Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sacrifice'

English Word: sacrifice

Key Russian Translations:

• жертва /ʐɨrˈtva/ - [Noun, Formal, Singular; used in contexts of personal or symbolic loss]
• жертвовать /ʐɨrˈtvəvətʲ/ - [Verb, Formal/Informal; used in actions involving giving up something]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literature, religious texts, and everyday discussions about ethics or history, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun declensions and verb conjugations; for 'жертва' as a noun, it's straightforward, but 'жертвовать' as a verb may vary slightly in complexity).

Pronunciation (Russian):

жертва: /ʐɨrˈtva/ (The 'ж' is a voiced retroflex fricative, similar to the 's' in 'measure'. Stress on the second syllable.)

Note on жертва: Be mindful of the soft 'т' which can sound slightly palatalized in some dialects.

жертвовать: /ʐɨrˈtvəvətʲ/ (Stress on the second syllable; the ending '-овать' is typical for imperfective verbs and may soften in casual speech.)

Note on жертвовать: In fast speech, the verb can contract slightly, making the 'в' less pronounced.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: The act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else (Noun form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• жертва - Used in formal or emotional contexts, such as historical events or personal sacrifices, e.g., in discussions about war heroes.

Usage Examples:

• Его жертва спасла жизни многих людей.

  His sacrifice saved the lives of many people.

• В истории полно примеров великих жертв.

  History is full of examples of great sacrifices.

• Жертва во имя любви – это вечная тема в литературе.

  Sacrifice in the name of love is an eternal theme in literature.

• Её жертва карьеры ради семьи была вдохновляющей.

  Her sacrifice of her career for the sake of family was inspiring.

• Каждый солдат делает жертву, вступая в армию.

  Every soldier makes a sacrifice by joining the army.

Meaning 2: To offer or give up something as a sacrifice (Verb form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• жертвовать - Used in contexts involving voluntary action, such as donating time or resources, often in altruistic or religious settings.

Usage Examples:

• Он жертвует временем, чтобы помочь детям.

  He sacrifices his time to help children.

• Мы должны жертвовать частью своего дохода на благотворительность.

  We should sacrifice part of our income for charity.

• В кризисные моменты люди готовы жертвовать многим.

  In crisis moments, people are willing to sacrifice a lot.

• Она жертвует комфортом, чтобы достичь цели.

  She sacrifices comfort to achieve her goal.

• Родители часто жертвуют своими мечтами ради детей.

  Parents often sacrifice their dreams for the sake of their children.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'жертва' (feminine noun, 1st declension):

For 'жертвовать' (imperfective verb, 1st conjugation):

It follows standard verb patterns with irregularities in some forms. Present tense: жертвую, жертвуешь, жертвует, жертвуем, жертвуете, жертвуют. Past tense: жертвовал (masc.), жертвовала (fem.). Future: буду жертвовать.

Note: This verb is imperfective; the perfective form is 'пожертвовать', which is used for completed actions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • жертвенность (self-sacrifice; more abstract and emotional connotation)
  • отречение (renunciation; used in philosophical or religious contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • эгоизм (egoism; implies selfishness)
  • самоохранение (self-preservation; focuses on protecting oneself)

Related Phrases:

• жертва во имя (sacrifice for the sake of) - Used in motivational or historical contexts to emphasize purpose.
• пожертвовать жизнью (to sacrifice one's life) - Common in stories of heroism, with a connotation of ultimate devotion.
• жертвовать собой (to sacrifice oneself) - Often appears in literature or speeches about altruism.

Usage Notes:

'Жертва' as a noun directly corresponds to the English 'sacrifice' in nominal forms, but it's important to note its feminine gender in Russian sentences, which affects adjectives and verbs (e.g., 'большая жертва' for 'big sacrifice'). For the verb 'жертвовать', it's imperfective, so use 'пожертвовать' for completed actions to match English perfect tenses. In formal writing, prefer these over slang alternatives, and be aware that in everyday speech, they carry a serious tone, often in ethical or religious discussions.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing 'жертва' (noun) with 'жертвовать' (verb) and using them interchangeably without context. For example, learners might say "Я жертва мой дом" instead of "Я жертвую мой дом".

  Correct: "Я жертвую своим домом". Explanation: 'Жертва' is a noun, so it can't be used as a verb; always conjugate 'жертвовать' properly based on subject and tense.

• Error: Forgetting noun declensions, e.g., saying "для жертва" instead of "для жертвы".

  Correct: "для жертвы". Explanation: In genitive case after prepositions like 'для', the noun must decline; this is a common oversight for English speakers unused to case systems.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'жертва' often evokes themes from literature and history, such as the sacrifices during World War II or in works by authors like Tolstoy. It carries a deep emotional weight, symbolizing heroism and patriotism, which can make it a poignant word in discussions of national identity.

Related Concepts:

• героизм (heroism)
• альтруизм (altruism)
• самопожертвование (self-sacrifice)