Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| бе́дствие | bédstvije | neuter | |
| беда́ | bedá | feminine | |
| бич | bič | [bʲit͡ɕ] (narrow) | masculine |
| ка́ра | kára | feminine |
The term 'scourge' in English refers to a source of persistent, widespread pain, trouble or suffering. In Russian, the specific word you choose depends on whether you are describing a sudden disaster, a systemic social problem or a form of divine retribution.
What does it mean word for word?
The word бич literally means a whip, but it is used metaphorically to represent a scourge or calamity that inflicts suffering.
Which one should you use?
бе́дствие is used for large-scale, sudden calamities such as natural disasters. In contrast, бич is used metaphorically to describe a persistent scourge or bane of something, such as a social or systemic issue like corruption. The phrase бич поколений (scourge of generations) is a common way to use this metaphorical sense. Finally, ка́ра is used when the 'scourge' implies divine or deserved punishment and retribution.
How does it change in a sentence?
The forms provided have different genders: беда́ is feminine, бе́дствие is neuter, бич is masculine and ка́ра is feminine.
How do you pronounce it?
bédstvije
Did you know?
- The word бич can be used as a slang term for a 'bum' or a person living on the streets.
- The word беда́ shares a root with the word бедный, which means 'poor'. In Russian, being 'poor' is linguistically linked to the concept of being in 'trouble' or 'misery'.
- In Russian, ка́ра is almost always associated with punishment that is 'just' or 'deserved', while беда́ is seen as random.
Examples in context
- Флагманская ипотека стала ужасным бичем для среднего класса.The flagship mortgage has become a terrible scourge for the middle class.
- Это настоящее бе́дствие для всей страны.Eto nastoyashcheye bedstviye dlya vsey strany.This is a real scourge for the whole country.
- Засуха стала для нас настоящим бе́дствием.Zasukha stala dlya nas nastoyashchim bedstviyem.The drought became a real scourge for us.
- Эпидемия это огромное бе́дствие.Epidemiya eto ogromnoye bedstviye.The epidemic is a huge scourge.
Example conversation
Andrey and Maria are discussing the recent weather crisis.
- Андрей AndreyЭтот ураган настоящее бе́дствие, Мария.Etot uragan nastoyashcheye bedstviye, Mariya.This hurricane is a real scourge, Maria.
- Мария MariaДа, Андрей, это очень страшно.Da, Andrey, eto ochen' strashno.Yes, Andrey, it is very scary.
- Андрей AndreyНам нужно помочь пострадавшим.Nam nuzhno pomoch' postradavshim.We need to help the victims.
- Мария MariaЯ полностью с тобой согласна.Ya polnost'yu s toboy soglasna.I completely agree with you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “scourge” translations and entries бич, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
