Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'saint'

English Word: saint

Key Russian Translations:

• святой [svʲɪˈtoj] - [Formal, Masculine, Used in religious or historical contexts]
• святая [svʲɪˈtajə] - [Formal, Feminine, Used for female saints in religious contexts]
• святой человек [svʲɪˈtoj t͡ɕelovek] - [Informal, General, Used metaphorically for a very good person]

Frequency: Medium (Common in religious, cultural, and literary contexts, but less frequent in everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian noun genders and adjective declensions, though basic forms are straightforward for learners at this level)

Pronunciation (Russian):

святой: [svʲɪˈtoj]

святая: [svʲɪˈtajə]

святой человек: [svʲɪˈtoj t͡ɕelovek]

Note on святой: The initial 'sv' sound is palatalized (indicated by ʲ in IPA), which can be challenging for English speakers; pronounce it like "svee" with a soft 's'. Variations may occur in dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A holy person, especially in Christianity, recognized for virtuous life and miracles.

Translation(s) & Context:

• святой - Used in formal religious texts or discussions about Orthodox saints, often with masculine agreement.
• святая - Applied to female saints, in contexts like hagiography or cultural references.
• святой человек - Informal or metaphorical use in everyday language to describe someone exceptionally kind or pure.

Usage Examples:

• Русский православный святой почитается в монастыре. (Russian Orthodox saint is revered in the monastery.)

  English Translation: The Russian Orthodox saint is revered in the monastery.

• Святая Екатерина известна своими чудесами в истории. (Saint Catherine is known for her miracles in history.)

  English Translation: Saint Catherine is known for her miracles in history.

• Мой дедушка был как святой человек, всегда помогая соседям. (My grandfather was like a saintly person, always helping neighbors.)

  English Translation: My grandfather was like a saintly person, always helping neighbors.

• В церкви мы молимся святому Петру за защиту. (In church, we pray to Saint Peter for protection.)

  English Translation: In church, we pray to Saint Peter for protection.

• Святая икона излучает мир и спокойствие. (The saintly icon radiates peace and tranquility.)

  English Translation: The saintly icon radiates peace and tranquility. (Here, 'святая' describes the icon metaphorically.)

Meaning 2: Figurative use for an exceptionally virtuous or morally pure person.

Translation(s) & Context:

• святой человек - Informal, everyday contexts, often with irony or exaggeration.

Usage Examples:

• Она всегда жертвует временем для других, как настоящий святой. (She always sacrifices time for others, like a true saint.)

  English Translation: She always sacrifices time for others, like a true saint.

• В этой семье отец – святой человек, терпящий все трудности. (In this family, the father is a saintly person, enduring all hardships.)

  English Translation: In this family, the father is a saintly person, enduring all hardships.

• Не зови меня святым, я тоже совершаю ошибки. (Don't call me a saint; I make mistakes too.)

  English Translation: Don't call me a saint; I make mistakes too.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

святой is an adjective that inflects based on gender, number, and case in Russian. It follows standard first-declension adjective patterns. святая is the feminine form. For святой человек, 'человек' is a noun that inflects, while 'святой' agrees with it.

Note: These forms are regular, but always ensure agreement with the noun they modify.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: преподобный (prepodobnyj) - More formal, often for monastic saints; благочестивый (blagochestivyj) - Emphasizes piety.
• Antonyms: грешник (greshnik) - Directly opposite, meaning sinner; нечестивец (nechestivets) - Implies ungodliness or wickedness.

Related Phrases:

• святой отец (svyatoj otets) - Meaning: Holy Father, often referring to a priest; used in religious contexts.
• святой покровитель (svyatoj pokrovitel) - Meaning: Patron saint; common in discussions of protection or cultural heritage.
• молитва святому (molitva svyatomu) - Meaning: Prayer to a saint; used in spiritual practices.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'святой' must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies, unlike English 'saint' which is gender-neutral. For example, use 'святой' for males and 'святая' for females. It's primarily formal and religious, so avoid in casual slang. When choosing between translations, opt for 'святой человек' in metaphorical senses to sound more natural.

• Contextual tip: In Orthodox traditions, saints are deeply revered, so usage often carries cultural weight.
• Grammar note: Always decline properly; e.g., in genitive case, it's 'святого'.

Common Errors:

English learners often forget gender agreement, e.g., using 'святой' for a female saint instead of 'святая'. Incorrect: "Святая Мария зовется святой." (Wrong because 'святой' is masculine.) Correct: "Святая Мария зовется святой женщиной." Explanation: Adjust the adjective to match the noun's gender to avoid grammatical errors and confusion in religious discussions.

• Error: Overusing in non-religious contexts, e.g., saying 'святой' for a kind stranger, which might sound exaggerated. Correct: Use 'добрый человек' for neutrality.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, particularly within the Orthodox Church, saints like Saint Nicholas (Санта Клаус's inspiration) hold significant historical and spiritual importance. They are often depicted in icons and celebrated through feasts, reflecting Russia's deep religious heritage and influencing daily life, literature, and national identity.

Related Concepts:

• икона (ikona)
• молитва (molitva)
• православный (pravoslavnyj)