Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'folly'

English Word: folly

Key Russian Translations:

• глупость [ɡluˈposʲtʲ] - [Formal, Singular]
• безумие [bʲɪˈzumʲɪjə] - [Informal, often for extreme irrationality]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday discussions of poor decisions, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary like "hello").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of abstract nouns and basic inflections, suitable for learners with some conversational experience).

Pronunciation (Russian):

глупость: [ɡluˈposʲtʲ]

Note on глупость: The stress falls on the last syllable ("-сть"), which is common for many Russian abstract nouns. Be mindful of the palatalized "сʲ" sound, which can be challenging for English speakers.

безумие: [bʲɪˈzumʲɪjə]

Note on безумие: The initial "бʲ" is softly palatalized, and the word has a rolling rhythm; stress on the second syllable. Variations in regional accents may soften the vowels.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A foolish act, idea, or course of action (e.g., unwise behavior)

Translation(s) & Context:

• глупость - Used in formal or neutral contexts to describe everyday foolishness, such as poor decisions in personal or professional life.
• безумие - Applied in more dramatic or informal settings for extreme folly, like reckless actions with serious consequences.

Usage Examples:

• Его решение уйти с работы без плана было чистой глупостью.

  His decision to quit his job without a plan was pure folly.

• Инвестировать все сбережения в эту компанию — настоящее безумие.

  Investing all savings in that company is sheer folly.

• Такая глупость, как езда без ремня безопасности, может привести к трагедии.

  Such folly as driving without a seatbelt can lead to tragedy.

• В молодости мы все совершаем акты безумия, но учимся на ошибках.

  In our youth, we all commit acts of folly, but we learn from our mistakes.

Meaning 2: An extravagant and foolish building or structure (archaic or literary sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• глупость - Less common in this sense; used metaphorically for wasteful constructions.
• безумие - Often in historical or literary contexts to describe ornate but impractical architecture.

Usage Examples:

• Этот дворец — типичная глупость богатого аристократа XVIII века.

  This palace is a typical folly of a wealthy aristocrat from the 18th century.

• Строительство такой башни в пустыне кажется полным безумием.

  Building such a tower in the desert seems like complete folly.

• Многие архитектурные глупости прошлого теперь являются туристическими достопримечательностями.

  Many architectural follies from the past are now tourist attractions.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "глупость" (a feminine noun in the third declension):

Note: It follows standard feminine noun patterns with no irregularities.

For "безумие" (neuter noun, also third declension):

This word is invariant in some poetic uses but generally follows regular patterns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: идиотизм [for extreme stupidity], абсурдность [for absurdity], безрассудство [for recklessness]
• Antonyms: мудрость [wisdom; used in philosophical contexts], благоразумие [prudence; more formal]

Related Phrases:

• Глупая идея - A foolish idea; often used in casual conversations about poor planning.
• Безумие страсти - Madness of passion; refers to irrational behavior driven by emotions, with cultural connotations in literature.
• Чистая глупость - Pure folly; emphasizes the senselessness of an action.

Usage Notes:

"Глупость" is the most direct equivalent to "folly" in neutral contexts, while "безумие" adds a layer of intensity. Choose based on formality: "глупость" for everyday errors, "безумие" for dramatic ones. Be aware of Russian's case system; for example, use genitive after prepositions like "из" (from). English speakers might overgeneralize, so pay attention to context to avoid literal translations that sound awkward.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "глупость" interchangeably with "дурак" (fool). Correct: "Глупость" is a noun for the act, not the person; say "Это глупость" instead of "Ты глупость" for "You are folly."

• Error: Incorrect inflection, e.g., saying "безумие" in dative as "безумие" instead of "безумию." Correct: "Я страдаю от безумия" (I suffer from folly), not "Я страдаю от безумие." This confuses learners due to English's lack of cases.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts like "folly" often appear in literature (e.g., in Dostoevsky's works, where "безумие" symbolizes inner turmoil). It reflects a historical emphasis on rationality versus passion, influenced by Orthodox traditions and Soviet-era pragmatism, making these words more than just descriptors—they evoke moral and philosophical debates.

Related Concepts:

• Мудрость (wisdom)
• Бессмыслица (nonsense)
• Иррациональность (irrationality)