Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'paranoia'

English Word: paranoia

Key Russian Translations:

• паранойя /pərəˈnojə/ - [Formal, Noun, Used in psychological or medical contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in psychological discussions but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of psychological terminology and basic Russian noun inflections)

Pronunciation (Russian):

паранойя: /pərəˈnojə/

Note on паранойя: The stress is on the third syllable ("noy"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the Russian vowel reductions in unstressed positions. Pronounce it with a soft "r" sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A mental condition characterized by irrational suspicions and feelings of being persecuted.

Translation(s) & Context:

• паранойя - Used in formal medical or psychological contexts, such as discussing mental health disorders.

Usage Examples:

• Он страдает от паранойи и постоянно думает, что за ним следят.

  He suffers from paranoia and constantly thinks that he is being followed.

• Её паранойя заставляет её избегать социальных ситуаций.

  Her paranoia makes her avoid social situations.

• В фильме главный герой борется с паранойей, вызванной стрессом.

  In the film, the main character struggles with paranoia caused by stress.

• Паранойя может быть симптомом более серьёзных психических расстройств.

  Paranoia can be a symptom of more serious mental disorders.

• Из-за паранойи он установил камеры по всему дому.

  Due to paranoia, he installed cameras all over the house.

Meaning 2: Extreme or irrational distrust of others, not necessarily a clinical condition.

Translation(s) & Context:

• паранойя - Used in informal or everyday contexts to describe suspicious behavior, though less clinically precise.

Usage Examples:

• Его паранойя по поводу друзей заставила его проверить их телефоны.

  His paranoia about his friends made him check their phones.

• В политике паранойя часто приводит к конфликтам.

  In politics, paranoia often leads to conflicts.

• Её паранойя на работе проявилась в постоянных подозрениях коллег.

  Her paranoia at work showed in her constant suspicions of colleagues.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Паранойя" is a feminine noun borrowed from Greek via English, and it follows basic Russian inflection patterns for feminine nouns ending in -я. It is not highly irregular but does change based on case and number. Below is a table of its common inflections:

Note: As a loanword, it is often used in singular form and does not have extensive plural usage in everyday Russian.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • беспокойство (anxiety; more general emotional state, often used for milder suspicions)
  • мания преследования (persecution mania; specifically for delusional persecution, closer to clinical paranoia)
• Antonyms:
  • спокойствие (calmness; implies a lack of suspicion or anxiety)
  • доверие (trust; directly opposes distrustful paranoia)

Related Phrases:

• Страх преследования - A phrase meaning "fear of persecution," often used in contexts similar to paranoia in psychological discussions.
• Паранойяльный бред - Refers to "paranoid delusions," a more severe form associated with mental health.
• Болезнь паранойи - Means "illness of paranoia," used in medical contexts to describe the condition.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "паранойя" directly corresponds to the English "paranoia" as a noun, but it's typically reserved for formal or clinical settings rather than casual conversation. English speakers should note that Russian often pairs it with verbs like "страдать от" (to suffer from) or "испытывать" (to experience) to describe the condition. When choosing between synonyms like "беспокойство," opt for "паранойя" only if the context implies irrational suspicion; otherwise, a milder term might be more appropriate. Be mindful of gender agreement in sentences, as it's a feminine noun.

Common Errors:

• Error: Mispronouncing "паранойя" as /pærəˈnɔɪjə/ with a hard English "r" sound. Correct: Use a soft, rolled Russian "r" as in /pərəˈnojə/. Explanation: This can make the word sound unnatural to native speakers and lead to misunderstandings.

• Error: Confusing it with "параной" (an incorrect form). Correct: Always use "паранойя" in its full form. Example of error: *Он имеет параной* (incorrect). Correct: Он имеет паранойю. Explanation: Russian nouns require proper endings for grammatical accuracy.

• Error: Overusing it in informal contexts. Correct: Reserve for serious discussions; use "беспокойство" for everyday suspicions. Explanation: This can make speech sound overly dramatic or pretentious.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "паранойя" is often linked to literary and historical contexts, such as in works by authors like Dostoevsky, where themes of persecution and suspicion reflect societal anxieties during turbulent periods like the Soviet era. It carries a connotation of deep psychological introspection, emphasizing how paranoia can stem from real historical traumas rather than just individual issues.

Related Concepts:

• шизофрения (schizophrenia)
• депрессия (depression)
• мания (mania)