Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'prophesy'

English Word: prophesy

Key Russian Translations:

• пророчествовать [pro·ro·che·stvo·vat'] - [Formal, Religious or prophetic contexts]
• предсказывать [pre·dska·zy·vat'] - [Common, Everyday predictions]

Frequency: Low (This verb is not commonly used in everyday conversation; it's more prevalent in literary, religious, or historical contexts.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate for пророчествовать due to its formal and archaic connotations; A2-B1 for предсказывать as it's more straightforward, but both require understanding of Russian verb conjugations.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

пророчествовать: [pro·ro·che·stvo·vat']

предсказывать: [pre·dska·zy·vat']

Note on пророчествовать: The stress falls on the third syllable (-che-), which can be tricky for learners as Russian stress patterns are not always intuitive. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Note on предсказывать: This word has a soft 's' sound in 'dska', which is common in Russian but might be confused with English 's' sounds.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: To predict or foretell future events, often with a sense of divine inspiration or authority.

Translation(s) & Context:

• пророчествовать - Used in formal, religious, or literary contexts, such as biblical prophecies or mystical predictions.
• предсказывать - Applied in more general or secular contexts, like weather forecasting or casual predictions.

Usage Examples:

• Пророк пророчествует о грядущих переменах в мире.

  The prophet prophesies about upcoming changes in the world.

• В древних текстах часто предсказывают будущие события, чтобы предупредить людей.

  In ancient texts, they often prophesy future events to warn people.

• Она пророчествует, опираясь на свои видения, но никто не верит ей.

  She prophesies based on her visions, but no one believes her.

• Астролог предсказывает успех в бизнесе, используя звезды.

  The astrologer prophesies success in business using the stars.

• В фильме герой пророчествует конец цивилизации, что приводит к хаосу.

  In the movie, the hero prophesies the end of civilization, leading to chaos.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are verbs, so they follow Russian verb conjugation patterns. "Пророчествовать" is an imperfective verb, while "предсказывать" is also imperfective. Russian verbs change based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Below is a conjugation table for the present tense as an example:

Note: These verbs are imperfective, meaning they describe ongoing or repeated actions. For perfective aspects (e.g., to indicate completion), related forms like "пророчествовать" might use compounds, but it's less common. If the verb is used in past or future tenses, further inflections apply (e.g., past: пророчествовал).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Предвещать (predvechat') - More poetic, implying omens or signs.
  • Вещать (vechat') - Informal, often used for proclaiming or declaring.
• Antonyms:
  • Скрывать (skryvat') - To hide or conceal.
  • Молчать (molchat') - To remain silent.

Related Phrases:

• Пророческий дар - A prophetic gift; refers to the innate ability to foresee events, often in a spiritual context.
• Предсказывать будущее - To prophesy the future; a common phrase in discussions about fortune-telling or predictions.
• Пророчество сбылось - The prophecy came true; used when a prediction is fulfilled, highlighting themes in literature or history.

Usage Notes:

"Пророчествовать" is a more formal and archaic equivalent to "prophesy," often carrying religious or mystical connotations, whereas "предсказывать" is broader and can be used for everyday predictions like weather forecasts. English speakers should note that Russian verbs require conjugation based on subject, so always match the verb form to the person and number (e.g., use "пророчествует" for third-person singular). In formal writing or speech, "пророчествовать" might be preferred for biblical or prophetic themes, while "предсказывать" suits scientific or casual contexts. Be cautious with aspect: these are imperfective, implying ongoing action, so for completed events, pair with perfective verbs like "предсказать."

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "пророчествовать" in everyday contexts where "предсказывать" is more appropriate, e.g., saying "Я пророчествую погоду" instead of "Я предсказываю погоду." Correct: "Предсказывать" is better for weather, as "пророчествовать" sounds overly dramatic or religious. Explanation: This misuse can make speech sound unnatural or exaggerated.

• Error: Forgetting to conjugate the verb properly, e.g., saying "Он пророчествовать" (incorrect form) instead of "Он пророчествует." Correct: Always conjugate based on the subject; here, use the third-person singular form. Explanation: Russian verbs must agree with the subject, unlike English, which can lead to confusion for learners.

• Error: Confusing with nouns, e.g., using "пророчество" (prophecy, the noun) when meaning the verb. Correct: For the action, use "пророчествовать." Explanation: English "prophesy" is a verb, so ensure the Russian equivalent is also a verb form.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "пророчествовать" are deeply tied to folklore, Orthodox Christianity, and literature (e.g., in works by Dostoevsky or Pushkin, where prophets symbolize fate or divine intervention). This reflects a historical fascination with mysticism and destiny, contrasting with more secular Western interpretations. Understanding these nuances can help English speakers appreciate Russian storytelling and religious texts.

Related Concepts:

• Оракул (orakul) - Oracle
• Вещий сон (veshchiy son) - Prophetic dream
• Предвидение (predvidenie) - Foresight