Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sacrosanct'

English Word: sacrosanct

Key Russian Translations:

• Священный /svʲɪˈɕːenʲnɨj/ - [Formal, often used in religious or ceremonial contexts]
• Неприкосновенный /nʲɪprʲɪkɐˈsovʲɪnʲnɨj/ - [Formal, legal or institutional settings, such as rights or traditions]

Frequency: Medium (The word and its translations are not everyday vocabulary but appear in formal discussions, literature, and legal texts.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate to Advanced; requires understanding of Russian adjective inflections and formal language structures. For "священный," it's B2; for "неприкосновенный," it's closer to C1 due to its complexity.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Священный: /svʲɪˈɕːenʲnɨj/ (The stress is on the third syllable; note the palatalized 's' sound, which can be challenging for beginners.)

Note on Священный: The 'щ' sound is a soft, hissing fricative; practice with native speakers to master the palatalization.

Audio: []

Неприкосновенный: /nʲɪprʲɪkɐˈsovʲɪnʲnɨj/ (Stress on the fourth syllable; the word is long and involves multiple consonant clusters.)

Note on Неприкосновенный: Pay attention to the rapid consonant sequence; it's common in Russian compound words and may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Sacred or holy, referring to something treated with utmost reverence.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Священный - Used in religious or spiritual contexts, emphasizing inviolability due to sanctity.
• Неприкосновенный - Occasionally in broader contexts, but less common for pure religious meaning; implies protection from interference.

Usage Examples:

• В церкви хранится священный реликвий, который нельзя трогать.

  In the church, a sacrosanct relic is kept, which must not be touched.

• Для верующих этот обряд является священным и неприкосновенным традицией.

  For believers, this ritual is a sacrosanct and untouchable tradition.

• Священный текст Библии почитается миллионами людей по всему миру.

  The sacrosanct text of the Bible is revered by millions of people worldwide.

• В этом монастыре священные правила соблюдаются неукоснительно.

  In this monastery, the sacrosanct rules are followed without exception.

Meaning 2: Inviolable or not to be interfered with, often in legal or ethical contexts.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Неприкосновенный - Common in legal or rights-based discussions, such as personal privacy or constitutional protections.
• Священный - Used metaphorically in non-religious contexts to imply moral untouchability.

Usage Examples:

• Конституция гарантирует неприкосновенность личной жизни граждан.

  The constitution guarantees the sacrosanct inviolability of citizens' personal lives.

• В демократическом обществе неприкосновенные права человека считаются священными.

  In a democratic society, sacrosanct human rights are considered untouchable.

• Этот договор имеет неприкосновенный статус, и его нельзя изменять без согласия сторон.

  This agreement has a sacrosanct status and cannot be altered without the parties' consent.

• Священный принцип равенства перед законом неприкосновенен в нашей стране.

  The sacrosanct principle of equality before the law is inviolable in our country.

• Неприкосновенная территория заповедника защищена от любых вторжений.

  The sacrosanct territory of the nature reserve is protected from any intrusions.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "священный" and "неприкосновенный" are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern of agreement with nouns. Here is a basic inflection table for each:

Note: These adjectives do not have irregular inflections; they follow the standard first-declension pattern for hard-stem adjectives.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Священный: святой (holy; more religious connotation)
  • Неприкосновенный: инвиолабельный (inviolable; less common, more formal)
• Antonyms:
  • Священный: профанный (profane; opposite in religious contexts)
  • Неприкосновенный: доступный (accessible; implies ease of interference)

Related Phrases:

• Священный долг - A sacrosanct duty or obligation, often in moral or patriotic contexts.
• Неприкосновенность частной жизни - The sacrosanct inviolability of private life, referring to privacy rights.
• Священный обряд - A sacrosanct ritual, used in ceremonial or traditional settings.

Usage Notes:

"Sacrosanct" translates most accurately to "священный" in religious contexts and "неприкосновенный" in legal ones. English speakers should note that Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify, which is a key difference from English. Use "священный" for spiritual or metaphorical sanctity, and reserve "неприкосновенный" for formal, rights-based scenarios to avoid misuse. In everyday speech, these words are rare and sound elevated, so they suit written or official language.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "священный" interchangeably with "святой" without considering context. Incorrect: "Священный человек" (implies a sacred person in a general sense). Correct: "Святой человек" for a holy person. Explanation: "Священный" is broader and less personal than "святой."
• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "неприкосновенный жизнь" instead of "неприкосновенная жизнь." Incorrect: Неприкосновенный жизнь. Correct: Неприкосновенная жизнь (feminine noun). Explanation: Russian requires full agreement, which English learners often overlook.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "священный" often carry deep Orthodox Christian connotations, reflecting Russia's historical ties to the church. For instance, "священный" might evoke icons or rituals in everyday life, while "неприкосновенный" aligns with Soviet-era legacies of personal rights, emphasizing protection against state interference.

Related Concepts:

• Святыня (sanctuary)
• Права человека (human rights)
• Традиция (tradition)