Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'delightful'

English Word: delightful

Key Russian Translations:

• восхитительный [vəsxʲɪˈtʲelʲnɨj] - [Formal, Often used for describing experiences or objects]
• прелестный [prʲɪˈlʲesnɨj] - [Informal, Often used for people or small, charming things]
• замечательный [zəmʲɪˈtɕatʲɪlnɨj] - [Neutral, Broadly applicable]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in descriptive contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for all translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

восхитительный: [vəsxʲɪˈtʲelʲnɨj]

Note on восхитительный: Stress falls on the third syllable. The "х" sound is a voiceless fricative, similar to the Scottish "loch."

прелестный: [prʲɪˈlʲesnɨj]

Note on прелестный: Stress on the second syllable. The soft "л" requires a palatalized pronunciation.

замечательный: [zəmʲɪˈtɕatʲɪlnɨj]

Note on замечательный: Stress on the third syllable. Pay attention to the soft "ч" sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Causing delight or joy (general positive emotion)

Translation(s) & Context:

• восхитительный - Often used for experiences, events, or objects that evoke strong admiration (e.g., a performance or scenery).
• замечательный - A versatile term for anything notably good or pleasant, less intense than "восхитительный."

Usage Examples:

• Этот концерт был просто восхитительный!

  This concert was simply delightful!

• У нас был замечательный день на природе.

  We had a delightful day in nature.

• Фильм оказался восхитительным, я всем его рекомендую.

  The movie turned out to be delightful; I recommend it to everyone.

2. Charming or lovely (often for people or small things)

Translation(s) & Context:

• прелестный - Used for endearing or charming qualities, often for children, small objects, or subtle beauty.

Usage Examples:

• Какая прелестная девочка!

  What a delightful little girl!

• У неё прелестная улыбка.

  She has a delightful smile.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All translations are adjectives and follow standard Russian declension patterns for adjectives, agreeing in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify.

восхитительный (masculine base form):

Note: Similar declension applies to "прелестный" and "замечательный." Consult a full declension table for other cases.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• чудесный (wonderful, often for experiences)
• прекрасный (beautiful, often overlapping in meaning)
• удивительный (amazing, for surprising delight)

Antonyms:

• ужасный (terrible)
• отвратительный (disgusting)

Related Phrases:

• восхитительный вид - "delightful view" (used for stunning scenery)
• прелестный ребенок - "delightful child" (endearing term for a child)
• замечательная идея - "delightful idea" (a notably good idea)

Usage Notes:

• "восхитительный" conveys a stronger sense of admiration and is more formal or expressive than "замечательный," which is more neutral and versatile.
• "прелестный" is often used in affectionate or intimate contexts, especially for people or small, charming things. Avoid using it for grand or impressive contexts.
• Ensure adjective agreement in gender, number, and case when using these words in Russian sentences.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "восхитительный" for a person in an informal setting (e.g., "Ты восхитительный!" instead of "Ты замечательный!"). Explanation: "восхитительный" sounds overly formal or exaggerated for personal compliments; "замечательный" or "прелестный" is more natural.
• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement (e.g., saying "восхитительный девушка" instead of "восхитительная девушка"). Explanation: Adjectives must match the noun’s gender; "девушка" is feminine, so the ending must be "-ая."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, descriptive adjectives like "восхитительный" or "прелестный" are often used in expressive, emotional contexts, especially in literature or compliments. Russians may use such terms more sparingly in everyday speech compared to English speakers using "delightful," reserving them for genuine admiration.

Related Concepts:

• радость (joy)
• удовольствие (pleasure)
• восторг (rapture, intense delight)