Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'bravery'

English Word: bravery

Key Russian Translations:

• храбрость [ˈxrabrəsʲtʲ] - [Formal, Neutral]
• отвага [ɐtˈvaɡə] - [Formal, Often used in literary or heroic contexts]
• смелость [ˈsmʲeləsʲtʲ] - [Neutral, Common in everyday speech]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in various contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for all translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

храбрость: [ˈxrabrəsʲtʲ]

Note on храбрость: The initial 'х' sound is a voiceless fricative, not found in English; practice a soft throat-clearing sound.

отвага: [ɐtˈvaɡə]

Note on отвага: Stress falls on the second syllable; the 'о' is pronounced as a reduced 'a' sound.

смелость: [ˈsmʲeləsʲtʲ]

Note on смелость: The 'е' is pronounced as 'ye'; ensure a soft 'l' sound with palatalization.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Courage in facing danger or difficulty

Translation(s) & Context:

• храбрость - Often used in formal or general contexts to describe bravery.
• отвага - Typically used in heroic or epic contexts, often in literature or historical narratives.

Usage Examples:

• Его храбрость на поле боя вдохновила всех солдат.

  His bravery on the battlefield inspired all the soldiers.

• Она проявила отвагу, защищая свою семью.

  She showed bravery while protecting her family.

• Храбрость — это не отсутствие страха, а умение его преодолеть.

  Bravery is not the absence of fear, but the ability to overcome it.

2. Boldness in everyday situations

Translation(s) & Context:

• смелость - Commonly used for everyday boldness or courage in social or personal situations.

Usage Examples:

• У неё хватило смелости сказать правду перед всеми.

  She had the bravery to tell the truth in front of everyone.

• Смелость нужна, чтобы начать что-то новое.

  Bravery is needed to start something new.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

храбрость (feminine noun): Follows the standard 3rd declension pattern for feminine nouns ending in -ость.

отвага (feminine noun): Follows the standard 1st declension pattern for feminine nouns ending in -а.

смелость (feminine noun): Similar to храбрость, follows the 3rd declension pattern.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• мужество (closer to "courage" or "valor")
• дерзость (more informal, can imply boldness with a negative connotation)

Antonyms:

• трусость (cowardice)
• боязливость (timidity)

Related Phrases:

• проявить храбрость - to show bravery (used in formal or serious contexts)
• собраться с отвагой - to muster bravery (often before a challenging act)
• смелость города берёт - bravery conquers cities (a proverb meaning boldness leads to success)

Usage Notes:

• While all three translations (храбрость, отвага, смелость) can mean "bravery," their usage depends on context. Use "храбрость" for general or formal bravery, "отвага" for heroic or literary bravery, and "смелость" for everyday boldness.
• Be mindful of the tone: "отвага" may sound overly dramatic in casual conversation.
• These nouns are often used with verbs like "проявить" (to show) or "иметь" (to have) to describe someone’s bravery.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "отвага" in casual contexts. Incorrect: "У меня была отвага спросить её." Correct: "У меня была смелость спросить её." (Translation: I had the bravery to ask her.) Explanation: "отвага" is too formal and heroic for everyday situations.
• Error: Misusing cases after prepositions or verbs. Incorrect: "Я восхищаюсь его храбрость." Correct: "Я восхищаюсь его храбростью." (Translation: I admire his bravery.) Explanation: The instrumental case is required after "восхищаться."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, bravery (especially "отвага" and "мужество") is often associated with historical and military contexts, reflecting the country’s history of wars and resilience. Praising someone’s bravery is a significant compliment, often tied to self-sacrifice or protecting others.

Related Concepts:

• мужество (courage, valor)
• стойкость (endurance, fortitude)
• героизм (heroism)