Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'starvation'

English Word: starvation

Key Russian Translations:

• голод [ˈɡo.lət] - [Formal, used in general and serious contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in discussions about health, history, and global issues, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; straightforward for learners with basic vocabulary, as it follows standard noun patterns in Russian)

Pronunciation (Russian):

голод: [ˈɡo.lət]

Note on голод: The stress is on the first syllable. The 'o' sound is like in "go," and the final 'd' is devoiced in some dialects, sounding closer to 't'. Pay attention to the hard 'л' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The state of suffering from extreme hunger or deprivation of food.

Translation(s) & Context:

• голод - Used in formal, medical, historical, or humanitarian contexts to describe severe food shortage or famine.

Usage Examples:

• В Африке миллионы людей страдают от голода из-за засухи и конфликтов.

  In Africa, millions of people suffer from starvation due to drought and conflicts.

• Голод во время войны вынудил жителей покидать свои дома.

  Starvation during the war forced residents to leave their homes.

• Медики предупреждают, что длительный голод может привести к истощению организма.

  Doctors warn that prolonged starvation can lead to bodily exhaustion.

• В истории России голод часто был вызван неурожаями и экономическими кризисами.

  In Russian history, starvation was often caused by poor harvests and economic crises.

• Борьба с голодом в мире остается одной из главных задач международных организаций.

  Fighting starvation worldwide remains one of the main tasks of international organizations.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Голод" is a masculine noun in Russian, belonging to the third declension. It follows regular patterns for masculine nouns ending in a consonant. Below is a table of its declensions:

Note: This noun does not have irregular forms, making it relatively easy for learners to inflect.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • голодание (golodanie) - More specific to the act of starving, often used in contexts like dieting or protests.
  • истощение (istoshchenie) - Emphasizes physical exhaustion due to lack of food, with a connotation of weakness.
• Antonyms:
  • сытость (sytost') - Refers to a state of being full or well-fed.
  • изобилие (izobiliye) - Means abundance, often in the context of food supply.

Related Phrases:

• Голод в мире - World hunger; a common phrase in discussions about global aid and poverty.
• Умирать от голода - To die of starvation; used literally or metaphorically in survival stories.
• Борьба с голодом - Fight against starvation; often refers to humanitarian efforts or policies.
• Голодовка (as a related concept) - Hunger strike; a protest method involving voluntary starvation.

Usage Notes:

"Голод" directly corresponds to "starvation" in English but is more commonly used in Russian to describe widespread or severe conditions, such as famines, rather than individual hunger. It is a neutral, formal term and can be used in various contexts like news, history, or medicine. When choosing between synonyms like "голодание," opt for it if the context involves intentional deprivation (e.g., a strike). Grammatically, always decline it according to Russian cases to fit sentence structure, as Russian requires agreement in gender, number, and case.

• Avoid direct word-for-word translation; for example, "starvation diet" might be better as "диета на основе голода" in specific contexts.
• In informal speech, Russians might use phrases like "я умираю с голоду" (I'm starving), which is idiomatic and not overly formal.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "голод" with "голодный" (hungry, an adjective). Error: Saying "Я голод" to mean "I am hungry" (incorrect, as it means "I am starvation"). Correct: "Я голодный." Explanation: "Голод" is a noun; use the adjective form for descriptions of state.
• Overusing in casual contexts. Error: Translating "I'm starving" directly as "Я голод" in everyday talk. Correct: "Я умираю с голоду" or simply "Я голодный." Explanation: This makes speech sound overly dramatic or formal when a lighter tone is intended.
• Incorrect declension. Error: Saying "из-за голод" instead of "из-за голода." Correct: Always decline based on case (here, genitive). Explanation: Russian nouns must agree with prepositions and sentence structure.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and history, "голод" is often associated with significant events like the famines of the early 20th century, such as the 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine, which was a man-made starvation crisis under Soviet rule. This word carries emotional weight in discussions of hardship, resilience, and social issues, reflecting Russia's turbulent past and ongoing concerns about food security in rural areas.

Related Concepts:

• еда (eda) - Food
• голодовка (golodovka) - Hunger strike
• неурожай (neurzhaĭ) - Poor harvest
• питание (pitaniye) - Nutrition