Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'phobia'

English Word: phobia

Key Russian Translations:

• фобия [fɐˈbʲijə] - [Formal, used in psychological or medical contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in professional and educational discussions, but not in everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate, as it involves understanding loanwords and their application in specific contexts; suitable for learners with a grasp of basic noun declensions)

Pronunciation (Russian):

фобия: [fɐˈbʲijə]

Note on фобия: The stress falls on the second syllable ('bʲijə'). Be mindful of the palatalized 'bʲ' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers. Pronunciation may vary slightly in regional dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. An extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to something.

Translation(s) & Context:

• фобия - Typically used in formal contexts like psychology, medicine, or self-help discussions to describe persistent, irrational fears. It is a direct loanword and corresponds closely to the English term.

Usage Examples:

• У него фобия пауков, поэтому он избегает леса.

  He has a phobia of spiders, so he avoids the forest.

• Фобия высоты может серьезно ограничить путешествия.

  A phobia of heights can seriously limit travel.

• В психологии фобия часто связана с травматическими опытами.

  In psychology, a phobia is often linked to traumatic experiences.

• Ее фобия закрытых пространств заставляет ее всегда выбирать открытые места.

  Her phobia of enclosed spaces makes her always choose open areas.

• Лечение фобии включает постепенное воздействие на страх.

  Treating a phobia involves gradual exposure to the fear.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Фобия is a feminine noun (from Greek via English) and follows the standard first declension pattern for Russian nouns. It is relatively straightforward but requires attention to case changes. Below is a table of its inflections:

Note: This word does not have irregular inflections, making it easier for learners, but always ensure the correct case based on sentence structure.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • страх (strakh) - A general term for fear, less specific than фобия; used in everyday contexts.
  • боязнь (boyazn') - Implies a milder, more common aversion; often interchangeable in informal settings but lacks the clinical connotation.
• Antonyms:
  • смелость (smelost') - Courage or bravery, directly opposing the concept of fear.
  • уверенность (uverennost') - Confidence, especially in overcoming fears.

Related Phrases:

• Социальная фобия - Social phobia; a common phrase in psychological discussions, referring to fear of social situations.
• Фобия пауков - Arachnophobia; used to specify a particular type of phobia, often in medical contexts.
• Преодолеть фобию - To overcome a phobia; a motivational phrase emphasizing treatment and personal growth.

Usage Notes:

Фобия is a loanword borrowed from English and Greek, making it a direct cognate for English speakers. It is primarily used in formal or professional settings, such as psychology, medicine, or education, rather than casual conversation. When choosing between synonyms like страх or боязнь, opt for фобия when emphasizing a clinical or irrational aspect. Be aware of grammatical agreement: as a feminine noun, it must align with adjectives and verbs in gender, number, and case (e.g., "эта фобия" for "this phobia"). In spoken Russian, it may sound more neutral or academic, so use it judiciously in everyday dialogue.

Common Errors:

• Mispronouncing the word: English learners often stress the first syllable (e.g., saying [ˈfɐbʲijə] instead of [fɐˈbʲijə]). Correct usage: Always place stress on the second syllable to avoid sounding unnatural. Example of error: "ФОбия" (wrong stress); Correct: "фобИя".

• Confusing with similar words: Learners might mix it up with "фobia" in other languages or use "страх" interchangeably without considering context. Error: Saying "у меня страх" for a clinical phobia; Correct: "у меня фобия" in professional settings, as it conveys irrationality.

• Incorrect inflection: Forgetting case changes, e.g., using nominative in all contexts. Error: "Я боюсь фобия" (incorrect); Correct: "Я боюсь фобии" in genitive for "fear of phobia".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phobias like "фобия высоты" (fear of heights) or "социальная фобия" are often discussed in the context of literature and psychology, influenced by Western ideas through figures like Freud. However, traditional Russian folklore might attribute such fears to supernatural elements, such as in stories by Pushkin or Gogol, where irrational fears symbolize deeper societal anxieties. This reflects a blend of modern psychology and historical mysticism in how Russians perceive mental health.

Related Concepts:

• паника (panika) - Panic
• тревога (trevoga) - Anxiety
• невроз (nevroz) - Neurosis