Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'pray'

English Word: pray

Key Russian Translations:

• молиться /mɐˈlʲit͡sə/ - [Formal, Verb, Used in religious or spiritual contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in religious texts, literature, and everyday conversations among believers)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of reflexive verbs and basic religious vocabulary)

Pronunciation (Russian):

молиться: /mɐˈlʲit͡sə/

Note on молиться: The stress falls on the second syllable ("li"), and the "л" is palatalized, which can be tricky for English speakers. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To offer a prayer to a deity or in a spiritual context

Translation(s) & Context:

• молиться - Used primarily in formal or religious settings, such as church services or personal devotion; implies a reflexive action.

Usage Examples:

• Я молюсь каждый вечер перед сном.

  I pray every evening before bed. (This example shows the verb in a daily routine context.)

• В церкви люди молятся вместе за мир.

  In church, people pray together for peace. (Illustrates group or communal usage.)

• Он молится Богу о здоровье семьи.

  He prays to God for his family's health. (Demonstrates usage with prepositions and objects.)

• Дети молятся перед едой, как в традиции.

  Children pray before meals, as per tradition. (Shows cultural or habitual application.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

молиться is a reflexive verb in Russian (ending in -ся), which means it conjugates like other first-conjugation verbs but includes the reflexive particle. It is irregular in some aspects due to its imperfective form. Below is a conjugation table for the present tense:

Note: The verb has an imperfective aspect, meaning it describes ongoing actions. For perfective forms, related verbs like "помолиться" (to pray briefly) may be used, which has its own conjugations.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: молвить (to utter a prayer, more poetic), обращаться с молитвой (to address with a prayer) - молвить is less common and has a more archaic feel.
• Antonyms: проклинать (to curse) - Used in contexts of negativity or opposition to prayer.

Related Phrases:

• Молиться Богу - To pray to God; used in personal or religious devotion.
• Молиться за кого-то - To pray for someone; implies intercession in spiritual contexts.
• Общая молитва - Collective prayer; a phrase for group prayers in ceremonies.

Usage Notes:

молиться directly corresponds to the English "pray" in religious contexts but is reflexive, so it always includes the -ся ending. It is more formal and spiritual than casual English uses; for example, avoid it in non-religious settings where English "pray" might mean "hope" (use "надеяться" instead). In Russian, choose молиться for spiritual acts, and be mindful of the imperfective aspect for ongoing prayers. If the prayer is completed, opt for perfective alternatives like помолиться.

Common Errors:

• Error: Forgetting the reflexive -ся ending, e.g., saying "молить" instead of "молиться". Correct: Use "молиться" as it's inherently reflexive. Explanation: "Молить" means "to beg" without the spiritual connotation, leading to confusion.
• Error: Using it in non-religious contexts, e.g., "Я молюсь за хорошую погоду" when meaning "I hope for good weather". Correct: Say "Я надеюсь на хорошую погоду". Explanation: This misapplies the word's spiritual tone, which can sound overly dramatic.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, particularly within the Orthodox Christian tradition, молиться is deeply tied to daily life, family rituals, and national holidays like Easter. It often carries a sense of humility and community, reflecting Russia's historical religious heritage. For instance, public prayers during festivals underscore the blend of spirituality and cultural identity.

Related Concepts:

• церковь (church)
• Бог (God)
• молитва (prayer)