Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'slaughter'

English Word: slaughter

Key Russian Translations:

• резня [ˈrʲeznə] - [Formal, often used for mass killings or massacres]
• забой [zɐˈboj] - [Informal, specifically for the killing of animals for food]
• убийство [uˈbʲijstvə] - [Formal, broader term for killing, but can apply in contexts of slaughter]

Frequency: Medium (Common in historical, news, or agricultural contexts, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun declensions and context-specific usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

резня: [ˈrʲeznə]

Note on резня: The stress is on the first syllable; the 'р' is rolled, which can be challenging for English speakers. Variations may occur in regional dialects.

забой: [zɐˈboj]

Note on забой: Stress on the second syllable; the 'з' is voiced, similar to 'z' in "zoo".

убийство: [uˈbʲijstvə]

Note on убийство: The 'й' is a palatal approximant; pronounce it softly, and note the soft sign 'ь' affects the preceding consonant.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: The killing of animals for food or in slaughterhouses.

Translation(s) & Context:

• забой - Used in agricultural or industrial contexts, such as meat processing.

Usage Examples:

• В мясной промышленности забой скота осуществляется с использованием специального оборудования.

  In the meat industry, the slaughter of livestock is carried out using specialized equipment.

• Фермеры проводят забой животных в конце осени, чтобы подготовить запасы на зиму.

  Farmers perform the slaughter of animals at the end of autumn to prepare supplies for winter.

• Закон регулирует процесс забоя, чтобы обеспечить гуманное обращение с животными.

  The law regulates the slaughter process to ensure humane treatment of animals.

• Современные методы забоя включают электрическое оглушение для минимизации страданий.

  Modern slaughter methods include electric stunning to minimize suffering.

Meaning 2: A massacre or violent killing of people, often on a large scale.

Translation(s) & Context:

• резня - Used in historical or violent contexts, such as wars or conflicts.
• убийство - Applied when the killing is more targeted or criminal, but can overlap with slaughter in extreme cases.

Usage Examples:

• Во время войны произошла ужасная резня в деревне, унесшая сотни жизней.

  During the war, a horrific slaughter occurred in the village, claiming hundreds of lives.

• Историки изучают резню как часть военных преступлений прошлого века.

  Historians study the slaughter as part of war crimes from the previous century.

• Эта резня была спровоцирована политическими разногласиями и эскалировала в полномасштабный конфликт.

  This slaughter was provoked by political disagreements and escalated into a full-scale conflict.

• Международные организации осуждают такие акты резни и требуют расследований.

  International organizations condemn such acts of slaughter and demand investigations.

• В фильме показано, как резня изменила судьбы выживших.

  In the film, it shows how the slaughter changed the fates of the survivors.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily nouns, which in Russian undergo declension based on case, number, and gender. Below is a table for key inflections:

Note: These follow standard Russian declension patterns; резня and забой are regular, while убийство has slight irregularities in plural forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: избиение [used for beating or slaughter in a less formal context], massacre [though this is borrowed], погром [pogrom, implying organized violence]
• Antonyms: спасение [salvation or rescue], мир [peace]

Note: "Избиение" is often a synonym for резня but implies more physical brutality, while "погром" has historical connotations of targeted attacks.

Related Phrases:

• Массовое убийство - A phrase for mass slaughter, often in the context of genocide or war (used for large-scale killings).
• Забой скота - Refers to the slaughter of livestock, common in agricultural discussions.
• Резня в истории - Historical slaughter, as in events like the "Кровавое воскресенье" (Bloody Sunday).

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "резня" is the most direct equivalent for "slaughter" in violent contexts, but it's formal and often implies a massacre rather than routine animal killing. Use "забой" for animal-related scenarios to avoid confusion. Be mindful of the word's emotional weight; it's not used lightly in speech. When choosing between translations, consider the context: formal writing might prefer "убийство" for legal or criminal aspects. Grammatically, these nouns require correct declension based on sentence structure.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "резня" interchangeably with "убийство" without context, leading to understatement or exaggeration. For example, a learner might say "Это было убийство" when "резня" is more appropriate for a mass event. Correct: Use "резня" for large-scale violence. Explanation: "Убийство" implies a single or targeted killing, while "резня" denotes chaos and scale.

• Error: Forgetting declensions, e.g., saying "в резня" instead of "в резне" (genitive case). Correct: Always adjust for case, as in "во время резни" (during the slaughter). Explanation: Russian nouns change form based on their role in the sentence, which English speakers often overlook.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "резня" often evoke historical events such as the Stalinist purges or World War II massacres, carrying a heavy emotional and patriotic connotation. It's frequently used in literature and media to discuss themes of loss and resilience, reflecting Russia's turbulent history.

Related Concepts:

• Война
• Геноцид
• Насилие