Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'wrath'

English Word: wrath

Key Russian Translations:

• гнев [ɡnʲef] - [Formal, often used in literary or serious contexts]
• ярость [ˈjarəsʲtʲ] - [Informal, Intense, implies uncontrolled rage]
• злость [zɫosʲtʲ] - [Informal, Milder form, often with a sense of malice]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature, news, and everyday speech, but not as frequent as basic emotion words like "гнев")

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of nuanced emotional vocabulary and context; for "гнев", it's B2 due to formal usage; for "ярость", it's also B2 as it involves intensity markers)

Pronunciation (Russian):

гнев: [ɡnʲef]

Note on гнев: The initial 'г' is a voiced velar fricative, similar to the 'g' in "go" but softer; pay attention to the palatalized 'нʲ' which adds a subtle 'y' sound before the 'e'.

ярость: [ˈjarəsʲtʲ]

Note on ярость: Stress on the first syllable; the 'я' is pronounced like 'ya' in "yard", and the final 'тʲ' is palatalized, making it sound softer.

злость: [zɫosʲtʲ]

Note on злость: The 'з' is a voiced alveolar fricative like 'z' in "zebra"; the 'л' is dark, as in "feel".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Intense anger or rage, often directed at someone or something

Translation(s) & Context:

• гнев - Used in formal, literary, or philosophical contexts, such as describing divine or moral anger.
• ярость - Applied in informal or emotional situations, like outbursts in arguments or descriptions of fury in stories.
• злость - Common in everyday speech for milder, persistent anger, often with a negative connotation like spite.

Usage Examples:

• Его гнев был страшен, и он не мог сдержать эмоций.

  His wrath was terrible, and he couldn't hold back his emotions. (Context: Formal narrative, showing controlled intensity.)

• В момент ярости она разбила вазу о стену.

  In a fit of wrath, she smashed the vase against the wall. (Context: Informal, depicting uncontrolled rage in a domestic scene.)

• Его злость накапливалась из-за мелких обид.

  His wrath built up from minor slights. (Context: Everyday conversation, showing gradual anger in interpersonal relationships.)

• Гнев богов описан в древних мифах как разрушительная сила.

  The wrath of the gods is described in ancient myths as a destructive force. (Context: Literary or historical usage, emphasizing moral consequences.)

Meaning 2: A state of vengeful or righteous indignation

Translation(s) & Context:

• гнев - Often in contexts of justice or morality, such as in religious texts.
• ярость - Less common here, but used for intense, vengeful scenarios like in action stories.

Usage Examples:

• Праведный гнев мотивировал его бороться за справедливость.

  Righteous wrath motivated him to fight for justice. (Context: Formal, ethical discussion.)

• Её ярость вылилась в публичный протест против несправедливости.

  Her wrath erupted into a public protest against injustice. (Context: Social or activist setting, showing emotional escalation.)

• Злость из-за предательства превратилась в холодный гнев.

  The wrath from betrayal turned into a cold anger. (Context: Personal relationships, blending emotions.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These words are primarily nouns. "Гнев" and "злость" are masculine nouns, while "ярость" is feminine. Russian nouns inflect for case, number, and gender. Below is a table for their key inflections:

Note: These follow standard first-declension patterns with no irregularities, but "гнев" is often used in singular forms due to its abstract nature.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • гнев - раздражение (razdrazhenie; milder irritation, often interchangeable in casual contexts)
  • ярость - бешенство (beshensvo; extreme fury, with a more animalistic connotation)
  • злость - ненависть (nenavist'; hatred, which can overlap but implies deeper malice)
• Antonyms:
  • спокойствие (spokoystvo; calm, used in opposition to intense emotions)
  • терпение (terpenie; patience, contrasting with reactive anger)

Related Phrases:

• В гневе (V gneve) - In a state of wrath; used to describe someone acting out of anger.
• Ярость небес (Yarost' nebes) - Wrath of the heavens; a poetic phrase for divine punishment.
• Злость накопилась (Zlost' nakopilas') - Wrath has built up; indicates escalating frustration in daily life.

Usage Notes:

"Гнев" is the most direct equivalent to "wrath" in formal English contexts, such as biblical or literary references, and is preferred in written Russian. "Ярость" should be used for more explosive, informal situations to convey intensity. Choose "злость" for subtler, ongoing anger. Be mindful of context: in Russian, these words often require genitive constructions, e.g., "гнев кого-то" (wrath of someone). Avoid direct one-to-one translations; adapt based on emotional nuance and register.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "гнев" with "злость": Learners might use "гнев" in everyday casual talk, which sounds overly dramatic. Correct: Use "злость" for minor annoyances. Example of error: "Я чувствую гнев от пробок" (I feel wrath from traffic) vs. Correct: "Я чувствую злость от пробок".
• Overusing "ярость" in formal writing: This can make text seem exaggerated. Correct: Opt for "гнев" in essays. Example of error: "Ярость президента была очевидна" in a news article vs. Correct: "Гнев президента был очевиден".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "гнев" often appears in literary and religious contexts, such as in Dostoevsky's works or Orthodox texts, symbolizing moral or divine retribution. It reflects a historical emphasis on emotional restraint versus explosive expression, influenced by Slavic folklore where wrath (e.g., of nature or gods) is a common motif for chaos and renewal.

Related Concepts:

• страх (strakh; fear, often paired with wrath in emotional narratives)
• грусть (grust'; sadness, as a contrasting or resulting emotion)
• возмущение (vozmushchenie; indignation, a milder form of wrath in social contexts)