Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Russian term or phrase:
предатель Родины
English translation:
traitor to his country
Added to glossary by
Yuri Smirnov
Oct 31, 2004 17:39
19 yrs ago
Russian term
Helen
предатель Родины
Non-PRO
Russian to English
Art/Literary
History
Hello everyone!
A native English speaker next to me believes it's a "traitor of Motherland". Google offers a traitor of Motherland, Fatherland, homeland and even a "betrayer" of all three.
I'm lost! The expression is quite rare :-)) so all I want is a natural-sounding version that would (hopefully) affect the reader's feelings just as much as the Russian original does.
Thanks a lot!
Helen
A native English speaker next to me believes it's a "traitor of Motherland". Google offers a traitor of Motherland, Fatherland, homeland and even a "betrayer" of all three.
I'm lost! The expression is quite rare :-)) so all I want is a natural-sounding version that would (hopefully) affect the reader's feelings just as much as the Russian original does.
Thanks a lot!
Helen
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +6 | a traitor of his country |
Yuri Smirnov
|
| 4 +6 | betrayer of his country |
David Knowles
|
| 4 | traitor |
Vladimir Dubisskiy
|
Proposed translations
+6
3 mins
Yuri Smirnov
Native in Russian
Specializes in field
Daily Translation since 1992
Native in: Belarusian 
, Russian
Works in: English to Belarusian, English to Russian, French to Russian, and 10 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
14
Russian term (edited):
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Selected
a traitor of his country
Я, конечно, не нейтив, но мне кажется, что Родина - это больше наше. А "у них" само слово country достаточно сильно звучит в этом контексте. Ну, может, homeland, сказать. Но все-таки я за country. His own :-)
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Note added at 4 mins (2004-10-31 17:43:32 GMT)
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... You are in: TERRORISTS, SPIES & ASSASSINS/SPIES. CIA TRAITOR ALDRICH AMES. By Pete
Earley. The Story. ... Yet, he was the one who had betrayed his own country. Why? ...
www.crimelibrary.com/terrorists_spies/spies/ames/1.html
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Note added at 4 mins (2004-10-31 17:44:05 GMT)
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... Qarase - A Traitor to his own Country? Category: Various From: Simon Date: 29
Jul 2003 Time: 09:53:37 Remote Name: 195.93.32.10. Comments. ...
www.flp.org.fj/_kbas/0000004e.htm
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Note added at 5 mins (2004-10-31 17:44:20 GMT)
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... was also a great American military leader, who participated in the first phase of
the American Revolution, but later became a traitor to his own country. ...
www.wowessays.com/dbase/ad1/avw20.shtml
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Note added at 5 mins (2004-10-31 17:45:04 GMT)
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... Red lies, white lies a traitor to his own country Behind the enemy lines, the same
old lies Their hidden power and false propaganda. FACE THE AGGRESSION. ...
www.panzerfaust.com/lyrics/c84agg.shtml
Много примеров. Кстати, всегда \"TO his own country\".
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Note added at 4 mins (2004-10-31 17:43:32 GMT)
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... You are in: TERRORISTS, SPIES & ASSASSINS/SPIES. CIA TRAITOR ALDRICH AMES. By Pete
Earley. The Story. ... Yet, he was the one who had betrayed his own country. Why? ...
www.crimelibrary.com/terrorists_spies/spies/ames/1.html
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 mins (2004-10-31 17:44:05 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
... Qarase - A Traitor to his own Country? Category: Various From: Simon Date: 29
Jul 2003 Time: 09:53:37 Remote Name: 195.93.32.10. Comments. ...
www.flp.org.fj/_kbas/0000004e.htm
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Note added at 5 mins (2004-10-31 17:44:20 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
... was also a great American military leader, who participated in the first phase of
the American Revolution, but later became a traitor to his own country. ...
www.wowessays.com/dbase/ad1/avw20.shtml
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 mins (2004-10-31 17:45:04 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
... Red lies, white lies a traitor to his own country Behind the enemy lines, the same
old lies Their hidden power and false propaganda. FACE THE AGGRESSION. ...
www.panzerfaust.com/lyrics/c84agg.shtml
Много примеров. Кстати, всегда \"TO his own country\".
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you so much! It was a hard choice and I have to apologise to Mr Doughty: I do believe that a "betrayer" would probably be better translated into Russian as "изменник", as in "изменник Родине (Родины)" which is slightly different in tone. It's a book title, so Traitor To His Country really fits the bill. Thank you, Vladimir, and many thanks to Yuri!"
