Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sunder'

English Word: sunder

Key Russian Translations:

• разделять [rəzˈdʲe̞lʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, Imperfective verb]
• разрывать [rɐˈzryvətʲ] - [Informal, Perfective verb]
• отделять [ɐtˈdʲe̞lʲɪtʲ] - [Neutral, often used in technical contexts]

Frequency: Low (The word 'sunder' is archaic in English and its Russian equivalents are not everyday vocabulary, appearing more in literary or formal texts.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian verb aspects and inflections, though basic forms are accessible to learners at this level. For 'разделять': B2; for 'разрывать': B1 if focusing on perfective aspect.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

разделять: [rəzˈdʲe̞lʲɪtʲ]

разрывать: [rɐˈzryvətʲ]

отделять: [ɐtˈdʲe̞lʲɪtʲ]

Note on разделять: The stress falls on the second syllable, which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalized 'd' sound; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Note on разрывать: This word has a harder 'r' sound at the beginning, emphasizing the abrupt separation implied in its meaning.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To separate or break apart physically or metaphorically (e.g., in literature or everyday contexts).

Translation(s) & Context:

• разделять - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe dividing or separating entities, often with an ongoing sense.
• разрывать - Applied in informal or emotional contexts, implying a forceful or complete break, such as in relationships.
• отделять - Common in technical or precise scenarios, like separating objects in manufacturing.

Usage Examples:

• Война разделила семьи на десятилетия. (The war sundered families for decades.)

  The war divided families for decades. (Shows metaphorical separation in a historical context.)

• Он разрывает письмо в гневе. (He sunders the letter in anger.)

  He tears the letter apart in anger. (Illustrates a physical, emotional action in an informal setting.)

• Завод отделяет металл от примесей. (The factory sunders metal from impurities.)

  The factory separates metal from impurities. (Demonstrates technical usage in a neutral context.)

• Разделяй и властвуй – это древняя стратегия. (Divide and conquer is an ancient strategy.)

  Divide and conquer is an ancient strategy. (Shows idiomatic use in strategic or philosophical discussions.)

Meaning 2: To cause division in opinions or unity (e.g., in social or abstract contexts).

Translation(s) & Context:

• разделять - Often used metaphorically for ideological splits, in formal writing or speeches.
• разрывать - Less common here, but can imply a dramatic rift in personal relationships.

Usage Examples:

• Политика разделила общество на два лагеря. (Politics sundered society into two camps.)

  Politics divided society into two camps. (Highlights social division in a contemporary context.)

• Его слова разрывают единство группы. (His words sunder the group's unity.)

  His words break the group's unity. (Emphasizes emotional impact in an informal group setting.)

• Мы не должны отделять людей по расовым признакам. (We should not sunder people based on racial characteristics.)

  We should not separate people based on racial characteristics. (Addresses ethical or social issues.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'разделять' (imperfective verb), it follows standard first conjugation patterns with variations based on tense, aspect, and person. It is irregular in some forms due to palatalization.

For 'разрывать' (perfective verb), it has similar conjugation but is used for completed actions: e.g., Present not typically used; Past: разорвал; Future: разорву.

'отделять' is mostly invariable in basic forms but conjugates regularly as a first-conjugation verb, with no major irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • отделять (more neutral, often physical)
  • расщеплять (implies splitting into parts, with a scientific connotation)
• Antonyms:
  • соединять (to unite or join)
  • скреплять (to fasten or bind together)

Related Phrases:

• разделить пополам - To divide in half. (Used for equitable splitting, e.g., in negotiations.)
• разорвать связи - To sever ties. (Implies a complete break in relationships, often emotional.)
• отделить от общества - To isolate from society. (Common in social or punitive contexts.)

Usage Notes:

Russian translations of 'sunder' emphasize verb aspects: use 'разделять' for ongoing actions and 'разрывать' for completed ones to match the context accurately. In formal English texts, 'sunder' often corresponds to 'разделять' in Russian literature. Be mindful of word order in sentences; Russian typically places the verb later. When choosing between translations, opt for 'отделять' in technical scenarios and 'разрывать' for dramatic effects.

• Avoid direct word-for-word translation; focus on the aspect to convey the intended meaning.
• In spoken Russian, these verbs may vary by region, with more formal usage in Moscow dialect.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse 'разделять' with 'раздражать' (to irritate), as they sound similar. Incorrect: "Я раздражаю друзей" (meaning "I irritate friends" instead of "I sunder friends"). Correct: "Я разделяю друзей" for separation. Another error is neglecting verb aspects, e.g., using 'разрывать' where an imperfective like 'разделять' is needed for ongoing actions; this can alter the sentence's tense and meaning.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'разделять' often appear in historical contexts, such as the division of territories in the Soviet era or in literature by authors like Tolstoy, symbolizing societal rifts. This reflects Russia's history of revolutions and reforms, where separation themes are prevalent in art and discourse.

Related Concepts:

• соединение (union or joining)
• расщепление (fission or splitting)
• изоляция (isolation)