Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'panic'

English Word: panic

Key Russian Translations:

• Паника [pɐˈnʲikə] - [Noun, Feminine; Informal]
• Паниковать [pɐnʲɪkɐˈvatʲ] - [Verb, Imperfective; Informal, Used in everyday emotional contexts]

Frequency: High (Commonly used in news, literature, and daily conversations about fear or emergencies)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; Requires understanding of noun declensions and verb conjugations, but the words are straightforward for learners at this level)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Паника: [pɐˈnʲikə]

Note on Паника: The stress is on the second syllable; the 'и' is pronounced as a short [i]. Common mispronunciation by English speakers involves softening the 'н' too much—ensure it's a clear [nʲ].

Audio: []

Паниковать: [pɐnʲɪkɐˈvatʲ]

Note on Паниковать: Stress on the third syllable; the verb ending varies by conjugation. Pay attention to the palatalized 'тʲ' at the end, which can be tricky for non-native speakers.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Noun Meaning: Sudden uncontrollable fear or anxiety

Translation(s) & Context:

• Паника - Used in contexts of mass fear, emergencies, or psychological states; common in informal and formal settings, such as news reports or personal stories.

Usage Examples:

• В панике люди бежали из здания, не понимая, что происходит.

  In a panic, people ran out of the building, not understanding what was happening.

• После аварии на дороге возникла всеобщая паника среди водителей.

  After the road accident, general panic arose among the drivers.

• Паника охватила толпу, когда объявили об эвакуации.

  Panic gripped the crowd when the evacuation was announced.

• В панике она забыла ключи и не смогла вернуться домой.

  In panic, she forgot her keys and couldn't return home.

Verb Meaning: To feel or cause to feel panic

Translation(s) & Context:

• Паниковать - Used for personal or induced states of panic; informal, often in spoken language, and can be conjugated for different subjects; applicable in emotional or urgent scenarios.

Usage Examples:

• Не паникуй, всё под контролем!

  Don't panic, everything is under control!

• Он начал паниковать, когда понял, что опоздал на самолёт.

  He started to panic when he realized he was late for the plane.

• В таких ситуациях люди часто паникуют и принимают неправильные решения.

  In such situations, people often panic and make wrong decisions.

• Она паниковала весь вечер, ожидая новостей от друга.

  She panicked all evening, waiting for news from her friend.

• Менеджер пытался не паниковать, но ситуация выходила из-под контроля.

  The manager tried not to panic, but the situation was getting out of control.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For Паника (feminine noun, 1st declension):

This noun follows standard feminine patterns with no irregularities.

For Паниковать (imperfective verb, 1st conjugation):

This verb is regular and conjugates predictably; note gender agreement in past tense.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Испуг (fear) - More general than паника, used for milder fear.
  • Тревога (anxiety) - Applies to ongoing worry, often in паниковать contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • Спокойствие (calmness) - Directly opposes panic in emotional states.
  • Хладнокровие (composure) - Used for maintaining control under pressure.

Related Phrases:

• В панике бежать - To run in panic; used for chaotic escapes or reactions.
• Вызвать панику - To cause panic; often in contexts of misinformation or emergencies.
• Паника на бирже - Panic on the stock market; a common phrase in financial discussions.

Usage Notes:

"Panic" as a noun translates most directly to "паника," which is versatile but often implies a collective or intense fear. As a verb, "паниковать" is informal and equivalent to "to panic," but it's less formal than English equivalents in professional settings—opt for phrases like "испытывать панику" in formal writing. Be mindful of context: in Russian, panic is frequently linked to real-world scenarios like disasters, so usage might carry a dramatic connotation. When choosing between translations, use "паника" for static states and "паниковать" for actions.

Common Errors:

• Overusing "паника" in minor situations: English learners might say "Я в панике" for everyday stress, but this exaggerates; correct: Use "я нервничаю" for mild anxiety. Error example: "Я в панике из-за экзамена" (implies extreme fear); Better: "Я волнуюсь из-за экзамена."
• Incorrect verb conjugation: Forgetting gender in past tense, e.g., saying "Она паниковал" instead of "Она паниковала." Error: "Он паниковала" (wrong gender); Correct: "Она паниковала."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "паника" often evoke historical events such as the chaos during wars or economic crises (e.g., the 1990s turmoil), emphasizing collective responses. It's frequently used in media to describe social unrest, reflecting a cultural emphasis on community and resilience in the face of panic.

Related Concepts:

• Страх (fear)
• Тревога (anxiety)
• Эмоциональный стресс (emotional stress)