Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'portend'

English Word: portend

Key Russian Translations:

• предвещать /prʲɪdˈvʲeʂːatʲ/ - [Formal]
• предсказывать /prʲɪdˈska.zɨ.vatʲ/ - [Informal, used in prophetic contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in literary, journalistic, or formal discussions about omens and future events, but not in everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Upper Intermediate; requires understanding of advanced vocabulary and verb conjugations; for 'предвещать', it's at B2, while 'предсказывать' might be slightly easier at B1 due to its more general use)

Pronunciation (Russian):

предвещать: /prʲɪdˈvʲeʂːatʲ/

предсказывать: /prʲɪdˈska.zɨ.vatʲ/

Note on предвещать: The stress is on the second syllable ('vʲeʂː'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalized 'r' sound. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To indicate or serve as a warning of a future event, often negative

Translation(s) & Context:

• предвещать - Used in formal or literary contexts to imply an ominous sign, such as in weather forecasts or historical events.
• предсказывать - Applied in more everyday or predictive scenarios, like fortune-telling, but can overlap with 'portend' when implying foreboding.

Usage Examples:

• Тёмные тучи предвещают бурю. (Tёмnye tuchi predveshchayut buru.)

  Dark clouds portend a storm. (This example shows the verb in a natural meteorological context, emphasizing prediction of bad weather.)

• Странные сны предсказывают неприятности в будущем. (Strannyye sny predskazyvayut nepriyatnosti v budushchem.)

  Strange dreams portend troubles in the future. (Here, the verb illustrates a personal, informal use in discussing omens or premonitions.)

• Экономический кризис предвещает глобальные изменения. (Ekonomicheskiy krizis predveshchayet global'nyye izmeneniya.)

  The economic crisis portends global changes. (This demonstrates the verb in a formal, socio-political context, highlighting cause-and-effect predictions.)

• Птицы, кружащие над домом, предсказывают беду. (Ptitsy, kruzhashchiye nad domom, predskazyvayut bedu.)

  Birds circling over the house portend disaster. (An example of folklore or superstitious usage, showing the verb in a narrative style.)

• Резкое падение акций предвещает рецессию. (Rezkoye padeniye aktsiy predveshchayet retessiyu.)

  A sharp drop in stocks portends a recession. (This highlights financial contexts, varying the grammar with direct objects.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'предвещать' and 'предсказывать' are imperfective verbs in Russian, which means they describe ongoing or repeated actions. They follow standard first-conjugation patterns but have irregularities in certain forms. Below is a table for 'предвещать' as an example; 'предсказывать' follows a similar structure.

Note: 'Предсказывать' has similar inflections but is more commonly used in perfective forms like 'предсказать' for completed actions. These verbs do not change in gender or number in the infinitive form.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • предупреждать (preduprezhdat') - More direct warning, often used in safety contexts.
  • обещать (obeshchat') - Can imply positive prediction, differing subtly by connotation.
• Antonyms:
  • отменять (otmenyat') - To cancel or negate, contrasting with prediction.
  • спасать (spasat') - To save or prevent, opposing the idea of foreboding.

Related Phrases:

• Предвещать беду (Predveshchat' bedu) - To portend trouble; a common phrase in storytelling or warnings.
• Предсказывать будущее (Predskazyvat' budushcheye) - To foretell the future; used in contexts like astrology or prophecy.
• Зловещие предзнаменования (Zloveishchiye predznamenovaniya) - Ominous portents; a fixed expression for signs of impending doom.

Usage Notes:

'Предвещать' directly corresponds to 'portend' in its formal, often negative predictive sense, making it ideal for literary or professional English translations. Use it in contexts where an event signals something adverse, such as in news or historical analysis. 'Предсказывать' is more versatile and can be chosen for less ominous predictions. Be mindful of Russian's aspect system: pair with perfective verbs like 'предсказать' for completed actions. In formal writing, these verbs often appear in the present tense to discuss ongoing signs.

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'предвещать' with 'предсказывать': Learners might use 'предсказывать' interchangeably, but the former implies inevitability, while the latter suggests possibility. Error: "Это предсказывает бурю" (instead of 'предвещает'). Correct: "Это предвещает бурю." Explanation: 'Предвещать' better conveys the sense of an omen.
• Incorrect conjugation: English speakers often forget gender agreement in past tense. Error: "Она предвещал" (wrong gender). Correct: "Она предвещала." Explanation: Past tense verbs in Russian agree with the subject's gender.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'предвещать' often appear in folklore and literature, such as in the works of Pushkin or folk tales, where natural signs (e.g., howling winds) are seen as portents of fate. This reflects a historical belief in omens, influenced by Slavic pagan traditions, adding a layer of superstition to everyday language.

Related Concepts:

• предзнаменование (predznamenovanie)
• знак (znak)
• пророчество (prorochestvo)