Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'supplicate'

English Word: supplicate

Key Russian Translations:

• умолять [ʊmɐˈlʲatʲ] - [Formal, often in emotional or pleading contexts]
• молить [mɐˈlʲitʲ] - [Formal, frequently with religious or desperate connotations]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature, formal writing, and spoken language, but not in everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and nuanced contexts, varying slightly by translation—e.g., умолять may be slightly easier for beginners than молить due to its broader secular use)

Pronunciation (Russian):

умолять: [ʊmɐˈlʲatʲ]

Note on умолять: The stress falls on the second syllable ("lʲatʲ"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft 'l' sound; practice with native audio for accuracy.

молить: [mɐˈlʲitʲ]

Note on молить: Stress is on the second syllable; the 'i' sound is similar to the English 'ee' in "see," but be mindful of the palatalized consonants common in Russian verbs.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To ask for something humbly or earnestly, often implying desperation or submission

Translation(s) & Context:

• умолять - Used in formal or emotional situations, such as pleading for help or mercy in interpersonal or legal contexts.
• молить - Applied in contexts involving prayer, supplication to a higher power, or extreme desperation, often with a spiritual undertone.

Usage Examples:

• Он умолял судью проявить милосердие. (He supplicated the judge to show mercy.)

  He begged the judge to show mercy, highlighting умолять in a legal, formal setting.

• Дети молили родителей о дополнительном карманных деньгах. (The children supplicated their parents for extra pocket money.)

  The children begged their parents for extra pocket money, demonstrating молить in a familial, everyday plea with a hint of desperation.

• В отчаянии она умоляла друзей помочь ей переехать. (In despair, she supplicated her friends to help her move.)

  In despair, she begged her friends to help her move, showing умолять in a personal crisis scenario.

• Во время войны солдаты молили небо о спасении. (During the war, the soldiers supplicated the heavens for salvation.)

  During the war, the soldiers begged the heavens for salvation, illustrating молить in a religious or metaphorical context.

• Он умолял начальство пересмотреть решение об увольнении. (He supplicated his superiors to reconsider the dismissal decision.)

  He begged his superiors to reconsider the dismissal decision, exemplifying умолять in a professional environment.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "умолять" and "молить" are Russian verbs (first conjugation), which undergo regular inflections based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Russian verbs like these are imperfective, meaning they describe ongoing or repeated actions. Below is a table outlining key inflections for each verb in the present tense; note that full conjugation includes past, future, and imperative forms, but these are the most common.

Note: These verbs follow regular patterns but can vary in aspect (e.g., perfective forms like "умолить" for a completed action). If unchanging in certain contexts (e.g., infinitive), they remain as "умолять" or "молить."

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • просить (prosit') - More neutral, everyday request; less intense than умолять.
  • заклинать (zaklinat') - Implies swearing or invoking, often in dramatic contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • отказываться (otkazyvatsya) - To refuse or decline.
  • требовать (trebovat') - To demand, which is the opposite of humble supplication.

Related Phrases:

• Умолять о помощи - (To supplicate for help; used when begging for assistance in emergencies.)
• Молить бога - (To supplicate God; common in religious contexts, implying prayer for intervention.)
• Умолять на коленях - (To supplicate on one's knees; emphasizes humility and desperation in pleas.)

Usage Notes:

"Умолять" and "молить" both correspond closely to "supplicate" in English, but "умолять" is preferred for secular, interpersonal begging, while "молить" suits spiritual or profoundly emotional scenarios. Be mindful of formal contexts in Russian, where these verbs enhance politeness or urgency. For example, always conjugate based on subject for grammatical accuracy, and avoid using "молить" in non-religious settings to prevent cultural mismatches. When choosing between translations, opt for "умолять" if the supplication lacks divine elements.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "умолять" with "просить": Learners might use "просить" (to ask) interchangeably, but it's less intense. Error: "Он просил судью" (incorrect for supplication). Correct: "Он умолял судью" – The latter conveys desperation, which "supplicate" implies.
• Incorrect conjugation: Forgetting to adjust for person, e.g., saying "умоляет" for "I supplicate" instead of "умоляю." Error: "Я умоляет." Correct: "Я умоляю." – Always match verb endings to the subject for proper Russian grammar.
• Overusing "молить" in casual contexts: Mistakenly applying it to everyday requests. Error: "Я молю о билете" (for a ticket). Correct: "Я умоляю о билете" if desperate, or simply "Я прошу билет." – Reserve "молить" for profound pleas to avoid exaggeration.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, supplication like "умолять" or "молить" often appears in literature and folklore, such as in works by Dostoevsky, where characters beg for mercy or divine intervention. This reflects a historical emphasis on humility and spirituality in Russian society, stemming from Orthodox traditions, making these words more emotionally charged than their English counterparts.

Related Concepts:

• просьба (request)
• молитва (prayer)
• заклинание (incantation or plea)