Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'wizard'

English Word: wizard

Key Russian Translations:

• волшебник [vɐlʲɪˈʂɨbʲɪnʲk] - [Formal, Singular, Used in literary or fantasy contexts]
• мастер [ˈmastʲɪr] - [Informal, Plural possible, Used when referring to an expert or skilled person]

Frequency: Medium (Common in fantasy literature and modern media, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of basic noun declensions and vocabulary for "волшебник", while "мастер" is slightly easier due to its versatility)

Pronunciation (Russian):

волшебник: [vɐlʲɪˈʂɨbʲɪnʲk]

мастер: [ˈmastʲɪr]

Note on волшебник: The 'ш' sound is a soft, palatalized 'sh' as in 'she', which can be challenging for English speakers; stress is on the third syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A person who practices magic or sorcery (e.g., in fantasy contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• волшебник - Used in formal, literary, or storytelling contexts to describe a magical figure.

Usage Examples:

• Волшебник создал заклинание, чтобы спасти деревню.

  The wizard created a spell to save the village.

• В старой легенде волшебник боролся с драконом.

  In the old legend, the wizard fought against the dragon.

• Дети любят истории о добром волшебнике.

  Children love stories about the kind wizard.

Meaning 2: An expert or highly skilled person in a specific field (e.g., technology or crafts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• мастер - Used in informal or professional contexts to denote expertise, often in trades or skills.

Usage Examples:

• Он настоящий мастер в области компьютерной графики.

  He is a real wizard in the field of computer graphics.

• Мой друг — мастер по ремонту автомобилей.

  My friend is a wizard at fixing cars.

• В компании она считается мастером переговоров.

  In the company, she is considered a wizard of negotiations.

• Этот мастер создал уникальное произведение искусства.

  This wizard created a unique piece of art.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "волшебник" (a masculine noun, 2nd declension), it follows standard Russian noun patterns with changes based on case and number:

For "мастер" (also a masculine noun), it has regular declensions similar to "волшебник", but is often used in plural forms in professional contexts: e.g., мастера (nominative plural).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: чародей (more archaic, implying sorcery), маг (general term for magician)
• Synonyms: специалист (expert), гений (genius; implies exceptional talent)
• Antonyms: новичок (beginner), дилетант (amateur; highlights lack of skill)

Related Phrases:

• Великий волшебник - Great wizard; often used in fairy tales to describe a powerful figure.
• Мастер своего дела - Master of his craft; a common idiom meaning an expert in their field.
• Волшебник из Оз - Wizard of Oz; refers to the famous character, with cultural connotations.

Usage Notes:

"Wizard" translates most directly to "волшебник" in magical contexts, but in everyday English usage for experts, "мастер" is a better fit as it conveys skill without magical implications. Be mindful of context: in formal Russian, "волшебник" is reserved for fantasy, while "мастер" is versatile across professional settings. Grammatically, both nouns require agreement in gender, number, and case, so ensure proper declension when used in sentences.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "волшебник" in non-fantasy contexts, e.g., saying "Он волшебник в компьютерах" instead of "Он мастер в компьютерах". Correct: "Он мастер в компьютерах" – Explanation: "Волшебник" implies magic, which can sound literal and confusing.
• Error: Forgetting declension, e.g., "Я видел волшебник" instead of "Я видел волшебника". Correct: "Я видел волшебника" – Explanation: Russian nouns must change based on case; here, accusative requires the ending change.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "волшебник" often evokes images from folklore like Baba Yaga or characters in Russian fairy tales, symbolizing wisdom and mystery. Meanwhile, "мастер" reflects the value placed on craftsmanship in Russian society, as seen in traditional arts like icon painting or modern tech innovations.

Related Concepts:

• ведьма (witch)
• эльф (elf)
• специалист (specialist)