Results 1 to 10 of 10
Like Tree9Likes
  • 2 Post By Lampada
  • 2 Post By iCake
  • 1 Post By Боб Уайтман
  • 3 Post By Throbert McGee
  • 1 Post By Боб Уайтман

Thread: The word "sacrifice"

  1. #1
    Завсегдатай Antonio1986's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Пафос - Кипр
    Posts
    1,723
    Rep Power
    12

    The word "sacrifice"

    Privet.
    Google translate when I enter the word "sacrifice" translates to жертва.
    But in the context of the expression: "Sucess requires many sacrificies" I think is not the correct word.
    This question was inspired by Martin Luther King's speech: "Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle".

  2. #2
    Почтенный гражданин pushvv's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Posts
    400
    Rep Power
    10
    It is correct.

  3. #3
    Завсегдатай Antonio1986's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Пафос - Кипр
    Posts
    1,723
    Rep Power
    12
    Privet pushvv.
    So you are telling me that: "успех требует многих жертв" is correct?

  4. #4
    Moderator Lampada's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    СССР -> США
    Posts
    18,025
    Rep Power
    35
    Чтобы добиться успеха в каком-то деле, приходится иногда пожертвовать сном, временем, удовольствиями.

  5. #5
    Властелин iCake's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Siberia, the Earth
    Posts
    1,201
    Rep Power
    32
    Quote Originally Posted by Antonio1986 View Post
    Privet pushvv.
    So you are telling me that: "успех требует многих жертв" is correct?
    That's alright. It's definitely not used in the sense of victim there. Also there is a famous phrase like that:

    Красота требует жертв
    I do not claim that my opinion is absolutely true.
    If you've spotted any mistake in my English, please, correct it. I want to be aware of any mistakes to efficiently eliminate them before they become a habit.

  6. #6
    Старший оракул
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Russia
    Posts
    865
    Rep Power
    29
    Quote Originally Posted by Antonio1986 View Post
    Privet pushvv.
    So you are telling me that: "успех требует многих жертв" is correct?
    Although your version is not wrong

    The word "жертва" in Russian can mean both "victim" and "sacrifice".

    The logic is the following:

    When someone suffers of something, then he/she is "жертва" (victim).
    When you suffer by abandoning some benefits in order to achieve something else, the thing you abandon is your "жертва" (sacrifice).
    Antonio1986 likes this.

  7. #7
    Завсегдатай Throbert McGee's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Fairfax, VA (Фэйрфэкс, ш. Виргиния, США)
    Posts
    1,591
    Rep Power
    39
    Antonio -- Although you probably won't use it very often, the word жрец -- "a priest in ancient paganism" -- comes from the same root as the verb (по)жертвовать, "to sacrifice." So, the жертва was the animal (or person!) tied up on the altar, and the жрец was THIS guy:



    P.S. However, священник is the correct word for "priest" in the modern sense, whether you mean Russian Orthodox, Catholic, Buddhist, etc.

  8. #8
    Завсегдатай Antonio1986's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Пафос - Кипр
    Posts
    1,723
    Rep Power
    12
    Thanks Throbert.
    This is what I called an "illustrative" etymology.

  9. #9
    Старший оракул
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Russia
    Posts
    865
    Rep Power
    29
    Quote Originally Posted by Throbert McGee View Post
    the word жрец -- "a priest in ancient paganism" -- comes from the same root as the verb (по)жертвовать, "to sacrifice."
    Brilliant! I've never known "жрец" and "жертва" are etymologically related.
    But I checked wiktionary жрец — Викисловарь - you are right!

    Moreover, among others, this Indo-European root is also related to Latin grātēs мн. «благодарность» (gratefulness).

    It is logical since the Slavic "ж" sound often corresponds to the Indo-European "g" sound. Even in the modern English, "g" has two pronunciations: the "hard" one (as in "go") and the "soft" one (as in "gentle") (not in the Russian sense of hardness/softness). The "soft" English "g" is transcribed as "дж" in Russian, and the "soft" French "g" (as the second "g" in "garage") is pretty much like Russian "ж". So, "ж-р-т" and "g-r-t" roots do correspond.

    If the Latin grātēs is related to the Russian "жертва" - it means English "gratis, grateful, gratitude, gratuity" etc.) are also all cognates to "жрец, жертва, жертвовать".
    iCake likes this.

  10. #10
    Властелин
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Russia
    Posts
    1,037
    Rep Power
    24
    To Throbert, just FYI and to learn another interesting expression: there is an expression in Russian - жрица любви - euphemism for a 'prostitute'.

Similar Threads

  1. Is there a word for "nerd" or "geek" in Russian?
    By Valda in forum Grammar and Vocabulary
    Replies: 30
    Last Post: April 1st, 2013, 06:05 PM
  2. As there anything similar to "fucking" as a filler word
    By Valda in forum Grammar and Vocabulary
    Replies: 24
    Last Post: May 23rd, 2012, 12:01 PM
  3. Emphasis on a word, corresponding with English "does" or "did"
    By cepo in forum Grammar and Vocabulary
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: February 24th, 2011, 03:52 PM
  4. Replies: 49
    Last Post: January 13th, 2011, 09:22 PM
  5. "Proper" word order in Russian
    By in forum Grammar and Vocabulary
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: March 23rd, 2005, 07:41 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  


Russian Lessons                           

Russian Tests and Quizzes            

Russian Vocabulary