Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'spell'

English Word: spell

Key Russian Translations:

• заклинание [zək.lʲɪˈna.nʲɪ.jə] - [Formal, often used in literary or fantasy contexts]
• чары [ˈt͡ɕa.rɨ] - [Informal, poetic, or archaic usage]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literature and everyday conversations about magic or fantasy, but not in daily non-fiction speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun declensions and basic vocabulary for learners at this CEFR level)

Pronunciation (Russian):

заклинание: [zək.lʲɪˈna.nʲɪ.jə]

чары: [ˈt͡ɕa.rɨ]

Note on заклинание: The stress falls on the fourth syllable ("na"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to Russian's mobile stress patterns. Pronunciation may vary slightly in regional dialects.

Note on чары: The initial "ч" is a voiceless palatal fricative, similar to the "ch" in "church," but softer.

Audio: Play pronunciation for заклинание | Play for чары (Note: Audio placeholders; replace with actual audio file links or embed players for SEO optimization).

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A magical formula or incantation (e.g., in fantasy or witchcraft contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• заклинание - Used in formal or narrative contexts, such as books or movies about magic.
• чары - Applied in more poetic or informal settings, like storytelling or casual discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Волшебник произнес древнее заклинание, чтобы открыть скрытую дверь.

  The wizard uttered an ancient spell to open the hidden door.

• Ее чары были настолько сильны, что весь лес замер в тишине.

  Her spells were so powerful that the entire forest fell silent.

• Дети в лагере учились произносить простые заклинания для игры.

  The children at camp were learning simple spells for a game.

• Под действием чар, герой забыл о своих страхах и ринулся в бой.

  Under the influence of the spells, the hero forgot his fears and charged into battle.

Meaning 2: To spell out words (e.g., as in spelling a word aloud)

Translation(s) & Context:

• произносить по буквам - Common in educational or everyday contexts when clarifying pronunciation or spelling.

Usage Examples:

• Пожалуйста, произнести по буквам это сложное слово.

  Please spell out this difficult word.

• В классе учитель попросил учеников произносить по буквам английские слова.

  In class, the teacher asked students to spell English words aloud.

• Чтобы избежать ошибки, она всегда произносила по буквам свои пароли.

  To avoid mistakes, she always spelled out her passwords.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'заклинание' (neuter noun, 2nd declension):

Note: This noun follows regular declension patterns with no irregularities. For 'чары' (plural-only noun), it does not inflect for singular and remains mostly unchanged: чары (nominative), чар (genitive plural), etc.

For 'произносить' (verb, imperfective):

This verb is regular and conjugates according to standard patterns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: чары (more poetic), волшебство (emphasizes magic in general)
• Antonyms: разрыв (break or disruption, in a magical context)

Related Phrases:

• Магическое заклинание - A magical spell; used in fantasy narratives to describe enchanted formulas.
• Произносить заклинание - To cast a spell; common in role-playing games or stories.
• Древние чары - Ancient spells; often implies historical or mystical connotations.

Usage Notes:

'Заклинание' directly corresponds to the magical sense of 'spell' in English and is preferred in formal or literary contexts, while 'чары' adds a more enchanting or whimsical tone. For the verb sense (e.g., spelling words), use 'произносить по буквам' to avoid confusion with magic-related terms. Be mindful of context: in Russian, these words often appear in genitive or instrumental cases in sentences. English learners should note that Russian nouns require agreement in gender, number, and case, which can affect sentence structure.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'заклинание' interchangeably with 'spell' in non-magical contexts, e.g., saying "Я заклинание это слово" instead of "Я произношу по буквам это слово."
  Correct: Произносить по буквам означает четко артикулировать буквы, как в "Я произношу по буквам это слово" (I spell this word out).
  Explanation: This confusion arises from the multiple meanings of 'spell' in English; always select the translation based on context to avoid sounding unnatural.

• Error: Incorrectly declining 'заклинание', e.g., using nominative in all cases like "о заклинание" instead of "о заклинании".
  Correct: Use the proper genitive form: "о заклинании".
  Explanation: Russian nouns must change based on case, which English speakers often overlook, leading to grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'заклинание' and 'чары' are deeply rooted in folklore and fairy tales, such as those by Alexander Pushkin. They often symbolize the mystical elements of Slavic mythology, where spells were used by witches (ведьмы) or heroes to overcome evil. This reflects a broader cultural fascination with magic in Russian literature, influencing modern media like video games and films.

Related Concepts:

• волшебство
• ведьма
• мистика