Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sacrilegious'

English Word: sacrilegious

Key Russian Translations:

• кощунственный [kɐʂˈʧunstvʲɪnɨj] - [Formal, used in contexts involving religious or sacred matters]
• богохульный [bɐɡɐˈxulʲnɨj] - [Formal, often emphasizing blasphemy against God specifically]

Frequency: Low (This word and its translations are not commonly used in everyday conversation but appear in religious, literary, or formal discussions.)

Difficulty: C1 (Advanced) for both translations, as they involve nuanced religious vocabulary and complex pronunciation; suitable for learners with a strong grasp of Russian grammar and cultural contexts.

Pronunciation (Russian):

кощунственный: [kɐʂˈʧunstvʲɪnɨj]

богохульный: [bɐɡɐˈxulʲnɨj]

Note on кощунственный: The 'щ' sound is a soft, voiceless palatal fricative (like 'sh' in 'she' but softer), which can be challenging for English speakers; it often varies slightly in rapid speech.

Note on богохульный: The 'г' is pronounced as a voiced velar fricative (like 'g' in 'go'), but in some dialects, it may soften to a fricative sound; pay attention to stress on the third syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: Desecrating or treating something sacred, such as religious objects, beliefs, or places, with disrespect or irreverence.

Translation(s) & Context:

• кощунственный - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe actions that profane sacred entities, often in religious or ethical discussions.
• богохульный - Applied in contexts involving direct offense against divine entities, such as in theological debates or historical texts.

Usage Examples:

• Его кощунственный поступок, когда он осквернил икону, вызвал общественный гнев.

  His sacrilegious act of desecrating the icon provoked public outrage.

• В романе описывается кощунственный ритуал, который разрушает древние традиции.

  The novel describes a sacrilegious ritual that destroys ancient traditions.

• Богохульный комментарий о святынях был воспринят как кощунственный вызов вере.

  The blasphemous comment about holy sites was seen as a sacrilegious challenge to faith.

• Кощунственный фильм, высмеивающий религиозные символы, был запрещен в некоторых странах.

  The sacrilegious film, mocking religious symbols, was banned in some countries.

• Ее богохульные слова во время церемонии сделали ее поступок по-настоящему кощунственным.

  Her blasphemous words during the ceremony made her action truly sacrilegious.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "кощунственный" and "богохульный" are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a regular pattern of agreement with nouns. Here is a breakdown:

Note: These adjectives follow standard first-declension patterns and do not have irregular forms. They remain unchanged in the predicative position (e.g., "Это кощунственно" - "This is sacrilegious").

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • святотатственный (svyatotatstvennyy) - Similar to кощунственный but often implies violation of holy places.
  • бессмысленный в отношении веры (bessmyslennyy v otnoshenii very) - Less direct, used for irreverent actions without strong religious connotation.
• Antonyms:
  • благочестивый (blagochestivyy) - Pious or devout, contrasting with irreverence.
  • святой (svyatoj) - Holy, directly opposite in religious contexts.

Related Phrases:

• кощунственный акт (koshchunstvennyj akt) - Sacrilegious act; used to describe deliberate desecration in formal or legal contexts.
• богохульное высказывание (bogokhúlnoe vyskazyvanie) - Blasphemous statement; common in discussions of free speech and religion.
• кощунство против веры (koshchunstvo protiv very) - Sacrilege against faith; a phrase often found in historical or philosophical texts.

Usage Notes:

Both "кощунственный" and "богохульный" directly correspond to "sacrilegious" but are more formal and context-specific in Russian. Use "кощунственный" for general irreverence toward sacred things, while "богохульный" is better for offenses against God or divine entities. These words are typically restricted to written or elevated speech, such as in literature, religious debates, or legal documents, due to their sensitivity. Grammatically, always ensure agreement with the noun they modify (e.g., gender, number, case). When choosing between translations, opt for "кощунственный" if the context is broader, and "богохульный" for explicitly theological scenarios. Avoid using these in casual conversation to prevent offense.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "кощунственный" with "богохульный": Learners might use "богохульный" for any sacrilegious act, but it's more specific to blasphemy. Incorrect: "Его кощунственный речь была богохульной." (His sacrilegious speech was blasphemous – redundant overlap.) Correct: "Его речь была кощунственной." (His speech was sacrilegious.) Explanation: Use "кощунственный" for general irreverence and reserve "богохульный" for divine offenses to maintain precision.

• Forgetting adjective agreement: English speakers often neglect case changes, e.g., saying "кощунственный дом" instead of "кощунственного дома" in genitive contexts. Incorrect: "В кощунственный доме" (In the sacrilegious house). Correct: "В кощунственном доме." Explanation: Always match the adjective's ending to the noun's case for grammatical accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "кощунственный" and "богохульный" carry significant historical and religious weight, especially in a country with a deep Orthodox Christian heritage. Blasphemy laws have existed in Russia, and using these terms can evoke sensitivities related to the Soviet era's suppression of religion or modern debates on freedom of expression. Understanding this context helps English users appreciate why such vocabulary is often avoided in polite discourse.

Related Concepts:

• богохульство (blasphemy)
• святотатство (sacrilege)
• иконоборчество (iconoclasm)