Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'flaunt'

English Word: flaunt

Key Russian Translations:

• хвастаться [xvaˈstatsə] - [Informal; commonly used in everyday conversations to express boasting]
• похваляться [pɐxvaˈlʲat͡sə] - [Informal; slightly more neutral, often in social contexts]

Frequency: Medium (The verb is encountered in casual speech and literature but not as ubiquitous as basic verbs like "быть" (to be).)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; involves understanding reflexive verbs and imperfective aspects, which may challenge beginners but are manageable for intermediate learners. For "хвастаться", it's B1; for "похваляться", it's also B1 due to similar structures.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

хвастаться: [xvaˈstatsə]

похваляться: [pɐxvaˈlʲat͡sə]

Note on хвастаться: The stress falls on the third syllable ("sta"), and the initial "х" is a voiceless velar fricative, which can be tricky for English speakers—similar to the "ch" in Scottish "loch". Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To display something ostentatiously or boastfully (primary meaning)

Translation(s) & Context:

• хвастаться - Used in informal settings to describe showing off possessions or achievements, often with a negative connotation in social interactions.
• похваляться - Applied in contexts where someone is proudly displaying skills, but it can be less judgmental than хвастаться.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда хвастается своим новым автомобилем на вечеринках.

  He always flaunts his new car at parties.

• Дети любят хвастаться игрушками перед друзьями в парке.

  Children love to flaunt their toys in front of friends in the park.

• Она не стесняется похваляться своими путешествиями по миру.

  She doesn't hesitate to flaunt her world travels.

• В социальных сетях люди часто хвастаются достижениями, чтобы привлечь внимание.

  On social media, people often flaunt their accomplishments to get attention.

• Не стоит похваляться богатством, если это может обидеть других.

  It's not worth flaunting wealth if it might offend others.

To show off in a more deliberate or attention-seeking way (secondary meaning)

Translation(s) & Context:

• хвастаться - In competitive or social environments, emphasizing exaggeration.

Usage Examples:

• Актер хвастается своими наградами на каждой пресс-конференции.

  The actor flaunts his awards at every press conference.

• Молодой бизнесмен любит хвастаться успехами в переговорах.

  The young businessman loves to flaunt his successes in negotiations.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "хвастаться" and "похваляться" are imperfective reflexive verbs in Russian, which means they end in "-аться" and conjugate based on person, number, tense, and aspect. They are irregular in some aspects due to Russian verb patterns. Below is a conjugation table for "хвастаться" in the present tense as an example; "похваляться" follows similar patterns.

For "похваляться", the present tense conjugations are: Я похваляюсь, Ты похваляешься, etc. These verbs do not change in gender but must agree in number and person. Note that in perfective forms, related verbs like "похвастаться" (to boast once) exist for completed actions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • похваляться (similar but slightly less intense, often used for self-praise in achievements)
  • бахвалиться (more exaggerated, implying empty boasting)
• Antonyms:
  • скрывать (to hide, as in concealing something rather than showing it off)
  • утаивать (to conceal, especially information)

Related Phrases:

• Хвастаться богатством - A common phrase meaning "to flaunt wealth," often used in discussions about social inequality.
• Похваляться успехами - Meaning "to boast about successes," typically in professional or academic contexts.
• Не стоит хвастаться перед друзьями - Translates to "It's not worth flaunting in front of friends," advising against excessive showing off.

Usage Notes:

"Flaunt" in English often carries a negative connotation of showing off, which aligns closely with "хвастаться" in Russian. However, choose "хвастаться" for informal, everyday contexts where boasting is implied, and "похваляться" for situations with a more neutral or positive tone. Be mindful of the reflexive ending "-аться," which indicates the action is directed back to the subject. In formal writing, these verbs might be avoided in favor of more descriptive phrases. For example, if the context involves material display, pair it with nouns like "богатством" (wealth).

Common Errors:

• Confusing "хвастаться" with "хвастать" (the non-reflexive form, which is incorrect here as it doesn't exist; learners might misuse similar verbs). Error: Using "хвастать" alone. Correct: "Хвастаться" is the proper reflexive form. Explanation: Russian reflexive verbs require the "-ся" or "-сь" particle for actions like this.

• Overusing in formal contexts. Error: Saying "Я хвастаюсь на встрече" in a business setting. Correct: Use more neutral alternatives like "Я демонстрирую" if not emphasizing boasting. Explanation: This can come across as rude, so context matters.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, boasting or "хвастаться" is often viewed negatively, as it can be seen as immodest or arrogant, influenced by historical values of humility in Soviet and post-Soviet society. However, in modern contexts like social media, it's increasingly common, reflecting global influences.

Related Concepts:

• гордиться (to be proud)
• демонстрировать (to demonstrate)
• показывать (to show)