+6
16 mins
David Knowles
Native in English
Specialist in Civil Law & Contracts
Native in: English 
Works in: Russian to English, English, Ukrainian to English
Related KudoZ points
:
28
Russian term (edited):
�������� �����
betrayer of his country
"Homeland" is [becoming] common in the US, because of "homeland security", but is uncommmon outside the US. Fatherland/motherland have Germanic or Russian connotations, and do not sound natural in English. However, "native land" sounds fine, so you could have "traitor to his native land". (Note traitor TO and betrayor OF!)
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Sara Noss
: w/ your final note.
13 mins
|
| agree |
Kirill Semenov
19 mins
|
| agree |
Irene N
1 hr
|
| agree |
Oleg Sollogub
1 hr
|
| agree |
Ann Nosova
1 hr
|
| agree |
Mikhail Kropotov
17 hrs
|
7 hrs
Vladimir Dubisskiy
United States
United States
Native in Russian
United States
UNSURPASSABLE EXPERIENCE
Native in: Russian , Ukrainian
Works in: English to Russian, Russian to English, Ukrainian to English, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
28
Russian term (edited):
�������� �����
traitor
I believe it has to be just 'a traitor'
And not 'betrayer' as (to me, for sure) - it'd more about 'to betray smb's friendship / love / feelengs'
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Note added at 8 hrs 32 mins (2004-11-01 02:12:08 GMT)
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feelings, sorry
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Note added at 9 hrs 0 min (2004-11-01 02:39:46 GMT)
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How about \"defector\" :-)?
Defector
A defector is generally a person who gives up allegiance to a certain country in exchange for allegiance in another. This act is usually in an illegal way (as opposed to changing citizenship), and in some cases, defectors remain in the country they are against, as an agent, or in many cases, a double agent. This is prevalent in many thriller novels, including those of Tom Clancy, especially Red Rabbit and the Cardinal of the Kremlin.
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Note added at 9 hrs 4 mins (2004-11-01 02:43:21 GMT)
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In favor of \"my\" (just) TRAITOR:
Traitor n. (fem. tratitress)(often followed by \"to\") a person who is treacherous or ****disloyal, esp. to his or her country***.
Treason n. 1. (in full HIGH TREASON:see note below)violation by a subject of allegiance to the sovereign or to the state, esp. by attempting to kill or overthrow the sovereign or to overthrow the government.
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Note added at 9 hrs 5 mins (2004-11-01 02:45:02 GMT)
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Webster\'s
Definition of Traitor
Traiґtor
n. 1. One who violates his allegiance and ***betrays his country***; one guilty of treason; one **who, in breach of trust, delivers his country to an enemy,*** or yields up any fort or place intrusted to his defense, or surrenders an army or body of troops to the enemy, unless when vanquished; also, one who takes arms and levies war against his country; or one who aids an enemy in conquering his country. See Treason.
O passing traitor, perjured and unjust!
- Shak.
2. Hence, one who betrays any confidence or trust; a betrayer.
And not 'betrayer' as (to me, for sure) - it'd more about 'to betray smb's friendship / love / feelengs'
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Note added at 8 hrs 32 mins (2004-11-01 02:12:08 GMT)
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feelings, sorry
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Note added at 9 hrs 0 min (2004-11-01 02:39:46 GMT)
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How about \"defector\" :-)?
Defector
A defector is generally a person who gives up allegiance to a certain country in exchange for allegiance in another. This act is usually in an illegal way (as opposed to changing citizenship), and in some cases, defectors remain in the country they are against, as an agent, or in many cases, a double agent. This is prevalent in many thriller novels, including those of Tom Clancy, especially Red Rabbit and the Cardinal of the Kremlin.
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Note added at 9 hrs 4 mins (2004-11-01 02:43:21 GMT)
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In favor of \"my\" (just) TRAITOR:
Traitor n. (fem. tratitress)(often followed by \"to\") a person who is treacherous or ****disloyal, esp. to his or her country***.
Treason n. 1. (in full HIGH TREASON:see note below)violation by a subject of allegiance to the sovereign or to the state, esp. by attempting to kill or overthrow the sovereign or to overthrow the government.
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Note added at 9 hrs 5 mins (2004-11-01 02:45:02 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Webster\'s
Definition of Traitor
Traiґtor
n. 1. One who violates his allegiance and ***betrays his country***; one guilty of treason; one **who, in breach of trust, delivers his country to an enemy,*** or yields up any fort or place intrusted to his defense, or surrenders an army or body of troops to the enemy, unless when vanquished; also, one who takes arms and levies war against his country; or one who aids an enemy in conquering his country. See Treason.
O passing traitor, perjured and unjust!
- Shak.
2. Hence, one who betrays any confidence or trust; a betrayer.
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