Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'enviable'

English Word: enviable

Key Russian Translations:

• Завидный (/zɐˈvʲidnɨj/) - [Formal, Adjective]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in descriptive contexts, such as literature or everyday conversations about achievements).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjectives and their inflections, but not overly complex for learners at this level).

Pronunciation (Russian):

Завидный: /zɐˈvʲidnɨj/

Note on Завидный: The stress falls on the second syllable ("vi"), and the "й" sound is a soft consonant, which can be challenging for English speakers. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Worthy of envy or admiration, often describing something desirable like success or possessions.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Завидный - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe something enviable, such as a position or quality, e.g., in professional or social discussions.

Usage Examples:

• У него завидная карьера в науке. (U nego zavidnaya kar'yera v nauke.)

  He has an enviable career in science.

• Завидный успех этой команды заслуживает уважения. (Zavidnyy uspekh etoy komandy zasluzhivaet uvazheniya.)

  The enviable success of this team deserves respect.

• Её завидная красота всегда привлекала внимание. (Ey zavidnaya krasota vsegda privlekala vnimaniye.)

  Her enviable beauty always attracted attention.

• Завидный дом с видом на море — мечта многих. (Zavidnyy dom s vidom na more — mechta mnogikh.)

  An enviable house with a sea view is the dream of many.

• В его завидном спокойствии есть что-то магическое. (V yego zavidnom spokoystve est' chto-to magicheskoye.)

  There's something magical about his enviable calmness.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Завидный is an adjective in Russian, which follows the standard adjectival inflection patterns. It changes based on gender, number, and case. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: This adjective does not have irregular forms, making it relatively straightforward for learners once basic Russian adjective rules are understood.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Прекрасный (prekrasnyy) - Similar but emphasizes beauty or excellence more than envy.
  • Замечательный (zamechatel'nyy) - Used for something outstanding, with a positive connotation.
• Antonyms:
  • Незавидный (nezavidnyy) - Directly opposite, meaning pitiable or unfortunate.
  • Обычный (obychnyy) - Meaning ordinary or average, lacking any enviable qualities.

Related Phrases:

• Завидный успех (zavidnyy uspekh) - Enviable success; used to describe remarkable achievements in a competitive context.
• Завидная жизнь (zavidnaya zhizn') - Enviable life; often refers to a luxurious or fulfilling lifestyle.
• Завидный талант (zavidnyy talant) - Enviable talent; highlights innate abilities that others admire.

Usage Notes:

Завидный directly corresponds to "enviable" in English, often carrying a positive or neutral tone in Russian, though it can imply jealousy. It is typically used in formal writing, literature, or spoken language to describe desirable attributes. Be cautious with context: in everyday speech, it might sound slightly archaic or literary, so opt for synonyms like "замечательный" in casual conversations. When choosing between translations, use завидный for scenarios involving admiration or envy, and ensure agreement with nouns in gender, number, and case as per Russian grammar rules.

Common Errors:

• Common Error: Misusing the adjective without proper inflection, e.g., saying "завидный дом" in a context requiring the genitive case like "у завидный дом" instead of "у завидного дома".

  Correct Usage: У завидного дома. (At the enviable house.) - Explanation: Always inflect the adjective to match the noun's case to avoid grammatical errors.

• Common Error: Overusing завидный to mean simply "good" without the connotation of envy, which can make the statement sound exaggerated.

  Correct Usage: Instead of завидный for everyday positives, use прекрасный; e.g., avoid "завидный ужин" for a nice dinner—say "вкусный ужин" (tasty dinner) to prevent implying it's enviably superior.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of something being "enviable" often ties into themes of aspiration and social comparison, as seen in literature like Tolstoy's works. The word завидный can evoke a sense of melancholy or irony, reflecting Russia's historical emphasis on collective achievement versus individual envy, which might not directly translate in English contexts.

Related Concepts:

• Успех (uspekh) - Success
• Талант (talant) - Talent
• Красота (krasota) - Beauty