Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'witch'

English Word: witch

Key Russian Translations:

• ведьма /ˈvʲedʲ.ma/ - [Informal, used in folklore and storytelling]
• колдунья /kɐlˈdu.nʲə/ - [Formal or literary, implying a female sorceress]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literature, fairy tales, and cultural discussions, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: Intermediate (B1-B2 level on CEFR scale, as it involves understanding Russian nouns with gender and inflections; for "ведьма", B1; for "колдунья", B2 due to more nuanced connotations)

Pronunciation (Russian):

ведьма: /ˈvʲedʲ.ma/ (The "в" is pronounced as a soft "v", and the stress is on the first syllable; common in casual speech)

колдунья: /kɐlˈdu.nʲə/ (Stress on the second syllable; the "нь" sound is palatalized, which can be tricky for beginners)

Note on ведьма: Be careful with the soft "д" sound, which may vary slightly in regional dialects; it's often softer in Moscow accents.

Note on колдунья: This word has a more archaic feel; pronunciation can shift in fast speech to /kɐlˈdu.ɲə/.

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Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A woman thought to have magic powers, especially evil ones (as in folklore or fantasy).

Translation(s) & Context:

• ведьма - Used in everyday storytelling or fairy tales, often with negative connotations in Russian culture.
• колдунья - Applied in more formal or literary contexts, such as historical texts or modern fantasy novels, emphasizing witchcraft skills.

Usage Examples:

• В лесу жила старая ведьма, которая колдовала над зельями.

  In the forest lived an old witch who cast spells over potions.

• Дети боялись ведьмы из сказки, потому что она превращала людей в жаб.

  The children feared the witch from the fairy tale because she turned people into frogs.

• В русской мифологии колдунья часто изображалась как мудрая, но опасная женщина.

  In Russian mythology, a witch is often depicted as a wise but dangerous woman.

• Молодая колдунья использовала свои силы, чтобы помочь деревне в трудные времена.

  The young witch used her powers to help the village in hard times.

• В современном фильме ведьма предстала как антигероиня с тёмной магией.

  In the modern film, the witch appeared as an anti-heroine with dark magic.

2. (Informal or metaphorical) A woman who is unpleasant or manipulative (less common in Russian).

Translation(s) & Context:

• ведьма - Used metaphorically in casual speech, similar to English slang, but with a cultural nod to folklore.

Usage Examples:

• Её соседка — настоящая ведьма, всегда ругается без причины.

  Her neighbor is a real witch, always arguing for no reason.

• В офисе шеф иногда ведёт себя как ведьма, особенно под давлением.

  At the office, the boss sometimes acts like a witch, especially under pressure.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "ведьма" and "колдунья" are feminine nouns in Russian, belonging to the first declension. They inflect based on case, number, and gender. "ведьма" is a standard first-declension noun with regular patterns, while "колдунья" follows similar rules but may have slight variations in archaic usage.

Note: These nouns do not change in gender but must agree with adjectives and verbs accordingly. They are regular, with no irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • волшебница (/vɐlˈʂɛb.nʲɪ.tsə/) - Similar to enchantress, often with less negative connotations.
  • чародейка (/t͡ɕə.rəˈdɛj.kə/) - A female magician, used in literary contexts; implies skill rather than evil.
• Antonyms:
  • ангел (/ˈan.gʲɪl/) - Angel, representing goodness and purity.
  • святой (/svʲɪˈtoj/) - Saint, contrasting with dark magic figures.

Related Phrases:

• Злая ведьма - "Evil witch"; Used in fairy tales to describe antagonistic characters.
• Ведьма на метле - "Witch on a broom"; A common cultural image in Russian folklore and media.
• Колдунья с зельями - "Witch with potions"; Refers to a sorceress involved in alchemy or magic brewing.

Usage Notes:

"Witch" in English often carries a gendered implication, which aligns with Russian translations like "ведьма" (feminine). Choose "ведьма" for informal, everyday contexts like stories, and "колдунья" for more formal or literary uses. Be mindful of cultural sensitivity, as these words evoke Russian folklore (e.g., Baba Yaga). Grammatically, always ensure agreement with feminine forms in sentences. For learners, start with "ведьма" as it's more straightforward.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "ведьм" as a standalone noun without proper case (e.g., confusing genitive with nominative). Correct: Say "Я видел ведьму" (I saw the witch) instead of "Я видел ведьм" (which means "witches" in genitive plural). Explanation: Russian requires precise case endings; beginners often mix up singular and plural forms.

• Error: Treating "witch" as masculine, leading to misuse like "ведьм" instead of "ведьма". Correct: Use feminine forms consistently, e.g., "Эта ведьма опасна" (This witch is dangerous). Explanation: English "witch" is gender-neutral in some contexts, but Russian defaults to feminine for this concept.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "ведьма" are deeply tied to Slavic folklore, such as the character Baba Yaga, who is a witch-like figure representing both menace and wisdom. This reflects historical pagan beliefs and later Christian influences, where witches were often seen as intermediaries between worlds, symbolizing the unknown and the supernatural.

Related Concepts:

• магия (magic)
• заклинание (spell)
• фольклор (folklore)