Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'quisling'

English Word: quisling

Key Russian Translations:

• предатель /prʲɪˈdatʲɪlʲ/ - [Formal, Historical]
• коллаборационист /kələbrətsɪˈonɪst/ - [Formal, Used in political or wartime contexts]
• изменник /ɪzʲmʲɪˈnʲik/ - [Informal, General betrayal]

Frequency: Medium - The term is not everyday vocabulary but appears in historical, political, or literary discussions.

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) - Requires understanding of historical context and noun inflections; for 'коллаборационист', it may be C1 (Advanced) due to its specificity.

Pronunciation (Russian):

предатель: /prʲɪˈdatʲɪlʲ/

коллаборационист: /kələbrətsɪˈonɪst/

изменник: /ɪzʲmʲɪˈnʲik/

Note on предатель: The stress is on the second syllable; be careful with the soft 'т' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalization.

Note on коллаборационист: This is a borrowed word, so pronunciation is close to English; the 'о' is pronounced as a short 'o'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A traitor who collaborates with an enemy, often in a wartime or political context.

Translation(s) & Context:

• предатель - Used in general contexts for personal or national betrayal, often in formal writing or historical discussions.
• коллаборационист - Applied specifically to collaborators with occupying forces, common in WWII-related narratives.
• изменник - Informal term for a defector or betrayer in everyday conversations, such as in family or social betrayals.

Usage Examples:

• Во время войны он стал предателем, помогая врагу.

  During the war, he became a quisling, helping the enemy.

• Коллаборационисты часто оправдывают свои действия якобы необходимостью.

  Quislings often justify their actions as a supposed necessity.

• Его назвали изменником за предательство друзей.

  He was called a quisling for betraying his friends.

• В истории есть много примеров квислингов, таких как предатель в правительстве.

  History has many examples of quislings, such as a traitor in the government.

• Предатель родины всегда осуждается обществом.

  A quisling to the homeland is always condemned by society.

Meaning 2: A person who opportunistically switches sides for personal gain.

Translation(s) & Context:

• изменник - Common in informal settings, emphasizing personal betrayal over political ones.
• предатель - Can be used interchangeably but with a more formal tone in literary or historical texts.

Usage Examples:

• Он был изменником, переметнувшимся к конкурентам.

  He was a quisling who switched to the competitors.

• В бизнесе предатели часто маскируют свои мотивы.

  In business, quislings often hide their motives.

• Коллаборационист в политике рискует своей репутацией.

  A quisling in politics risks their reputation.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations are masculine nouns and follow standard Russian declension patterns, with some irregularities in plural forms. Below is a table for 'предатель' as an example; similar patterns apply to others with minor variations.

For 'коллаборационист', it follows a similar pattern but is less commonly inflected in modern usage due to its borrowed nature. 'Изменник' is invariant in some contexts but generally follows the same declension as above.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • изменник - Similar to предатель but often implies a more personal betrayal.
  • renegat /rʲɪˈnʲɛgat/ - A direct borrow, used in formal contexts for defectors.
• Antonyms:
  • патриот /pətrʲɪˈot/ - Emphasizes loyalty to one's country.
  • верный /ˈvʲɛrnɨj/ - Meaning 'faithful' or 'loyal' in personal contexts.

Related Phrases:

• предатель родины - A phrase meaning "traitor to the homeland," often used in legal or patriotic contexts.
• коллаборационистский режим - Refers to a "quisling regime," describing governments that collaborate with invaders.
• изменник в бою - Means "traitor in battle," highlighting betrayal during conflict.

Usage Notes:

'Quisling' directly corresponds to 'предатель' in most cases, but choose 'коллаборационист' for historical or WWII contexts to maintain precision. These words are formal and carry strong negative connotations, so avoid in casual speech. Grammatically, they are masculine nouns and require correct case agreement, e.g., 'предателя' in genitive. When selecting among translations, use 'изменник' for everyday betrayals and 'предатель' for broader applications.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'предатель' interchangeably with 'враг' (enemy), which is less specific. Correct: 'Предатель' implies betrayal from within, while 'враг' means an external foe. Example: Incorrect - "Он враг во время войны" (He is an enemy during the war); Correct - "Он предатель во время войны" (He is a quisling during the war).
• Mistake: Mispronouncing the soft consonants, e.g., saying /prɪ'dætəl/ instead of /prʲɪˈdatʲɪlʲ/. This can make the word sound unnatural. Explanation: Focus on palatalization for authenticity.

Cultural Notes:

The term 'quisling' originates from Vidkun Quisling, a Norwegian politician who collaborated with Nazi Germany during WWII. In Russian culture, similar figures are often referenced in literature and history, such as in Soviet-era narratives about traitors during the Great Patriotic War, emphasizing themes of loyalty and national pride.

Related Concepts:

• шпион (spy)
• диверсант (saboteur)
• патриот (patriot)