Note: "резня" is invariant in some contexts but follows standard feminine patterns. "Массовое убийство" changes based on the adjective agreeing with the noun.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: избиение (beating or slaughter, often less organized), бойня (slaughter, with a connotation of chaos), погром (pogrom, implying targeted violence against a group)
• Antonyms: мир (peace, as it contrasts with violence), спасение (rescue or salvation)

Explanation: "Избиение" is similar but implies more personal attacks, while "бойня" emphasizes brutality; use based on context for precision.

Related Phrases:

• Кровавая резня - A bloody massacre; used to intensify the violence in historical narratives.
• Массовое уничтожение - Mass destruction or extermination; often in contexts of war crimes or genocide.
• Резня невинных - Massacre of the innocent; highlights moral outrage in discussions.

Usage Notes:

Both "резня" and "массовое убийство" directly correspond to "massacre" in English, but choose "резня" for more poetic or historical writing, as it evokes emotional weight. "Массовое убийство" is preferred in formal, legal, or news contexts for its descriptive accuracy. Be mindful of the word's sensitivity; in Russian, it's often used in passive voice to emphasize the event's impact, e.g., "произошла резня" (a massacre occurred). Avoid in casual conversation due to its gravity; instead, use in educational or journalistic settings.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "резня" with "резка" (which means "cutting" or "harsh criticism"). Correct: Use "резня" only for violent killings; e.g., Incorrect: "Резка в деревне" (wrong, implies physical cutting), Correct: "Резня в деревне".
• Error: Failing to decline "резня" properly in sentences, e.g., using nominative in all cases. Correct: In genitive, say "после резни" (after the massacre), not "после резня".
• Error: Overusing "массовое убийство" in everyday language, making it sound overly formal. Correct: Reserve for reports; in casual discussion, context might call for euphemisms like "трагедия".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "резня" often evoke memories of historical events such as the Stalinist purges or World War II massacres, carrying a deep sense of trauma and national grief. This can add emotional layers in literature or media, reflecting Russia's history of conflict and resilience.

Related Concepts:

• война (war)
• геноцид (genocide)
• погром (pogrom)