Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'glorious'

English Word: glorious

Key Russian Translations:

• славный [ˈslavnɨj] - [Formal, often used in literary or historical contexts]
• великолепный [vʲɪlʲɪkəˈlʲɛpnɨj] - [Informal, everyday language for something visually stunning]
• прославленный [prəˈslavlʲɪnɨj] - [Formal, emphasizing fame or renown]

Frequency: Medium (The word and its translations appear regularly in Russian literature, media, and conversation, but not as common as basic adjectives like "хороший").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; learners need to understand adjective declensions and contextual usage, with славный being slightly easier than великолепный, which involves more nuanced vocabulary).

Pronunciation (Russian):

славный: [ˈslavnɨj]

великолепный: [vʲɪlʲɪkəˈlʲɛpnɨj]

прославленный: [prəˈslavlʲɪnɨj]

Note on славный: The stress is on the first syllable, and the final vowel changes in declension, which can be tricky for beginners (e.g., it becomes славном in the prepositional case).

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Deserving great admiration, often in a heroic or historical sense (e.g., a glorious victory).

Translation(s) & Context:

• славный - Used in formal or narrative contexts to describe something praiseworthy, such as historical events or people.
• прославленный - Applied in contexts involving fame, like celebrated figures or achievements.

Usage Examples:

• Эта славная победа навсегда войдёт в историю. (This glorious victory will go down in history forever.)

  Translation: This glorious victory will go down in history forever.

• Прославленный герой был встречен аплодисментами. (The glorious hero was greeted with applause.)

  Translation: The glorious hero was greeted with applause.

• В славном прошлом нашей страны много героических событий. (In the glorious past of our country, there are many heroic events.)

  Translation: In the glorious past of our country, there are many heroic events.

• Славный путь, который он преодолел, вдохновляет многих. (The glorious path he overcame inspires many.)

  Translation: The glorious path he overcame inspires many.

Meaning 2: Magnificent or splendid, often describing visual or aesthetic beauty (e.g., a glorious sunset).

Translation(s) & Context:

• великолепный - Common in everyday speech for something visually impressive, like nature or art.

Usage Examples:

• Великолепный закат осветил небо яркими цветами. (The glorious sunset lit up the sky with bright colors.)

  Translation: The glorious sunset lit up the sky with bright colors.

• Этот великолепный вид с горы заслуживает восхищения. (This glorious view from the mountain deserves admiration.)

  Translation: This glorious view from the mountain deserves admiration.

• Великолепная архитектура города поражает воображение. (The glorious architecture of the city captivates the imagination.)

  Translation: The glorious architecture of the city captivates the imagination.

• В великолепном саду цветы расцветают в полном блеске. (In the glorious garden, flowers bloom in full splendor.)

  Translation: In the glorious garden, flowers bloom in full splendor.

• Великолепный концерт оставил незабываемые впечатления. (The glorious concert left unforgettable impressions.)

  Translation: The glorious concert left unforgettable impressions.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are adjectives, which in Russian undergo declension based on gender, number, and case. славный and великолепный follow standard first-declension patterns, while прославленный is also an adjective but may vary slightly due to its participial origin.

прославленный follows a similar pattern but is less commonly used in plural forms. These adjectives do not change for prosody but must agree with the noun they modify.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • героический (heroic; more action-oriented than славный)
  • замечательный (remarkable; informal synonym for великолепный)
  • восхитительный (delightful; often used interchangeably with великолепный in positive contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • позорный (shameful)
  • жалкий (pitiful)
  • скучный (boring; contrasts with the splendor of великолепный)

Related Phrases:

• славная история (a glorious history) - Refers to a nation's or person's esteemed past.
• великолепный вид (a glorious view) - Used for scenic or panoramic sights, often in travel contexts.
• прославленный мастер (a glorious master) - Describes a renowned expert or artist.
• славный день (a glorious day) - An idiomatic expression for a wonderful or triumphant day.

Usage Notes:

славный is a more formal or literary equivalent to "glorious" in English, often carrying a sense of moral or historical grandeur, while великолепный is closer to "magnificent" and is used for aesthetic appeal. Choose славный for contexts involving heroism or tradition, and великолепный for visual or sensory descriptions. Be mindful of gender agreement in Russian sentences, as these adjectives must match the noun's gender, number, and case. For example, in informal speech, великолепный might be preferred over славный to avoid sounding archaic.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using славный without proper declension, e.g., saying "в славный город" instead of "в славном городе" (prepositional case). Correct: Always decline based on case; explanation: Russian adjectives must agree with nouns, so learners often forget this, leading to grammatical errors.

• Error: Confusing славный with великолепный in formal contexts, e.g., using великолепный for a historical event. Correct: Use славный for heroic connotations; explanation: This mix-up can make the language sound overly casual or mismatched, as великолепный implies visual splendor rather than moral praise.

• Error: Overusing прославленный as a direct synonym, e.g., translating "glorious leader" as прославленный without context. Correct: Reserve for figures with established fame; explanation: It emphasizes prior recognition, so beginners might apply it too broadly, diluting its specific meaning.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like славный often evoke national pride, as seen in historical narratives or literature (e.g., in works by Pushkin). Великолепный might reference the opulence of Russian imperial history, such as the palaces in St. Petersburg, highlighting a cultural appreciation for grandeur and beauty.

Related Concepts:

• героический (heroic)
• величавый (majestic)
• торжественный (solemn)
• зрелищный (spectacular)