Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Delight'

English Word: delight

Key Russian Translations:

• восторг [vɐˈstork] - [Formal, Informal, Often used for intense joy]
• радость [ˈradɐsʲtʲ] - [Neutral, Commonly used for general happiness]
• удовольствие [ʊdɐˈvolʲstvʲɪjə] - [Formal, Often used for pleasure or satisfaction]

Frequency: High (especially "радость")

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for "радость"); B1 (Intermediate for "восторг" and "удовольствие")

Pronunciation (Russian):

восторг: [vɐˈstork]

Note on восторг: Stress falls on the second syllable; the "r" is rolled, which can be challenging for non-native speakers.

радость: [ˈradɐsʲtʲ]

Note on радость: Stress on the first syllable; the soft "s" sound (indicated by "sʲ") requires attention.

удовольствие: [ʊdɐˈvolʲstvʲɪjə]

Note on удовольствие: Stress on the third syllable; a longer word with multiple soft consonants.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Intense Joy or Excitement (e.g., being thrilled)

Translation(s) & Context:

• восторг - Used to express extreme happiness or awe, often in emotional or artistic contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Она смотрела на закат с восторгом.

  She looked at the sunset with delight.

• Дети были в восторге от нового аттракциона.

  The children were delighted by the new ride.

• Его речь вызвала настоящий восторг у слушателей.

  His speech caused genuine delight among the listeners.

2. General Happiness or Joy (e.g., feeling happy)

Translation(s) & Context:

• радость - A common, neutral term for joy or happiness, suitable for most contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Его приезд принес нам большую радость.

  His arrival brought us great delight.

• Я испытываю радость, видя тебя.

  I feel delight seeing you.

• Радость наполнила её сердце.

  Delight filled her heart.

3. Pleasure or Satisfaction (e.g., enjoying something)

Translation(s) & Context:

• удовольствие - Often implies a sense of satisfaction or enjoyment from an activity or experience.

Usage Examples:

• Я получил удовольствие от чтения этой книги.

  I took delight in reading this book.

• С каким удовольствием я пью утренний кофе!

  With what delight I drink my morning coffee!

• Она готовит с большим удовольствием.

  She cooks with great delight.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

восторг (noun, masculine): Follows the second declension pattern for masculine nouns ending in a consonant.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	восторг	восторги
Genitive	восторга	восторгов
Dative	восторгу	восторгам
Accusative	восторг	восторги
Instrumental	восторгом	восторгами
Prepositional	о восторге	о восторгах

радость (noun, feminine): Follows the first declension pattern for feminine nouns ending in -ь.

удовольствие (noun, neuter): Follows the second declension pattern for neuter nouns ending in -ие.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "восторг":

• восхищение (admiration, awe)
• упоение (rapture)

Synonyms for "радость":

• счастье (happiness)
• веселье (cheerfulness)

Antonyms:

• печаль (sadness)
• горе (grief)

Related Phrases:

• быть в восторге от чего-либо - To be delighted by something.
• приносить радость - To bring delight or joy.
• с удовольствием - With delight or pleasure (common expression).

Usage Notes:

• "восторг" is stronger and more emotional than "радость," often used for overwhelming joy or awe. It is less common in everyday speech.
• "радость" is the most versatile and frequently used term for general happiness or delight, suitable for most contexts.
• "удовольствие" emphasizes pleasure derived from an activity or experience, often with a more formal tone.
• Be mindful of grammatical agreement when using these nouns, as they belong to different genders in Russian.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "восторг" in casual, everyday contexts (e.g., saying "Я в восторге от этого обеда" for a simple meal).
  Correction: Use "радость" or "удовольствие" instead, as "восторг" implies intense emotion (e.g., "Я получил удовольствие от этого обеда").
• Error: Incorrect case usage, such as "Я испытываю восторгом" (wrong instrumental case).
  Correction: Use the accusative case: "Я испытываю восторг".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressing "delight" or joy openly is common in personal interactions, especially with family and friends. Terms like "радость" often appear in literature and songs, reflecting the cultural value placed on emotional warmth. "восторг" may be used in artistic or poetic contexts to describe profound aesthetic appreciation, such as for nature or art.

Related Concepts:

• счастье (happiness)
• веселье (merriment)
• удовлетворение (satisfaction)