Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Comedian'

English Word: Comedian

Key Russian Translations:

• комик [ˈkomʲɪk] - [Masculine, Informal, Common]
• комедиант [kəmʲɪdʲɪˈant] - [Masculine, Formal or Historical]
• юморист [jʊmɐˈrʲist] - [Masculine, Focus on Humorist, Informal]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in media and casual conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "комик" and "юморист"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "комедиант" due to its formal or historical tone

Pronunciation (Russian):

комик: [ˈkomʲɪk]

Note on комик: Stress on the first syllable; the "и" sounds like "ee" in "see."

комедиант: [kəmʲɪdʲɪˈant]

Note on комедиант: Stress on the last syllable; often used in older texts or theatrical contexts.

юморист: [jʊmɐˈrʲist]

Note on юморист: Stress on the second syllable; soft "р" sound is typical in Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A performer who tells jokes or acts in comedic roles

Translation(s) & Context:

• комик - Most common term for a stand-up comedian or comedic actor in modern usage.
• комедиант - Used in historical or theatrical contexts to refer to a comedy actor.

Usage Examples:

• Этот комик всегда заставляет меня смеяться.

  This comedian always makes me laugh.

• Он известный комик на телевидении.

  He is a famous comedian on television.

• В старых пьесах комедиант играл смешные роли.

  In old plays, the comedian played funny roles.

2. A person who creates or performs humor, often in writing or speech

Translation(s) & Context:

• юморист - Refers to someone who specializes in humor, often a writer or satirist.

Usage Examples:

• Этот юморист пишет смешные рассказы.

  This humorist writes funny stories.

• Она популярный юморист в интернете.

  She is a popular humorist on the internet.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

комик (Masculine Noun): Follows the standard second declension pattern for masculine nouns.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	комик	комики
Genitive	комика	комиков
Dative	комику	комикам
Accusative	комика	комиков
Instrumental	комиком	комиками
Prepositional	о комике	о комиках

комедиант (Masculine Noun): Similar declension to "комик," with stress on the last syllable.

юморист (Masculine Noun): Follows the same second declension pattern as above.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• смехач (colloquial, rare - someone who makes others laugh)
• шутник (joker, informal)

Note: "шутник" often implies a playful or prankster tone, unlike the professional connotation of "комик."

Antonyms:

• трагик (tragedian, actor in tragic roles)

Related Phrases:

• стендап-комик - Stand-up comedian (a comedian performing live comedy routines).
• талантливый юморист - Talented humorist (used to describe a skilled creator of humor).
• комик сатирик - Satirical comedian (a comedian focusing on satire).

Usage Notes:

• "комик" is the most versatile and widely understood term for a comedian in modern Russian, suitable for most contexts.
• "комедиант" may sound outdated or overly formal unless discussing historical theater or literature.
• "юморист" emphasizes the creation of humor rather than performance, often used for writers or commentators.
• Ensure correct gender agreement when using these nouns (e.g., "комик" for males, "комичка" for females, though rare).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "комедиант" in casual conversation. Incorrect: "Он смешной комедиант." Correct: "Он смешной комик." (Explanation: "комедиант" is too formal for everyday use.)
• Error: Confusing "юморист" with "комик" when referring to a performer. Incorrect: "Этот юморист выступает на сцене." Correct: "Этот комик выступает на сцене." (Explanation: "юморист" is better for non-performing humor creators.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, comedians and humorists have played significant roles, especially during Soviet times when satire was a subtle form of social critique. Famous Russian humorists like Mikhail Zhvanetsky are celebrated for their witty commentary on everyday life, often referred to as "юморист" rather than "комик."

Related Concepts:

• сатира (satire)
• анекдот (joke, anecdote)
• шутка (joke)