Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'revulsion'

English Word: revulsion

Key Russian Translations:

• отвращение [ɐtvrɐˈʂenʲje] - [Formal; Used in contexts expressing strong disgust or aversion]
• омерзение [ɐmʲɪrˈzʲenʲje] - [Informal; Often in everyday emotional descriptions, but less common than отвращение]

Frequency: Medium (Appears regularly in literature, psychology, and discussions of emotions, but not in casual everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; Requires understanding of abstract emotions and noun declensions, suitable for learners with some experience in Russian grammar)

Pronunciation (Russian):

отвращение: [ɐtvrɐˈʂenʲje]

Note on отвращение: The 'щ' sound in [ʂ] is a soft, hissing fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers; it's similar to the 'sh' in "she" but more palatalized. Stress falls on the third syllable.

омерзение: [ɐmʲɪrˈzʲenʲje]

Note on омерзение: Pronounce the initial 'o' as a short [ɐ], and note the palatalized 'мʲ' which softens the preceding vowel. This word has a more intense, guttural feel.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A sudden strong feeling of disgust or aversion towards something.

Translation(s) & Context:

• отвращение - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe an intense emotional response, such as to unethical behavior or unpleasant sights.
• омерзение - Applied in more personal or informal settings, like expressing repulsion in daily life, but implies a deeper, more visceral reaction.

Usage Examples:

• Его охватило отвращение при виде гниющих фруктов. (His revulsion overwhelmed him at the sight of the rotting fruits.)

  English Translation: His revulsion overwhelmed him at the sight of the rotting fruits.

• Она почувствовала омерзение от несправедливости, которую увидела. (She felt revulsion towards the injustice she witnessed.)

  English Translation: She felt revulsion towards the injustice she witnessed.

• В его глазах читалось отвращение к коррупции в политике. (Revulsion towards political corruption was evident in his eyes.)

  English Translation: Revulsion towards political corruption was evident in his eyes.

• Омерзение к еде появилось после болезни. (Revulsion towards food arose after the illness.)

  English Translation: Revulsion towards food arose after the illness.

• Его речь вызвала отвращение у аудитории из-за её агрессивного тона. (His speech provoked revulsion in the audience due to its aggressive tone.)

  English Translation: His speech provoked revulsion in the audience due to its aggressive tone.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "отвращение" and "омерзение" are neuter nouns of the third declension in Russian, which means they follow standard patterns for neuter nouns but have irregularities in certain cases. They do not change in the plural form as they are typically used in singular to denote an abstract emotion.

Note: These nouns are invariant in plural forms, as abstract concepts like emotions are rarely pluralized in Russian.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • отвращение (similar to отвращение, but more intense and less formal)
  • презрение (contempt; implies disdain rather than pure disgust)
• Antonyms:
  • влечение (attraction; used for positive pull towards something)
  • любовь (love; the opposite emotional extreme)

Related Phrases:

• Чувство отвращения (Feeling of revulsion) - A common phrase to describe an emotional state in psychological or literary contexts.
• Вызывать омерзение (To provoke revulsion) - Used when something elicits a strong negative reaction, often in social commentary.
• Глубокое отвращение (Deep revulsion) - Emphasizes the intensity, commonly in discussions of ethics or personal experiences.

Usage Notes:

"Отвращение" directly corresponds to "revulsion" in formal English contexts, such as literature or psychology, and is preferred in written Russian for its precision. "Омерзение" is more informal and visceral, suitable for spoken language or emotional narratives. Be mindful of case endings when using these nouns in sentences; for example, in prepositional phrases, they change to the prepositional case. When choosing between translations, opt for "отвращение" in neutral or formal settings, and "омерзение" for everyday conversations. Grammatically, these words function as subjects or objects without altering verb forms.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "отвращение" interchangeably with "презрение" without considering nuance. Correct: "Отвращение" implies disgust based on sensory or moral repulsion, while "презрение" means contempt for inferiority. Example of error: "Я чувствую презрение к еде" (I feel contempt for food) – Incorrect, as it should be "отвращение" for disgust towards food.

• Error: Forgetting case changes in sentences, e.g., saying "говорить об отвращение" instead of "говорить об отвращении". Correct: Always adjust for the prepositional case in such phrases to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "отвращение" often appear in literature, such as in the works of Dostoevsky, where they describe moral and existential revulsion towards societal flaws. This reflects a broader cultural emphasis on introspection and ethical dilemmas, helping English speakers understand how Russians express deep-seated emotions in art and daily life.

Related Concepts:

• гнев (anger)
• страх (fear)
• презрение (contempt)