Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'exult'

English Word: exult

Key Russian Translations:

• ликовать /lʲɪkɐˈvatʲ/ - [Formal, often used in literary or celebratory contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature, news, and formal speech, but not in everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Upper Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and nuanced emotional vocabulary)

Pronunciation (Russian):

ликовать: /lʲɪkɐˈvatʲ/

Note on ликовать: The stress is on the third syllable ('va'), and the 'л' is palatalized, which can be challenging for English speakers. Pronounce it with a soft 'l' sound, similar to 'ly' in 'million'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To feel or show triumphant elation or jubilation, often after a victory or success.

Translation(s) & Context:

• ликовать - Used in formal, literary, or emotional contexts to express overwhelming joy, such as after achieving a significant goal; avoid in casual everyday talk.

Usage Examples:

• После долгой борьбы, команда ликовала на улицах города.

  After a long struggle, the team exulted in the city streets.

• Люди ликовали, узнав о конце войны.

  People exulted upon learning of the war's end.

• Он ликовал, получив долгожданную награду.

  He exulted upon receiving the long-awaited award.

• Весь народ ликовал во время праздника.

  The entire nation exulted during the celebration.

• Дети ликовали, видя фейерверк в небе.

  The children exulted at the sight of fireworks in the sky.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"ликовать" is a first-conjugation verb in Russian, which means it follows standard patterns for imperfective verbs. It is imperfective and does not have a perfective counterpart in common usage. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: The verb changes based on gender in the past tense (e.g., ликовала for feminine subjects). It is irregular in that it doesn't have a perfective form, so it's used for ongoing or repeated actions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • радоваться (radovat'sya) - More general joy, less intense than ликовать.
  • торжествовать (torzhestvovat') - Emphasizes celebration of victory, similar but often implies public display.
• Antonyms:
  • огорчаться (ogorchat'sya) - To be saddened or disappointed.
  • печалиться (pechalit'sya) - To grieve or feel sorrow.

Related Phrases:

• ликовать по поводу - Meaning: To exult over something (e.g., a success); used in contexts of shared celebration.
• ликовать от счастья - Meaning: To exult with happiness; common in emotional or narrative descriptions.
• народ ликует - Meaning: The people exult; often used in historical or political contexts to describe mass joy.

Usage Notes:

"ликовать" is a precise translation for "exult" when conveying triumphant joy, but it's more formal and literary than everyday Russian words like "радоваться." Use it in contexts involving victories, achievements, or grand emotions, such as in literature or speeches. Be mindful of verb conjugations, as Russian requires agreement with subject gender and number in the past tense. If the context is casual, opt for simpler synonyms to avoid sounding overly dramatic. For multiple translations, choose "ликовать" when emphasizing intensity, but "радоваться" for milder happiness.

Common Errors:

• Incorrect: Using the wrong tense, e.g., saying "я ликую завтра" (wrong future form). Correct: "я буду ликовать завтра." Explanation: Russian future tense uses "буду" + infinitive; beginners often forget this and use present tense incorrectly.

• Incorrect: Overusing in casual speech, e.g., saying "я ликую из-за мороженого" (I exult because of ice cream). Correct: Use "радоваться" instead. Explanation: "ликовать" implies grand-scale joy, not minor pleasures, which can make the speaker sound exaggerated.

• Incorrect: Neglecting gender agreement, e.g., "она ликовал" (for a female subject). Correct: "она ликовала." Explanation: Past tense verbs in Russian must agree with the subject's gender, a common pitfall for English learners.

Cultural Notes:

"ликовать" often appears in Russian literature and historical contexts, such as in works by Pushkin or descriptions of national holidays like Victory Day. It carries a sense of collective triumph, reflecting Russia's cultural emphasis on resilience and communal celebration after hardships, which can help English speakers understand its deeper emotional weight in Russian society.

Related Concepts:

• победа (victory)
• торжество (celebration)
• радость (joy)