Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'fawning'

English Word: fawning

Key Russian Translations:

• льстить [lʲˈstʲitʲ] - [Informal, Verb, Used in everyday conversations to describe excessive flattery]
• подхалимничать [pədxəlʲɪmʲnʲɪˈt͡ɕatʲ] - [Informal, Verb, Often implies insincere or opportunistic fawning in social or professional contexts]
• льстец [lʲˈstʲɛt͡s] - [Formal, Noun, Refers to a person who engages in fawning behavior]

Frequency: Medium - This word and its variants are commonly encountered in literature, media, and daily speech, but not as ubiquitous as basic vocabulary.

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for verbs like льстить and подхалимничать due to conjugation requirements; A2 (Beginner) for nouns like льстец, as it involves less complex inflection.

Pronunciation (Russian):

льстить: [lʲˈstʲitʲ] - The stress is on the second syllable; note the palatalized 'л' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers.

подхалимничать: [pədxəlʲɪmʲnʲɪˈt͡ɕatʲ] - Stress on the third-to-last syllable; pay attention to the soft 'х' and the consonant cluster.

льстец: [lʲˈstʲɛt͡s] - Stress on the first syllable; the final 'ц' is a voiceless alveolar affricate.

Note on льстить: This verb has a soft consonant at the end, which affects its conjugation; beginners may confuse it with similar-sounding words like "лгать" (to lie).

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Excessive flattery or obsequious behavior, often insincere (as a verb or noun).

Translation(s) & Context:

• льстить - Used in informal contexts to describe someone buttering up another person, e.g., in social interactions or workplace dynamics.
• подхалимничать - Applied in scenarios involving sycophantic behavior, such as in politics or business, where fawning is strategic.
• льстец - Refers to a person exhibiting fawning traits, often in formal or literary descriptions.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда льстит начальнику, чтобы получить повышение. (He always fawns on his boss to get a promotion.)

  English Translation: He always flatters his boss to get a promotion. This example shows the verb in a professional context with a direct object.

• Не подхалимничай так явно; это выглядит неискренне. (Don't fawn so obviously; it looks insincere.)

  English Translation: Don't fawn so obviously; it looks insincere. Here, it's used in an imperative form to advise against excessive flattery in social settings.

• Этот льстец пытается завоевать её доверие. (This fawner is trying to win her trust.)

  English Translation: This fawner is trying to win her trust. This illustrates the noun form in a narrative context.

• Она льстит ему, но он не замечает фальши. (She is fawning on him, but he doesn't notice the falseness.)

  English Translation: She is fawning on him, but he doesn't notice the falseness. This example demonstrates the verb with a personal pronoun in a relational scenario.

• Подхалимничать в таких ситуациях — не лучший подход. (Fawning in such situations is not the best approach.)

  English Translation: Fawning in such situations is not the best approach. This shows the infinitive form in advice or general statements.

Secondary Meaning: Animal-like behavior, e.g., a dog fawning (less common in human contexts).

Translation(s) & Context:

• льстить - Rarely used for animals, but can imply submissive behavior in metaphorical human contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Собака льстит хозяину, виляя хвостом. (The dog is fawning on its owner by wagging its tail.)

  English Translation: The dog is fawning on its owner by wagging its tail. This example extends the metaphor to animals, showing verbal usage.

• Люди иногда льстят, как животные, ища внимания. (People sometimes fawn like animals, seeking attention.)

  English Translation: People sometimes fawn like animals, seeking attention. This compares human behavior metaphorically.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For verbs like "льстить" and "подхалимничать", these are first-conjugation verbs with regular patterns but palatalized consonants. Nouns like "льстец" follow standard masculine noun declensions.

Note: "льстить" is irregular in some aspects due to its stem, but generally follows patterns. "льстец" is invariable in gender but changes by case as shown.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • хвалить (praise) - Often used interchangeably but less negative.
  • прихлебывать (suck up) - Implies a more subservient form of fawning.
  • подобострастничать (be obsequious) - Similar but more formal.
• Antonyms:
  • критиковать (criticize)
  • осуждать (condemn)
  • быть искренним (be sincere) - Not a direct antonym but contrasts the insincerity.

Related Phrases:

• льстить ушам (to tickle the ears) - A phrase meaning to say what someone wants to hear; used for insincere flattery.
• подхалимское поведение (fawning behavior) - Refers to sycophantic actions in social contexts.
• льстец и обманщик (fawner and deceiver) - A common pairing in literature to describe manipulative people.

Usage Notes:

• While "fawning" in English often carries a negative connotation, Russian equivalents like "льстить" can be neutral or context-dependent; always consider the audience to avoid offense.
• Use "льстить" for verbal actions and "льстец" for nouns; choose based on formality—e.g., "подхалимничать" is more casual and ironic.
• In grammar, these verbs require agreement with subjects and objects, so pay attention to case endings in sentences.
• When translating, "fawning" might not always map directly; for animal contexts, Russian prefers descriptive phrases over single words.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "льстить" with "лгать" (to lie), as they sound similar. Incorrect: Он лжет начальнику. (He lies to his boss – but meant fawning). Correct: Он льстит начальнику. (He fawns on his boss). Explanation: "Лгать" implies falsehood, while "льстить" implies flattery; mix-ups can alter the sentence's intent.
• Error: Forgetting verb conjugation, e.g., using "льстит" incorrectly in plural. Incorrect: Они льстит. Correct: Они льстят. Explanation: Russian verbs must agree in number and person, which English learners often overlook.
• Error: Overusing in formal writing. Explanation: Words like "подхалимничать" are informal; in professional contexts, opt for "льстить" to maintain tone.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, fawning behavior (e.g., as in "льстить") is often associated with historical contexts like the Soviet era, where sycophancy towards authorities was common. This can carry undertones of criticism in modern usage, reflecting distrust of insincerity in interpersonal relationships.

Related Concepts:

• интрига (intrigue)
• манipulation (manipulation)
• подхалим (sycophant)