Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'glorify'

English Word: glorify

Key Russian Translations:

• Славить [ˈslavʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, used in literary or religious contexts]
• Прославлять [prɐˈslavlʲətʲ] - [Formal, often implies making something or someone famous]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature, religious texts, and formal writing, but less frequent in everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate level, requiring familiarity with verb conjugations and formal vocabulary; for 'славить', it may be slightly easier, while 'прославлять' could approach B2+ due to its imperfective aspect)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Славить: [ˈslavʲɪtʲ]

Note on Славить: The stress falls on the first syllable; pay attention to the palatalized 'л' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers. It can vary slightly in rapid speech.

Прославлять: [prɐˈslavlʲətʲ]

Note on Прославлять: Stress is on the third syllable; the prefix 'про-' adds a lengthening effect, and the verb is imperfective, often used in ongoing actions.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To praise or honor someone or something highly, often in a religious or ceremonial context.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Славить - Used in formal or poetic settings, such as praising a hero or deity.
• Прославлять - Applied when elevating someone's status, like in historical narratives.

Usage Examples:

• В церкви люди славят Бога за его милосердие. (In church, people glorify God for his mercy.)

  Translation: In church, people glorify God for his mercy.

• Поэты прославляют природу в своих стихах. (Poets glorify nature in their poems.)

  Translation: Poets glorify nature in their poems.

• Во время праздника мы славим героев войны. (During the holiday, we glorify the war heroes.)

  Translation: During the holiday, we glorify the war heroes.

• Эта книга прославляет подвиги древних воинов. (This book glorifies the feats of ancient warriors.)

  Translation: This book glorifies the feats of ancient warriors.

• Музыканты славят любовь в своих песнях, делая её вечной. (Musicians glorify love in their songs, making it eternal.)

  Translation: Musicians glorify love in their songs, making it eternal.

Meaning 2: To make something appear more impressive or admirable than it is.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Прославлять - Often used ironically or critically, in contexts like media or propaganda.

Usage Examples:

• Фильм прославляет насилие, что вызывает споры. (The film glorifies violence, which sparks controversy.)

  Translation: The film glorifies violence, which sparks controversy.

• Реклама прославляет продукт, преувеличивая его преимущества. (The advertisement glorifies the product by exaggerating its benefits.)

  Translation: The advertisement glorifies the product by exaggerating its benefits.

• Иногда искусство славит идеалы, которые на самом деле иллюзорны. (Sometimes art glorifies ideals that are actually illusory.)

  Translation: Sometimes art glorifies ideals that are actually illusory.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'славить' and 'прославлять' are verbs, specifically imperfective, and follow standard Russian verb conjugation patterns for first-conjugation verbs. They are regular but require attention to aspect and person. Below is a conjugation table for 'славить' in the present tense; 'прославлять' follows a similar pattern with its prefix.

For 'прославлять', the base form conjugates as: Прославляю, Прославляешь, etc. These verbs do not have irregular forms but must agree with the subject in number and person. In perfective aspect, related forms like 'прославить' (to have glorified) exist for completed actions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Хвалить (praise, more casual)
  • Восхвалять (extol, with a sense of exaggeration)
  • Превозносить (exalt, often in a hyperbolic way; differs from 'славить' by implying greater elevation)
• Antonyms:
  • Осуждать (condemn)
  • Критиковать (criticize)
  • Порицать (denounce, used in formal contexts)

Related Phrases:

• Славить Бога (Slavit' Boga) - To glorify God; a phrase common in religious services, often used in Orthodox Christianity.
• Прославлять подвиг (Proslavlyat' podvig) - To glorify a feat; refers to honoring heroic acts, as in war memorials.
• Славить героя (Slavit' geroya) - To glorify a hero; used in patriotic contexts, with connotations of national pride.

Usage Notes:

'Славить' and 'прославлять' are imperfective verbs, meaning they describe ongoing or repeated actions, unlike their perfective counterparts like 'прославить'. English users should note that 'glorify' often carries a positive connotation, but in Russian, these words can be neutral or ironic depending on context. For formal writing, 'прославлять' is preferred when emphasizing lasting fame, while 'славить' suits ceremonial or religious use. Always consider the aspect: use imperfective for habitual actions and perfective for completed ones.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Confusing 'славить' with 'хвалить' and using it in casual contexts. Incorrect: Я славлю твою новую машину. (I glorify your new car.) Correct: Я хвалю твою новую машину. (I praise your new car.) Explanation: 'Славить' is too formal for everyday compliments; it implies reverence, not simple admiration.
• Mistake: Forgetting verb conjugation, e.g., using the infinitive form incorrectly. Incorrect: Он славить героя. (He glorify hero.) Correct: Он славит героя. (He glorifies the hero.) Explanation: Verbs must agree with the subject; English speakers often omit endings due to the lack of inflection in English.
• Mistake: Overusing 'прославлять' in negative contexts without irony. Incorrect: Фильм прославляет насилие положительно. (The film glorifies violence positively.) Correct: Фильм прославляет насилие, что спорно. (The film glorifies violence, which is controversial.) Explanation: This word can imply criticism if used ironically, so context is key to avoid misinterpretation.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'славить' are deeply tied to Orthodox traditions and national heroism, often appearing in literature by authors like Pushkin or in Soviet-era propaganda. For instance, glorifying historical figures in songs or poems reinforces cultural identity, but it can also carry undertones of state-controlled narratives, as seen in post-Soviet media.

Related Concepts:

• Геройство (Heroism)
• Патриотизм (Patriotism)
• Восхваление (Extolling)
• Идеализация (Idealization)