Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'aloud'

English Word: aloud

Key Russian Translations:

• вслух [ˈfslux] - [Neutral, Common in both formal and informal contexts]
• громко [ˈɡromkə] - [Neutral, Often implies volume rather than just speaking out loud]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner to Intermediate) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

вслух: [ˈfslux]

Note on вслух: The stress is on the first syllable. The "в" is pronounced softly, almost like an English "f".

громко: [ˈɡromkə]

Note on громко: Stress on the first syllable. The final "о" is reduced to a schwa sound in natural speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Speaking audibly (so others can hear)

Translation(s) & Context:

• вслух - Used when referring to reading or speaking out loud for others to hear, often in a neutral tone.

Usage Examples:

• Она прочитала письмо вслух.

  She read the letter aloud.

• Не думай вслух, пожалуйста.

  Please don't think aloud.

• Учитель попросил ученика читать вслух.

  The teacher asked the student to read aloud.

2. Speaking with volume (loudly)

Translation(s) & Context:

• громко - Used when the emphasis is on the volume of speech rather than the act of speaking audibly.

Usage Examples:

• Он говорил так громко, что все обернулись.

  He spoke so aloud (loudly) that everyone turned around.

• Не кричи громко, дети спят.

  Don't shout aloud (loudly), the children are sleeping.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

вслух: This is an adverb and does not inflect. It remains unchanged regardless of context, gender, or number.

громко: This is also an adverb derived from the adjective "громкий" (loud). It does not inflect as an adverb but can be related to the adjective forms which change by gender, number, and case.

Inflection of adjective "громкий" (base for громко)

Case	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Plural
Nominative	громкий	громкая	громкое	громкие
Genitive	громкого	громкой	громкого	громких

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for вслух:

• наслух

Note: "наслух" is less common and might be used in specific literary contexts.

Synonyms for громко:

• звучно
• громогласно

Note: "громогласно" is more formal and often used in written language.

Antonyms for громко:

• тихо
• шепотом

Related Phrases:

• читать вслух - To read aloud (common in educational or group settings).
• говорить громко - To speak aloud/loudly (often implies drawing attention).
• думать вслух - To think aloud (to express thoughts audibly).

Usage Notes:

• "вслух" specifically refers to the act of making something audible to others, often used with verbs like "читать" (to read) or "думать" (to think). It does not imply volume, unlike "aloud" sometimes does in English.
• "громко" emphasizes the loudness of the speech and can sometimes be used interchangeably with "aloud" in contexts where volume is implied. However, it is less precise for the neutral act of speaking audibly.
• Choose "вслух" when the context is about sharing or expressing something audibly, and "громко" when the focus is on the volume of the voice.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "громко" when the context does not imply loudness. For example, saying "Я прочитал это громко" might suggest you read it loudly rather than just audibly. Correct: "Я прочитал это вслух".
• Error: Forgetting that "вслух" is the more neutral and common choice for "aloud" in most contexts. English learners might overuse "громко" due to its similarity to "loud".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, reading aloud ("читать вслух") is often associated with educational settings or family traditions, such as reading stories to children. Speaking loudly ("громко") in public spaces might be considered impolite unless the situation calls for it, reflecting a cultural preference for moderation in tone.

Related Concepts:

• тихо (quietly)
• шепотом (in a whisper)
• звучание (sound, pronunciation)