Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'vendetta'

English Word: vendetta

Key Russian Translations:

• вендетта [vɛn'dɛta] - [Formal, Literary]
• кровная месть [kro'vnəjə 'mʲɛsʲtʲ] - [Informal, Literary, Plural forms possible]

Frequency: Low (Primarily used in historical, literary, or cultural contexts; not common in everyday spoken Russian)

Difficulty: B2 (Upper Intermediate, as it involves understanding specific cultural and grammatical nuances; for 'вендетта', it's straightforward as a borrowed word, but 'кровная месть' may require knowledge of noun inflections)

Pronunciation (Russian):

вендетта: [vɛn'dɛta]

Note on вендетта: The stress falls on the second syllable; it's a borrowed word from Italian, so pronunciation is relatively consistent across contexts.

Audio: []

кровная месть: [kro'vnəjə 'mʲɛsʲtʲ]

Note on кровная месть: The word 'кровная' is an adjective that softens in certain forms; pay attention to the palatalized 's' sound in 'месть' for accurate pronunciation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A prolonged feud or act of revenge, often involving families, to avenge a wrong or injury

Translation(s) & Context:

• вендетта - Used in formal or historical discussions, such as in literature or legal contexts, to describe organized family revenge.
• кровная месть - Applied in narrative or emotional settings, emphasizing blood ties, and often in plural forms for ongoing conflicts.

Usage Examples:

• В этой сицилийской семье вендетта длилась десятилетиями, передаваясь от отца к сыну.

  In this Sicilian family, the vendetta lasted for decades, passed down from father to son.

• Кровная месть между кланами закончилась только после вмешательства властей.

  The blood feud between the clans ended only after the authorities intervened.

• В романе Толстого вендетта изображена как неизбежный цикл насилия в обществе.

  In Tolstoy's novel, the vendetta is depicted as an inevitable cycle of violence in society.

• После убийства лидера, его родня начала кровную месть против обидчиков.

  After the leader's murder, his relatives began a blood feud against the offenders.

• Современные истории часто романтизируют вендетту, но в реальности она приводит к трагедиям.

  Modern stories often romanticize vendetta, but in reality, it leads to tragedies.

Meaning 2: A personal campaign of retribution, not necessarily familial

Translation(s) & Context:

• вендетта - In broader contexts, like business or politics, to denote a determined pursuit of justice.
• кровная месть - Less common here, but can imply deep personal stakes in informal storytelling.

Usage Examples:

• Бизнесмен объявил вендетту против конкурентов, которые подорвали его репутацию.

  The businessman declared a vendetta against competitors who undermined his reputation.

• Её кровная месть за несправедливость выразилась в серии судебных исков.

  Her blood feud for injustice manifested in a series of lawsuits.

• В фильме герой начинает вендетту после потери близкого человека.

  In the film, the hero starts a vendetta after losing a loved one.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'Вендетта' is a feminine noun (as a borrowed word) and follows standard Russian inflection patterns for first-declension nouns. It is relatively stable but changes in cases.

'Кровная месть' consists of an adjective ('кровная') and a noun ('месть'). 'Кровная' agrees with 'месть' (feminine) and inflects accordingly, while 'месть' is a feminine noun with standard inflections. It is irregular in some forms due to its root.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: месть (mest' - simple revenge, less formal); отместка (otmestka - retribution, often in response to an action)
• Antonyms: прощение (proshcheniye - forgiveness, implying letting go of grudges); примирение (primireniye - reconciliation, ending conflicts)

Related Phrases:

• Кровная вражда - A prolonged blood feud; often used in historical or familial conflict narratives.
• Семейная вендетта - Family vendetta; highlights the hereditary aspect in stories or real events.
• Личный отпор - Personal retaliation; a milder phrase implying individual revenge without the intensity of vendetta.

Usage Notes:

'Vendetta' in English corresponds closely to 'вендетта' in Russian, especially in cultural or literary contexts, but 'кровная месть' adds a layer of emotional depth tied to family bonds. Use 'вендетта' for formal or borrowed contexts, and 'кровная месть' for narrative descriptions. Be mindful of the plural forms in Russian, as they emphasize ongoing or multiple events. In everyday Russian, these terms are rare and may sound archaic, so they're best in written or educated speech.

• Avoid direct translation in casual conversations; opt for simpler words like 'месть' if needed.
• When choosing between translations, consider the context: 'вендетта' for organized revenge, 'кровная месть' for blood-related feuds.

Common Errors:

English learners often mistake 'вендетта' for simple 'revenge' and overuse it in non-familial contexts. For example, incorrect: "Я хочу вендетту за плохой сервис" (I want a vendetta for bad service) – this sounds overly dramatic. Correct: Use 'месть' instead. Another error is improper inflection, e.g., saying 'вендетта' in the wrong case; for instance, "О вендетта" instead of "О вендетте" in prepositional case. Always check case agreement to avoid grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'вендетта' is often linked to stories from the Caucasus or literary works by authors like Tolstoy and Lermontov, where it symbolizes deep-seated honor and family loyalty. It carries connotations of tragedy and inevitability, reflecting historical feuds in regions like the North Caucasus, and is frequently romanticized in media, though it's not a common modern practice.

Related Concepts:

• месть
• вражда
• кровная обида