Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'rebel'

English Word: rebel

Key Russian Translations:

• бунтарь [ˈbuntərʲ] - [Informal, Noun]
• мятежник [mʲɪˈtʲeʐnʲik] - [Formal, Noun]
• восставать [vɐsstaˈvatʲ] - [Formal, Verb, Used in contexts of uprising or rebellion]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literature, history, and modern discussions of politics or social movements, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun/verb inflections and contextual usage; бунтарь and мятежник are straightforward for intermediates, while восставать may need advanced verb conjugation practice)

Pronunciation (Russian):

бунтарь: [ˈbuntərʲ] (Stress on the first syllable; the 'рʲ' is a palatalized 'r', which can be tricky for English speakers)

Note on бунтарь: The 'у' is pronounced like 'oo' in "book," and the word ends with a soft consonant. Avoid hardening the 'р' as in English "r."

мятежник: [mʲɪˈtʲeʐnʲik] (Stress on the third syllable; features palatalized consonants like 'мʲ' and 'тʲ', common in Russian but unfamiliar to English learners)

Note on мятежник: This word has a rolling 'ж' sound, similar to 'zh' in "measure," but ensure it's not confused with 'ж' in faster speech variants.

восставать: [vɐsstaˈvatʲ] (Stress on the third syllable; the 'в' is like 'v' in "victory," and the verb form changes with conjugation)

Note on восставать: As a verb, pronunciation shifts slightly in different aspects (e.g., imperfective form); practice the vowel reduction in unstressed syllables.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

As a Noun (Person who opposes authority)

Translation(s) & Context:

• бунтарь - Used in informal or revolutionary contexts, such as youth movements or casual discussions about defiance.
• мятежник - Preferred in formal, historical, or legal contexts, like describing leaders in uprisings or civil wars.

Usage Examples:

• Он был известным бунтарём в молодости, всегда бросая вызов авторитетам.

  He was a well-known rebel in his youth, always challenging authorities.

• Мятежники захватили город во время восстания 1917 года.

  The rebels seized the city during the 1917 uprising.

• Бунтарь в фильме символизирует дух сопротивления тирании.

  The rebel in the film symbolizes the spirit of resistance against tyranny.

• Как мятежник, он отказался подчиняться приказам правительства.

  As a rebel, he refused to obey the government's orders.

• Молодые бунтари часто собираются на митингах, протестуя против несправедливости.

  Young rebels often gather at rallies, protesting against injustice.

As a Verb (To rebel or rise up against)

Translation(s) & Context:

• восставать - Used for organized or historical acts of rebellion, often in imperfective aspect for ongoing actions.

Usage Examples:

• Народ восставал против тирана, требуя свободы и равенства.

  The people rebelled against the tyrant, demanding freedom and equality.

• Восставать против системы — это не просто слова, а реальные действия.

  To rebel against the system is not just words, but real actions.

• Студенты восставали в 1960-х, вдохновлённые идеями перемен.

  Students rebelled in the 1960s, inspired by ideas of change.

• Если условия не изменятся, рабочие снова восстанут.

  If conditions don't change, the workers will rebel again.

• Восставать против injustices — это часть человеческой истории.

  Rebelling against injustices is a part of human history.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For nouns like бунтарь and мятежник (both masculine nouns), they follow standard Russian declension patterns for first-declension nouns. They do not have irregular forms but change based on case and number.

For the verb восставать (imperfective), it is conjugated regularly as a second-conjugation verb. Example in present tense:

This verb has an aspectual pair: восстать (perfective). It remains regular but changes in past and future tenses.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • бунтовщик (similar to бунтарь, but with a more aggressive connotation)
  • повстанец (used in military or revolutionary contexts, implying organized resistance)
  • восставший (as an adjective or noun for someone in rebellion)
• Antonyms:
  • лояльный (loyal, implying adherence to authority)
  • послушный (obedient, especially in everyday or familial contexts)

Related Phrases:

• Бунтарский дух - Refers to a rebellious spirit or attitude in youth culture.
• Восставать против системы - A common phrase meaning "to rebel against the system," often used in political discourse.
• Мятежная армия - Means "rebel army," typically in historical or military contexts.

Usage Notes:

While "rebel" as a noun directly translates to бунтарь in informal settings or мятежник in formal ones, English speakers should note that Russian often requires the noun to agree in case with surrounding words. For the verb "to rebel," восставать is imperfective and emphasizes ongoing action, so pair it with contexts involving duration. Choose бунтарь for everyday or emotional rebellion and мятежник for structured uprisings. Be mindful of register: бунтарь can sound youthful or positive in some contexts, while мятежник is neutral or negative.

• In sentences, ensure gender agreement (e.g., use бунтарка for feminine forms).
• When translating idioms, "rebel" might not have a perfect match; use восставать in phrases like "rebel yell" as восставший клич for cultural adaptation.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse case endings, such as saying "с бунтарь" instead of "с бунтарём" (correct instrumental case). Another error is confusing восставать with its perfective pair восстать; for example, incorrectly using восставать for a completed action like "They rebelled yesterday" (should be "Они восстали вчера"). Explanation: Russian verbs have aspects, so always check if the action is ongoing or completed. A common pronunciation mistake is softening consonants incorrectly, e.g., pronouncing бунтарь with a hard 'р' like in English.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like бунтарь and мятежник evoke historical events such as the Bolshevik Revolution or Decembrist Uprising, symbolizing resistance against oppression. These terms carry a romanticized connotation in literature (e.g., in works by Tolstoy), but in modern usage, they can imply anti-establishment sentiments, reflecting Russia's complex history of revolutions and social unrest.

Related Concepts:

• революция (revolution)
• протест (protest)
• тирания (tyranny)