Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'overthrow'

English Word: overthrow

Key Russian Translations:

• свержение [svʲɪrʐɛnʲɪje] - [Formal, Noun; Used in political or historical contexts]
• свергнуть [svʲɪrɡnutʲ] - [Formal, Verb; Used when describing forceful removal from power]

Frequency: Medium (Common in political, historical, or news-related discussions, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Upper Intermediate) for both translations, as it involves understanding Russian verb conjugations and nominal declensions; learners at this level should grasp the nuances with practice.

Pronunciation (Russian):

свержение: [svʲɪrʐɛnʲɪje]

Note on свержение: The 'ж' sound is a voiced palatal fricative, similar to 'zh' in English 'measure'. Stress falls on the second syllable, which can be tricky for beginners.

Audio: []

свергнуть: [svʲɪrɡnutʲ]

Note on свергнуть: The 'г' is a voiced velar stop; the verb form may vary in stress across conjugations, so pay attention to context for accurate pronunciation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

As a noun: The act of overthrowing, particularly in a political or governmental context.

Translation(s) & Context:

• свержение - Used in formal discussions of history or politics, such as revolutions or coups, to denote the event of removing a leader or system.

Usage Examples:

• Русский пример: В 1917 году произошло свержение царя Николая II.

  English translation: In 1917, the overthrow of Tsar Nicholas II occurred.

• Русский пример: Свержение авторитарного режима привело к демократическим реформам.

  English translation: The overthrow of the authoritarian regime led to democratic reforms.

• Русский пример: История полна примеров свержения правительств через народные восстания.

  English translation: History is full of examples of governments being overthrown through popular uprisings.

• Русский пример: Свержение монархии в России было долгим и кровавым процессом.

  English translation: The overthrow of the monarchy in Russia was a long and bloody process.

As a verb: To remove from power forcibly, often implying a sudden or violent action.

Translation(s) & Context:

• свергнуть - Applied in narratives of rebellion or revolution, typically in formal or literary language, to describe the action of deposing someone.

Usage Examples:

• Русский пример: Бунтовщики попытались свергнуть президента во время протестов.

  English translation: The rebels attempted to overthrow the president during the protests.

• Русский пример: В романе описывается, как герой свергнул тирана и установил новый порядок.

  English translation: In the novel, the hero overthrows the tyrant and establishes a new order.

• Русский пример: Если не принять меры, оппозиция может свергнуть текущее правительство.

  English translation: If measures are not taken, the opposition may overthrow the current government.

• Русский пример: Историки изучают, как крестьяне свергнули феодальную систему.

  English translation: Historians study how peasants overthrew the feudal system.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "свержение" (a neuter noun, second declension), it follows standard nominal declension patterns. It is inflected for case and number, with no irregularities.

For "свергнуть" (a verb, perfective aspect, from the stem "сверг-"), it is a first-conjugation verb with regular patterns. It conjugates based on tense, aspect, and person. Past tense is suppletive in some forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: опрокидывание (overturning, more literal), падение (fall, in a metaphorical sense) - опрокидывание is used for physical contexts, while падение is broader for decline.
• Antonyms: установление (establishment), восхождение (ascent or rise) - These imply the opposite action of setting up or gaining power.

Related Phrases:

• Революционное свержение - Revolutionary overthrow; A phrase used in historical contexts to describe sudden political changes, often with violent undertones.
• Свержение режима - Overthrow of the regime; Common in modern political discourse, referring to the removal of an oppressive government.
• Насильственное свергнуть - To violently overthrow; Emphasizes force, typically in discussions of coups or rebellions.

Usage Notes:

"Свержение" directly corresponds to the noun form of "overthrow" and is best used in formal writing or speech about historical events. "Свергнуть" aligns with the verb form and requires conjugation based on subject and tense—always ensure the aspect matches the context (e.g., perfective for completed actions). In Russian, these words carry a strong connotation of illegitimacy or force, so they are less neutral than English equivalents. When choosing between translations, opt for "свержение" for events and "свергнуть" for actions; avoid in casual conversations due to their formal register.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "свергнуть" with "свернуть" (which means to turn or fold). Incorrect Russian: *Я хочу свернуть правительство (meant to say overthrow). Correct: Я хочу свергнуть правительство. Explanation: "Свернуть" is unrelated and means physical turning, leading to misunderstandings in political contexts.

• Error: Forgetting to inflect "свержение" in sentences. Incorrect: *В свержение (without proper case). Correct: В свержении (prepositional case). Explanation: Russian nouns must agree in case, so always check the grammatical role.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and history, terms like "свержение" are deeply tied to events such as the 1917 October Revolution, where the Bolsheviks overthrew the Provisional Government. This reflects Russia's turbulent past with frequent regime changes, often romanticized in literature and film, emphasizing themes of resistance against authority.

Related Concepts:

• революция
• переворот
• восстание