Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'survivor'

English Word: survivor

Key Russian Translations:

• Выживший [vɨˈʐɨvʂɨj] - [Formal, Masculine]
• Выжившая [vɨˈʐɨvʂaja] - [Formal, Feminine]
• Выжившее [vɨˈʐɨvʂee] - [Formal, Neuter]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in contexts like history, survival stories, and media, but not in everyday casual conversation).

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun genders and basic inflections, though the root word is straightforward for learners with some Russian exposure).

Pronunciation (Russian):

Выживший: [vɨˈʐɨvʂɨj]

Выжившая: [vɨˈʐɨvʂaja]

Выжившее: [vɨˈʐɨvʂee]

Note on Выживший: The stress is on the third syllable; the 'ж' sound is a voiced palatal fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers—similar to the 's' in 'measure'. Variations may occur in dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A person who continues to live after an event that could have caused death or disaster (e.g., natural disaster, war).

Translation(s) & Context:

• Выживший - Used in formal or narrative contexts, such as historical accounts or news reports.
• Выжившая - Applied when referring to a female survivor, emphasizing gender in Russian grammar.

Usage Examples:

• Он был выжившим катастрофы и поделился своей историей. (He was a survivor of the disaster and shared his story.)

  English: He was a survivor of the disaster and shared his story.

• Выжившие в авиакатастрофе получили медицинскую помощь. (The survivors of the plane crash received medical help.)

  English: The survivors of the plane crash received medical help. (This example shows plural usage in a real-world emergency context.)

• Как выжившая в войне, она посвятила жизнь миру. (As a survivor of the war, she dedicated her life to peace.)

  English: As a survivor of the war, she dedicated her life to peace. (Demonstrates feminine form in a biographical narrative.)

• Выжившее животное было найдено в лесу после пожара. (The surviving animal was found in the forest after the fire.)

  English: The surviving animal was found in the forest after the fire. (Illustrates neuter form for non-human subjects.)

• Многие выжившие эмигрировали, чтобы начать новую жизнь. (Many survivors emigrated to start a new life.)

  English: Many survivors emigrated to start a new life. (Shows the word in a broader social or migratory context.)

Meaning 2: Someone who endures and overcomes difficult circumstances (e.g., in a metaphorical sense, like in personal struggles).

Translation(s) & Context:

• Выживший - Informal or motivational contexts, such as self-help literature.
• Выжившая - Gender-specific in stories of resilience.

Usage Examples:

• Каждый выживший в этой борьбе достоин уважения. (Every survivor in this struggle deserves respect.)

  English: Every survivor in this struggle deserves respect. (This highlights metaphorical usage in emotional or psychological contexts.)

• Выжившая после болезни, она вернулась к работе с новой силой. (The survivor after the illness returned to work with new strength.)

  English: The survivor after the illness returned to work with new strength. (Feminine form in a health-related narrative.)

• Выжившие в экономическом кризисе адаптировались к изменениям. (Survivors of the economic crisis adapted to the changes.)

  English: Survivors of the economic crisis adapted to the changes. (Plural form in a socio-economic context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

The word "выживший" is an adjective that functions as a noun in Russian and inflects based on gender, number, and case. It follows the pattern of short-form adjectives but can vary. Below is a table outlining common inflections for the masculine form; similar patterns apply to feminine and neuter with adjustments.

For feminine (Выжившая) and neuter (Выжившее), the base changes accordingly, but the case endings follow standard adjective patterns. This word is regular in its inflections, making it predictable for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Оставшийся (ostavshimsya) - Remaining, often used in survival contexts.
  • Спасшийся (spas shiysya) - One who has escaped or been saved, with a connotation of rescue.
  • Преодолевший (preodolevshi y) - One who has overcome, emphasizing resilience.
• Antonyms:
  • Погибший (pogibshi y) - Deceased or perished.
  • Жертва (zhertva) - Victim, implying defeat rather than survival.

Related Phrases:

• Выживший в катастрофе (vyzhivshi y v katastrofe) - Survivor of a disaster; used in emergency or historical discussions.
• Борьба за выживание (bor'ba za vyzhivaniye) - Struggle for survival; a common phrase in motivational or adventure contexts.
• Выживший инстинкт (vyzhivshi y instinkt) - Survival instinct; refers to innate behaviors in psychology or nature.

Usage Notes:

Russian translations of "survivor" like "выживший" must agree in gender, number, and case with the subject, which differs from English's gender-neutral approach. For instance, use "выжившая" for females to ensure grammatical accuracy. This word is often formal and appears in narratives or reports; in casual speech, alternatives like "тот, кто выжил" (the one who survived) might be preferred. When choosing among translations, opt for "выживший" in survival-themed contexts and consider the audience's familiarity with Russian inflections.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using the masculine form "выживший" for female subjects, e.g., saying "Она выживший" instead of "Она выжившая". Correct: Always match gender, as Russian requires agreement. Explanation: This confuses subject-verb agreement and can make the sentence ungrammatical.

• Error: Forgetting case inflections, e.g., using "выживший" in the genitive case without changing to "выжившего". Correct: In phrases like "история выжившего" (story of the survivor), use the genitive form. Explanation: English learners often overlook Russian's complex case system, leading to incomplete sentences.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "выживший" carry connotations from historical events such as World War II or the Siege of Leningrad, where survival stories are integral to national identity. It symbolizes resilience and is often romanticized in literature and films, reflecting Russia's history of enduring hardships.

Related Concepts:

• Спасение (spaseniye)
• Резilience (reziliyentnost') - A loanword for resilience.
• Катастрофа (katastrofa)