Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'miracle'

English Word: miracle

Key Russian Translations:

• чудо /ˈtʃu.də/ - [Formal, Singular, Used in contexts of wonder or divine intervention]
• чудесный случай /ˈtʃu.dʲɪs.nɨj slʊˈtʃaɪ/ - [Informal, Phrase, Used for everyday miraculous events]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literature, religious texts, and everyday conversations, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; learners at this level can grasp it with exposure to basic Russian grammar, though noun declensions add complexity).

Pronunciation (Russian):

чудо: /ˈtʃu.də/ (The 'ч' sound is a voiceless palatal fricative, similar to 'ch' in 'church'. Stress on the first syllable.)

чудесный случай: /ˈtʃu.dʲɪs.nɨj slʊˈtʃaɪ/ (Note the soft 'дʲ' in 'чудесный', which affects vowel pronunciation; practice the rolling 'р' in 'случай' for accuracy.)

Note on чудо: Be cautious with the soft sign (ь) in derived words; it softens the preceding consonant, making it distinct from similar words like 'чудной' (eccentric).

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: An extraordinary and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws, often attributed to a divine agency.

Translation(s) & Context:

• чудо - Used in formal or religious contexts, such as miracles in the Bible or modern wonders.
• чудесный случай - Informal for everyday miracles, like a lucky coincidence.

Usage Examples:

• Это было настоящее чудо, когда ребёнок выздоровел после тяжёлой болезни.

  This was a real miracle when the child recovered from a serious illness.

• В истории России чудо часто ассоциируется с иконами и святыми местами.

  In Russian history, a miracle is often associated with icons and holy places.

• Её чудесный случай с выигрышем в лотерею изменил всю жизнь.

  Her miraculous case of winning the lottery changed her whole life.

• Во время войны чудо спасло солдат от гибели.

  During the war, a miracle saved the soldiers from death.

• Это чудо природы, когда цветы расцветают посреди зимы.

  This is a miracle of nature when flowers bloom in the middle of winter.

Meaning 2: Something extremely outstanding or unusual, not necessarily supernatural.

Translation(s) & Context:

• чудо - In metaphorical contexts, like a "miracle worker" in everyday achievements.
• чудесный случай - For serendipitous events in casual speech.

Usage Examples:

• Его изобретение было настоящим чудом техники.

  His invention was a real miracle of engineering.

• Чудесный случай помог ей найти работу в кризис.

  A miraculous case helped her find a job during the crisis.

• Это чудо, что мы встретились в таком большом городе.

  It's a miracle that we met in such a big city.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Чудо" is a neuter noun in the third declension with regular inflections. It changes based on case and number. Below is a table for its declensions:

For "чудесный случай", it is a phrase where "чудесный" (adjective) inflects regularly: e.g., чудесного (genitive singular). It has no irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • чудашество (more archaic, implies eccentricity)
  • феномен (used in scientific contexts)
  • невероятность (emphasizes improbability)
• Antonyms:
  • обыденность (ordinariness)
  • реальность (reality, contrasting with the supernatural)

Related Phrases:

• чудо Божье - A divine miracle; used in religious contexts to refer to acts attributed to God.
• совершить чудо - To perform a miracle; often in stories or metaphors for extraordinary achievements.
• чудесное спасение - Miraculous rescue; common in adventure or historical narratives.

Usage Notes:

"Чудо" directly corresponds to "miracle" in English but carries a stronger connotation of the supernatural in Russian culture, especially in Orthodox contexts. Use "чудесный случай" for more casual or secular events to avoid sounding overly formal. Be mindful of grammatical gender: "чудо" is neuter, so adjectives must agree (e.g., "большое чудо" for "big miracle"). When choosing between translations, opt for "чудо" in literary or spiritual discussions and "чудесный случай" in everyday conversation.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Incorrectly declining "чудо" in sentences, e.g., using nominative "чудо" in genitive contexts like "Я видел чудо" instead of "Я видел чуда" for possession.
  Correct: "Это было чудо от Бога" should be "Это было чудо от Бога" (nominative is fine here), but for genitive: "Рассказ о чуде" (correctly declined).
  Explanation: Russian nouns must match case; learners often forget this, leading to awkward phrasing.
• Mistake: Overusing "чудо" for any surprising event, which can sound hyperbolic.
  Correct: Use "чудесный случай" for non-supernatural events to maintain nuance.
  Explanation: In English, "miracle" is versatile, but in Russian, it implies divinity, so context matters to avoid cultural mismatches.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "чудо" is deeply tied to Orthodox Christianity, often linked to miracles performed by saints or icons, as seen in stories from Russian folklore and history, like the Miracle of the Icon of Our Lady of Vladimir. This reflects a broader cultural emphasis on spirituality and the mystical, which can influence its usage in modern media and literature.

Related Concepts:

• икона (icon)
• святой (saint)
• чудотворный (miracle-working)