Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'valediction'

English Word: valediction

Key Russian Translations:

• Прощание (/prəˈʃt͡ɕənʲɪje/) - [Formal, Used in contexts like farewells or closing remarks]
• Прощальный (/prəˈʃt͡ɕalʲnɨj/) - [Adjective form, Informal, Used to describe something related to parting]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literary and formal communication, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun and adjective inflections, suitable for learners with basic grammar knowledge)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Прощание: /prəˈʃt͡ɕənʲɪje/ (Stress on the second syllable; the 'щ' sound is a soft, palatalized 'sh')

Прощальный: /prəˈʃt͡ɕalʲnɨj/ (Similar to the above, with emphasis on the soft 'л' and 'н' sounds)

Note on Прощание: Be cautious with the palatalized consonants; non-native speakers often mispronounce 'щ' as a simple 'sh'. Practice with native audio for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: A farewell expression or act of parting

Translation(s) & Context:

• Прощание - Used in formal settings, such as ending a speech or letter, to convey a sense of closure.
• Прощальный - Applied in descriptive contexts, like a "farewell party," to indicate something related to saying goodbye.

Usage Examples:

• В конце письма он добавил трогательное прощание. (V kontse pis'ma on dobavil trogatel'noe proshchanie.)

  At the end of the letter, he added a touching valediction.

• Прощальный жест был полон эмоций. (Proshchal'nyy zhest byl polon emotsiy.)

  The valedictory gesture was full of emotions.

• На церемонии прозвучало традиционное прощание. (Na tseremonii prozvučalo traditsionnoe proshchanie.)

  A traditional valediction was uttered at the ceremony.

• Её прощальный взгляд сказал больше, чем слова. (Ey proshchal'nyy vzglyad skazal bol'she, chem slova.)

  Her valedictory glance spoke more than words.

• В прощании друзей всегда есть нотка грусти. (V proshchanii druzey vsegda est' notka grusti.)

  In the valediction of friends, there's always a note of sadness.

Secondary Meaning: A formal speech or address at a graduation or departure

Translation(s) & Context:

• Прощание - In educational or ceremonial contexts, referring to a farewell speech.

Usage Examples:

• Выпускники слушали прощание директора с трепетом. (Vypuskniki slushali proshchanie direktora s trepetom.)

  The graduates listened to the director's valediction with trepidation.

• Его прощание на конференции стало мемом. (Yego proshchanie na konferentsii stalo memom.)

  His valediction at the conference became a meme.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Прощание is a neuter noun, which follows standard Russian noun inflections. It is a second-declension noun with regular patterns. Прощальный is an adjective that inflects based on gender, number, and case.

For uninflected uses in fixed phrases, it remains unchanged, but this is rare.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Прощание: Прощание (similar), Расставание (/rəsˈtavənʲɪje/) - More general for parting
  • Прощальный: Прощальный (identical), Расстающийся (/rəsˈtavajəɕɕɪj/) - Implies ongoing separation
• Antonyms:
  • Встреча (/fstrʲeˈt͡ɕə/) - Meeting, as it contrasts with parting
  • Приветствие (/prʲɪvʲɪtˈstviə/) - Greeting, opposite of a farewell

Related Phrases:

• Прощай, мир! (/prəˈʃt͡ɕaj, mir/) - Farewell, world! (Used in dramatic or literary contexts for a final goodbye.)
• Прощальное слово (/prəˈʃt͡ɕalʲnəje slovo/) - Valedictory address (Common in speeches or ceremonies.)
• До свидания в прощании (/də svʲɪˈdanʲɪjə v prəˈʃt͡ɕənʲɪje/) - Until we meet again in farewell (A poetic way to express hope after parting.)

Usage Notes:

Valediction in English often corresponds to "Прощание" in Russian, but choose based on context: use the noun for direct farewells and the adjective for descriptions. It's more formal in Russian, so avoid in casual conversations. Grammatically, ensure adjectives agree with nouns in gender, number, and case. For multiple translations, "Прощание" is preferred for letters, while "Прощальный" suits events.

• In formal writing, pair with prepositions like "в прощании" (in valediction).
• Be mindful of cultural nuances; Russians may use it in emotional or ceremonial settings.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse "Прощание" with "Прощай" (goodbye), using it interchangeably. Error: Saying "Прощание" in casual speech instead of "До свидания". Correct: Use "Прощание" for formal contexts only. Another mistake is incorrect inflection, e.g., using "Прощания" (genitive) where nominative is needed. Example of error: "Я сказал Прощания" (incorrect); Correct: "Я сказал Прощание". This stems from not mastering case systems.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, valedictions like "Прощание" often carry emotional weight, reflecting the value placed on relationships and partings in literature (e.g., in works by Tolstoy). It's not just a simple goodbye but can imply reflection or melancholy, especially in Slavic traditions where farewells are elaborate.

Related Concepts:

• Расставание
• Приветствие
• Встреча