Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'renegade'

English Word: renegade

Key Russian Translations:

• ренегат /rʲɪˈnʲɛɡət/ - [Formal, Literary]
• предатель /prʲɪˈdatʲɪlʲ/ - [Informal, Common Usage]
• изменник /ɪzˈmʲɛnʲnʲɪk/ - [Formal, Legal or Historical Contexts]

Frequency: Medium - The word and its translations are encountered in literature, historical discussions, and media, but not in everyday casual conversation.

Difficulty: B2 - Intermediate level, as it involves understanding nuanced concepts of betrayal and requires familiarity with Russian noun declensions and contextual usage.

Pronunciation (Russian):

ренегат: /rʲɪˈnʲɛɡət/ - Stress on the second syllable; the 'р' is a rolled 'r' sound.

предатель: /prʲɪˈdatʲɪlʲ/ - Stress on the third syllable; note the soft 'т' sound.

изменник: /ɪzˈmʲɛnʲnʲɪk/ - Stress on the second syllable; pay attention to the palatalized consonants.

Note on ренегат: This word is a loanword from English/French, so pronunciation may vary slightly in different dialects, but the standard is as above. Avoid overemphasizing the final 't' in casual speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A person who betrays an organization, country, or principles (General sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ренегат - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe someone who has defected ideologically, often with a historical connotation (e.g., in discussions of politics or religion).
• предатель - Common in everyday language for personal or national betrayal, implying emotional or moral outrage.

Usage Examples:

• Он стал ренегатом, отказавшись от своих прежних идеалов. (He became a renegade, abandoning his former ideals.)

  Translation: He became a renegade, abandoning his former ideals. (This example shows the word in a formal, ideological context.)

• Война раскрыла многих предателей в наших рядах. (The war revealed many renegades in our ranks.)

  Translation: The war revealed many renegades in our ranks. (Illustrates use in a military or group betrayal scenario.)

• Этот изменник предал свою страну ради личной выгоды. (This renegade betrayed his country for personal gain.)

  Translation: This renegade betrayed his country for personal gain. (Demonstrates application in a legal or ethical context.)

• Ренегат из прошлого века теперь изучается в исторических текстах. (The renegade from the last century is now studied in historical texts.)

  Translation: The renegade from the last century is now studied in historical texts. (Shows historical usage.)

Meaning 2: A rebel or outlaw who operates outside established norms (Informal or adventurous sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• изменник - Often used metaphorically for someone who rebels against social norms, but with a negative tint.
• ренегат - In modern contexts, can imply a rogue element in stories or media.

Usage Examples:

• В фильме главный герой — ренегат, борющийся против системы. (In the movie, the main character is a renegade fighting against the system.)

  Translation: In the movie, the main character is a renegade fighting against the system. (This highlights narrative or fictional usage.)

• Она назвала его предателем, потому что он ушёл из компании и создал свою. (She called him a renegade because he left the company and started his own.)

  Translation: She called him a renegade because he left the company and started his own. (Shows interpersonal or professional rebellion.)

• Изменник в их группе всегда действовал в одиночку. (The renegade in their group always acted alone.)

  Translation: The renegade in their group always acted alone. (Illustrates isolation in a group dynamic.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations are masculine nouns in Russian, which undergo declension based on case, number, and gender. Below is a table for ренегат as an example; similar patterns apply to предатель and изменник, with slight variations in endings.

For предатель, it follows a similar pattern but is irregular in some dialects. These nouns do not change for gender but can be used with adjectives that do.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Отступник (otstupnik) - Similar to renegade, often used for religious or ideological deserters; more neutral connotation.
  • Враг (vrag) - Enemy, but implies active opposition rather than betrayal.
• Antonyms:
  • Лоялист (loyalist) - A person who remains faithful.
  • Патриот (patriot) - Someone devoted to their country or cause.

Related Phrases:

• Стать ренегатом (stat' renegatom) - To become a renegade; meaning to turn traitor. (Used in narratives of defection.)
• Предатель родины (predatel' rodiny) - Traitor to the homeland; a phrase with strong patriotic implications. (Common in historical or political contexts.)
• Изменник короны (izmenik korony) - Renegade against the crown; refers to betrayal in monarchical settings. (Often in literature or historical discussions.)

Usage Notes:

The English word "renegade" often carries a sense of romantic rebellion, but in Russian, translations like "ренегат" are more neutral or negative. Choose "предатель" for everyday emotional contexts and "ренегат" for formal or literary ones. Be mindful of gender agreement in sentences, as these are masculine nouns. In Russian, these words can imply severe moral judgment, so use them carefully in social settings.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Confusing "ренегат" with "ренегать" (which isn't a word); learners might incorrectly verbify it.
  Correct: Use as a noun only, e.g., "Он ренегат" instead of "Он ренегатит".
  Explanation: Russian doesn't have a direct verb form; express actions with phrases like "стать ренегатом".
• Mistake: Failing to decline the noun properly, e.g., saying "of ренегат" instead of "of ренегата".
  Correct: Always adjust for case, as in "о ренегате" (about the renegade).
  Explanation: This is a common issue for English speakers unfamiliar with Russian case systems.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "предатель" evoke strong historical resonances, such as during the Soviet era or World War II, where traitors were vilified in propaganda. "Ренегат" often appears in literature, like in works by Dostoevsky, symbolizing internal conflict and moral dilemmas, reflecting Russia's complex history of revolutions and loyalty.

Related Concepts:

• Бунтарь (buntari) - Rebel
• Дезертир (dezertir) - Deserter
• Коллаборационист (kolaboratsionist) - Collaborator