Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'giant'

English Word: giant

Key Russian Translations:

• гигант [ɡɪˈɡant] - [Formal, used for mythical or exceptionally large entities]
• великан [vʲɪˈlʲikən] - [Informal, often in storytelling or metaphorical contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature, mythology, and everyday descriptions of size)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires basic understanding of noun declensions, but straightforward for learners familiar with CEFR A2 vocabulary)

Pronunciation (Russian):

гигант: [ɡɪˈɡant]

великан: [vʲɪˈlʲikən]

Note on гигант: The stress is on the second syllable; be cautious with the hard 'g' sound, which may differ from English pronunciations. For великан, the 'в' is pronounced as a soft 'v' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A very large person, creature, or thing (e.g., in mythology or literal size).

Translation(s) & Context:

• гигант - Used in formal or literary contexts, such as describing ancient myths or scientific phenomena.
• великан - Often in informal storytelling, children's tales, or metaphorical expressions for something overwhelmingly large.

Usage Examples:

• В греческой мифологии гигант был символом силы и мощи.

  In Greek mythology, the giant was a symbol of strength and power.

• Этот великан среди деревьев доминирует в лесу, достигая высоты в 50 метров.

  This giant among trees dominates the forest, reaching a height of 50 meters.

• Гигантские существа из легенд часто вдохновляют современных художников.

  Giant creatures from legends often inspire modern artists.

• Великан в сказке одолел дракона, спасая деревню.

  The giant in the fairy tale defeated the dragon, saving the village.

• Гигантский робот в фильме представлял угрозу для человечества.

  The giant robot in the movie posed a threat to humanity.

A metaphor for something extraordinarily large or influential (e.g., in business or technology).

Translation(s) & Context:

• гигант - Applied in professional or abstract contexts, like "technology giant."
• великан - Used more playfully in everyday speech for exaggeration.

Usage Examples:

• Google — это настоящий гигант в мире интернета.

  Google is a true giant in the world of the internet.

• Этот великан бизнеса контролирует рынок смартфонов.

  This giant of business controls the smartphone market.

• Гигантские корпорации часто влияют на глобальную политику.

  Giant corporations often influence global politics.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "гигант" and "великан" are masculine nouns in Russian, which means they follow standard masculine declension patterns. They are regular but inflect based on case, number, and gender agreement.

Note: These nouns do not have irregular forms, making them relatively easy to learn, but always pay attention to case endings in sentences.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • великан (very similar to the original, but often more narrative)
  • исполин (used for emphasis on immense size, slightly more poetic)
• Antonyms:
  • карлик (dwarf or small person)
  • мелочь (something insignificant or tiny, in a metaphorical sense)

Related Phrases:

• гигантские шаги - Giant steps; used metaphorically for significant progress (e.g., in child development or innovation).
• великан из прошлого - Giant from the past; refers to historical figures or ancient wonders.
• гигантский скачок - Giant leap; common in contexts like scientific breakthroughs.

Usage Notes:

"Гигант" is a direct and formal equivalent to the English "giant," often used in educational or professional settings, while "великан" carries a more whimsical or storytelling connotation. Choose based on context: use "гигант" for literal or scientific descriptions and "великан" for folklore or informal metaphors. Be mindful of Russian's grammatical gender—both are masculine—so adjectives and verbs must agree accordingly. In sentences, ensure proper case usage to avoid sounding unnatural.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "гигант" in the wrong case, e.g., saying "Я видел гигант" instead of "Я видел гиганта" (accusative case). Correct: Always inflect based on the sentence role. Explanation: Russian nouns change endings to indicate their function, unlike English.
• Mistake: Confusing "гигант" with "великан" in formal writing, leading to a less precise tone. Correct: Use "гигант" for neutral contexts. Explanation: "Великан" implies a fairy-tale element, which might not fit professional discussions.
• Mistake: Pronouncing the stress incorrectly, e.g., stressing the first syllable in "гигант." Correct: Stress the second syllable [ɡɪˈɡant]. Explanation: Incorrect stress can make the word sound foreign or misunderstood in native speech.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "гигант" and "великан" often evoke images from folklore, such as the giants in Slavic myths or fairy tales by authors like Alexander Pushkin. These terms symbolize raw power and the unknown, reflecting Russia's vast landscapes and historical narratives of epic struggles.

Related Concepts:

• миф (myth)
• легенда (legend)
• огромный (enormous)