Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'celebrate'

English Word: celebrate

Key Russian Translations:

• праздновать [ˈprazdnəvətʲ] - [Formal, Informal, General Usage]
• отмечать [ɐtˈmʲetʲɪtʲ] - [Informal, Commonly Used for Marking Events]

Frequency: High (Widely used in everyday conversations)

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner to Intermediate, depending on context and conjugation)

Pronunciation (Russian):

праздновать: [ˈprazdnəvətʲ]

Note on праздновать: Stress falls on the first syllable. The "р" sound is rolled, and the "з" is voiced.

отмечать: [ɐtˈmʲetʲɪtʲ]

Note on отмечать: Stress on the second syllable. The initial "о" is reduced to "ɐ" in unstressed position.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To observe a holiday or special occasion

Translation(s) & Context:

• праздновать - Often used for formal or significant celebrations like holidays or major events.
• отмечать - Commonly used for both formal and informal marking of events, birthdays, or anniversaries.

Usage Examples:

• Мы празднуем Новый Год с семьёй.

  We celebrate New Year with family.

• Они отмечают день рождения в ресторане.

  They are celebrating a birthday at a restaurant.

• Давайте праздновать победу вместе!

  Let’s celebrate the victory together!

• Мы всегда отмечаем годовщину свадьбы.

  We always celebrate our wedding anniversary.

• В России празднуют День Победы 9 мая.

  In Russia, Victory Day is celebrated on May 9th.

2. To rejoice or express happiness

Translation(s) & Context:

• праздновать - Used metaphorically to express joy over an achievement or success.

Usage Examples:

• Мы празднуем успех нашей команды.

  We celebrate the success of our team.

• Он празднует завершение проекта.

  He is celebrating the completion of the project.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

праздновать (Verb, Imperfective Aspect): This verb follows regular conjugation patterns for verbs ending in -овать. It indicates an ongoing or habitual action.

отмечать (Verb, Imperfective Aspect): Similar to праздновать, follows regular conjugation for verbs ending in -ать.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• торжествовать (more formal, often for grand celebrations or victories)
• веселиться (informal, focusing on having fun)

Antonyms:

• скорбеть (to mourn)
• игнорировать (to ignore)

Note: Synonyms like "торжествовать" are more formal and often used for significant events, while "веселиться" emphasizes joy and fun rather than a specific occasion.

Related Phrases:

• праздновать с размахом - to celebrate on a grand scale
• отмечать по-тихому - to celebrate quietly or modestly
• праздновать победу - to celebrate a victory

Usage Notes:

• Both "праздновать" and "отмечать" can often be used interchangeably, but "праздновать" tends to carry a more formal or festive connotation, while "отмечать" is more neutral and widely used for personal events.
• These verbs are imperfective, implying an ongoing action. For a one-time completed celebration, perfective forms like "отпраздновать" or "отметить" are used.
• Always use the accusative case for the object of celebration (e.g., "праздновать Новый Год" - celebrate New Year).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using the wrong aspect (e.g., "Я праздновал Новый Год вчера" instead of "Я отпраздновал Новый Год вчера" for a completed action). Explanation: Use the perfective "отпраздновал" to indicate a one-time completed event.
• Error: Incorrect case usage (e.g., "праздновать Новый Годом"). Explanation: The noun following these verbs must be in the accusative case ("Новый Год").

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, celebrations often involve communal gatherings, toasts, and traditional foods, especially for holidays like New Year (Новый Год), which is the most significant celebration. The verb "отмечать" is frequently used for personal milestones like birthdays, reflecting a cultural emphasis on marking personal and collective achievements.

Related Concepts:

• праздник (holiday)
• торжество (celebration, formal event)
• веселье (fun, merriment)