Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'worry'

English Word: worry

Key Russian Translations:

• беспокоиться [bɪs.pɐ.kɐ.'ʐɨ.t͡sə] - [Informal, Verb; Used in everyday conversations to express personal concern]
• волноваться [vɐl.nɐ.'va.t͡sə] - [Formal, Verb; Often used in more emotional or professional contexts]
• тревога [trʲɪ.'vo.ɡə] - [Noun; Refers to a state of anxiety, often in singular or plural forms]

Frequency: Medium - These words are commonly encountered in Russian media, literature, and daily speech, but not as basic as everyday verbs like "to eat."

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) - For беспокоиться and волноваться as verbs; A2 (Beginner) for тревога as a noun, based on CEFR standards, due to conjugation requirements for verbs.

Pronunciation (Russian):

беспокоиться: [bɪs.pɐ.kɐ.'ʐɨ.t͡sə]

волноваться: [vɐl.nɐ.'va.t͡sə]

тревога: [trʲɪ.'vo.ɡə]

Note on беспокоиться: The stress falls on the third syllable ('ʐɨ.t͡sə), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft 'k' sound; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To feel anxious or troubled about something (Verb form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• беспокоиться - Used in informal settings, such as family discussions or casual conversations, to express worry about someone's well-being.
• волноваться - Applied in formal or emotional contexts, like work-related stress or public speaking anxiety.

Usage Examples:

• Я беспокоюсь о твоём здоровье в это сложное время.

  I worry about your health during this difficult time.

• Она волнуется перед важной встречей.

  She worries before an important meeting.

• Мы беспокоимся из-за плохой погоды во время поездки.

  We worry about the bad weather during the trip.

• Он волнуется о будущем своей семьи.

  He worries about his family's future.

A state of anxiety or distress (Noun form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• тревога - Used to describe a general feeling of unease, often in psychological or news contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Эта новость вызвала всеобщую тревогу в городе.

  This news caused general worry in the city.

• Его тревога по поводу экзамена была оправданной.

  His worry about the exam was justified.

• Тревога не дает мне спать по ночам.

  Worry keeps me from sleeping at night.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For verbs like беспокоиться and волноваться, these are reflexive verbs that follow standard Russian conjugation patterns. They are imperfective and require agreement with the subject in person, number, and tense.

For the noun тревога, it is a feminine noun that declines regularly in cases and numbers:

• Nominative Singular: тревога
• Genitive Singular: тревоги
• Plural: тревоги (e.g., multiple worries)

It does not have irregular forms, making it straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • тревожиться - Similar to беспокоиться but often implies more immediate distress.
  • беспечность - Less direct, but can be used in contexts where worry is absent (though not exact).
• Antonyms:
  • успокаиваться - To calm down or stop worrying.
  • спокойствие - Peace or lack of worry.

Related Phrases:

• Не беспокойся - Don't worry; Used to reassure someone in casual situations.
• Вызвать тревогу - To cause worry; Often in news or emergency contexts.
• Полная тревога - Full worry or alarm; Refers to a state of heightened anxiety.

Usage Notes:

беспокоиться is the most direct translation for "to worry" in informal English contexts, while волноваться is better for emotional or formal scenarios. Тревога corresponds to the noun form and is ideal for discussing states of mind. Be mindful of context: in Russian, these words often require reflexive particles (-ся), which English lacks. Choose based on register—use волноваться in professional settings and беспокоиться in personal ones. Grammatically, verbs must agree with the subject in tense and aspect.

Common Errors:

• Confusing беспокоиться with волноваться: Learners might use волноваться in casual chats, which sounds overly dramatic. Correct: Use беспокоиться for everyday worry. Example of error: "Я волнуюсь о еде" (I worry about food) instead of "Я беспокоюсь о еде." Explanation: The latter is more natural.

• Omitting the reflexive particle: Saying "беспокоить" without "-ся" changes the meaning to "to disturb." Correct: Always include "-ся" for the reflexive form. Example: Error - "Я беспокою" (I disturb); Correct - "Я беспокоюсь" (I worry).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressions of worry like беспокоиться often reflect a collectivist mindset, where personal anxiety is tied to family or community well-being. For instance, during historical events like the Soviet era, words like тревога carried connotations of societal unrest, emphasizing how worry is not just individual but communal.

Related Concepts:

• страх (fear)
• стресс (stress)
• нервозность (nervousness)