Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'starve'

English Word: starve

Key Russian Translations:

• голодать [ɡɐlɐˈdatʲ] - [Informal, Common in everyday speech]
• морить голодом [ˈmorʲɪtʲ ˈɡolədəm] - [Formal, Literary or descriptive contexts]

Frequency: Medium (The verb is commonly used in daily conversations about hunger, but less frequent in formal writing.)

Difficulty: A2 (Basic level for beginners; involves simple verb conjugation, but mastering inflections may require intermediate practice.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

голодать: [ɡɐlɐˈdatʲ]

морить голодом: [ˈmorʲɪtʲ ˈɡolədəm]

Note on голодать: The stress falls on the last syllable (-datʲ), which is a common pattern for first-conjugation verbs in Russian. Be mindful of the soft sign (ʲ) indicating palatalization.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To suffer from extreme hunger or deprivation of food

Translation(s) & Context:

• голодать - Used in informal, everyday situations to describe personal hunger, such as in casual conversations or personal narratives.
• морить голодом - Applied in more formal or metaphorical contexts, like describing starvation in literature, history, or emphasizing severe deprivation.

Usage Examples:

• Я голодал целый день, потому что забыл поесть завтрак.

  I was starving all day because I forgot to eat breakfast.

• Дети в деревне голодали во время войны, морили голодом из-за нехватки еды.

  The children in the village were starving during the war, suffering from extreme food deprivation.

• Если ты не поешь, ты скоро начнешь голодать и почувствуешь слабость.

  If you don't eat, you'll soon start starving and feel weak.

• В фильме показано, как люди морили голодом в осаде, подчеркивая их стойкость.

  The film shows how people were starving during the siege, highlighting their resilience.

• Она голодала, чтобы похудеть, но это было опасно для здоровья.

  She was starving herself to lose weight, but it was dangerous for her health.

To metaphorically indicate extreme need or deprivation (e.g., emotional or figurative hunger)

Translation(s) & Context:

• голодать - Can be used metaphorically in informal speech, such as for emotional needs, e.g., "голодать по любви" (starving for love).
• морить голодом - Less common metaphorically, but used in literary contexts for emphasis on prolonged suffering.

Usage Examples:

• Он голодал по приключениям и уехал в другую страну.

  He was starving for adventures and moved to another country.

• В этой поэме автор описывает, как душа морит голодом без вдохновения.

  In this poem, the author describes how the soul is starving without inspiration.

• Молодые артисты часто голодали по славе, работая за копейки.

  Young artists often starved for fame, working for pennies.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

The primary translation "голодать" is a first-conjugation verb in Russian, which follows regular patterns but has variations based on tense, aspect, and person. "Морить голодом" is a phrase where "морить" is also a first-conjugation verb. Below is a conjugation table for "голодать" in the present tense; "морить" follows similar patterns.

Note: "Голодать" is imperfective, meaning it describes ongoing actions. For perfective aspect, use "проголодаться" (to become hungry). "Морить голодом" does not inflect as a single word but follows verb rules for "морить."

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • проголодаться - Similar to becoming hungry, often used for initial stages.
  • истощать - In a metaphorical sense, implying exhaustion from deprivation.
• Antonyms:
  • наедаться - To eat one's fill.
  • сытиться - To be satisfied with food.

Related Phrases:

• голодать как волк - Literally "to starve like a wolf"; used to describe extreme hunger in informal contexts. (English: To be ravenously hungry.)
• морить голодом кого-то - To starve someone deliberately; often in historical or dramatic narratives. (English: To deliberately deprive someone of food.)
• голод по знаниям - Hunger for knowledge; a metaphorical phrase. (English: A strong desire for learning.)

Usage Notes:

"Голодать" directly corresponds to the English "to starve" in informal settings, emphasizing personal hunger, while "морить голодом" is better for formal or intensified descriptions of starvation. Be cautious with context: in Russian, these words can carry emotional weight, especially in discussions of historical events like famines. For learners, choose "голодать" for everyday use and "морить голодом" for literary or precise scenarios. Grammatically, ensure correct verb conjugation based on subject; Russian verbs change with person and number, unlike the invariant English form.

Common Errors:

• Mistaking "голодать" (verb) for "голод" (noun, meaning hunger): English learners might say "Я голод" instead of "Я голодный" or "Я голодаю." Correct: Use "голодать" for the action. Error example: "Я голод" (incorrect for "I am starving"); Correct: "Я голодаю."
• Overusing in metaphorical contexts: Beginners might apply "голодать" too broadly, e.g., "Я голодал по работе" (awkward); Better: "Я страдал от отсутствия работы." Explanation: Reserve metaphors for natural expressions like "голод по любви."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "голодать" and "морить голодом" evoke strong historical connotations, such as the famines during the Russian Civil War or World War II. These terms are often used in literature and media to symbolize resilience and hardship, reflecting Russia's history of scarcity and endurance.

Related Concepts:

• голод (hunger)
• еда (food)
• питание (nutrition)
• истощение (exhaustion)