Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'grande'

English Word: grande

Key Russian Translations:

• Великий [vʲɪˈlʲikʲɪj] - [Formal, used for something magnificent or historically significant]
• Большой [bɐlʲˈʂoj] - [Informal, used for size or scale in everyday contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in literature, historical discussions, and daily conversations about size or importance)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires basic understanding of adjectives and their inflections; for 'Великий', it might be B2 due to formal connotations)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Великий: [vʲɪˈlʲikʲɪj]

Большой: [bɐlʲˈʂoj]

Note on Великий: The stress is on the second syllable; be careful with the soft sign (ь) which affects pronunciation, making it softer.

Note on Большой: The 'ш' sound is a retroflex, similar to 'sh' in 'she', but more emphatic in Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Magnificent or historically grand (e.g., referring to something impressive like a landmark)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Великий - Used in formal or literary contexts, such as describing historical figures or events in Russian culture.
• Большой - Less common for this meaning, but can be used informally for emphasis on scale.

Usage Examples:

• Этот великий дворец был построен в 18 веке. (This grand palace was built in the 18th century.)

  Translation: This grand palace was built in the 18th century. (Shows formal historical context.)

• Великий композитор написал эту симфонию в молодости. (The grand composer wrote this symphony in his youth.)

  Translation: The grand composer wrote this symphony in his youth. (Demonstrates use with people or achievements.)

• В музее выставлен великий артефакт из древней Руси. (In the museum, there is a grand artifact from ancient Rus'.)

  Translation: In the museum, there is a grand artifact from ancient Rus'. (Illustrates cultural or historical application.)

• Великий зал театра всегда полон зрителей. (The grand hall of the theater is always full of spectators.)

  Translation: The grand hall of the theater is always full of spectators. (Shows spatial or architectural use.)

Meaning 2: Large or sizable (e.g., referring to physical size, like in commerce or everyday descriptions)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Большой - Commonly used in informal settings for objects, spaces, or quantities.
• Великий - Rarely used for pure size; more for grandeur, but can overlap in poetic language.

Usage Examples:

• Я заказал большой кофе в кафе. (I ordered a large coffee at the cafe.)

  Translation: I ordered a large coffee at the cafe. (Applies to everyday items, possibly referencing 'grande' size in coffee culture.)

• Этот большой дом стоит на холме. (This large house stands on the hill.)

  Translation: This large house stands on the hill. (Demonstrates use in describing physical scale.)

• В магазине продают большой ассортимент товаров. (The store sells a large assortment of goods.)

  Translation: The store sells a large assortment of goods. (Shows use with quantities or collections.)

• Большой парк идеален для прогулок. (The large park is ideal for walks.)

  Translation: The large park is ideal for walks. (Illustrates casual, descriptive usage.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'Великий' (adjective, masculine singular nominative):

This is an adjective that follows standard Russian adjective declension patterns. It changes based on gender, number, and case.

For 'Большой' (adjective, follows similar patterns):

It is a short-form adjective in some contexts but primarily long-form. No irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Великий: Величайший (velichajshiy) - More emphatic, for supreme greatness.
  • Большой: Огромный (ogromnyj) - Implies even larger size; used in informal contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • Маленький (malen'kij) - Small, opposite of size.
  • Незначительный (neznachitel'nyj) - Insignificant, opposite of grandeur.

Related Phrases:

• Великий русский народ (Velikiy russkiy narod) - The great Russian people; used in patriotic or cultural contexts.
• Большой бизнес (Bol'shoy biznes) - Big business; refers to large-scale commerce with a brief explanation: Often used in economic discussions.
• Великий поход (Velikiy pokhod) - Grand expedition; a phrase evoking historical events like journeys or campaigns.

Usage Notes:

'Grande' in English might specifically refer to a size in coffee culture (e.g., Starbucks), which loosely translates to 'Большой' in Russian casual speech. However, for more formal or historical uses, opt for 'Великий'. Be mindful of context: 'Великий' carries cultural weight in Russian, often linked to national pride, while 'Большой' is neutral for everyday descriptions. In sentences, adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify.

• When choosing between translations, use 'Великий' for abstract or emotional significance and 'Большой' for literal size.
• In formal writing, inflect properly to avoid grammatical errors.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse 'Великий' by treating it as invariant, forgetting to decline it. For example:

• Error: *Великий женщина* (Incorrect: Fails to match gender).
• Correct: Великая женщина (Great woman). Explanation: Adjectives in Russian must agree with the noun's gender; here, switch to feminine form.
• Another error: Using 'Большой' interchangeably with 'Великий' in formal contexts, e.g., *Большой Петр* for Peter the Great.
• Correct: Великий Петр. Explanation: 'Большой' implies size, not historical importance, which could confuse the meaning.

Cultural Notes:

'Великий' often evokes Russian imperial history, such as 'Великий Новгород' (Great Novgorod), symbolizing cultural and national pride. In Russian literature and media, it's used to glorify achievements, reflecting a cultural emphasis on grandeur and legacy, which differs from English's more neutral 'grand'.

Related Concepts:

• Величественный (velichestvennyy) - Majestic
• Масштабный (masshtabnyy) - Large-scale
• Имперский (imperiskiy) - Imperial