Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'headlong'

English Word: headlong

Key Russian Translations:

• стремглав [ˈstrʲɪmɡləf] - [Adverb, often used for sudden, rushing movements]
• очертя голову [ɐˈt͡ɕɛrtʲə ɡɐlɐˈvu] - [Idiomatic expression, informal, used for reckless or impulsive actions]

Frequency: Medium - 'headlong' translations like 'стремглав' and 'очертя голову' appear in literary and conversational contexts but are not everyday words.

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for 'стремглав'; C1 (Advanced) for 'очертя голову' due to its idiomatic nature and cultural nuances.

Pronunciation (Russian):

стремглав: [ˈstrʲɪmɡləf]

Note on стремглав: The stress falls on the first syllable; it's an adverb that doesn't vary much in pronunciation across contexts.

Audio: []

очертя голову: [ɐˈt͡ɕɛrtʲə ɡɐlɐˈvu]

Note on очертя голову: This is a phrase with multiple words; pay attention to the soft 't' in 'очертя' and the emphasis on 'голову' for natural flow.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. As an adverb: Rashly, precipitately, or headfirst (e.g., jumping into something without thinking)

Translation(s) & Context:

• стремглав - Used in dynamic, action-oriented contexts, such as physical movements or decisions made impulsively.
• очертя голову - Applied in metaphorical or emotional scenarios, like making hasty decisions in personal life.

Usage Examples:

• Он бросился стремглав в реку, чтобы спасти ребенка.

  He jumped headlong into the river to save the child.

• Не стоит очертя голову ввязываться в этот проект.

  Don't plunge headlong into this project without thinking it through.

• Автомобиль мчался стремглав по шоссе, игнорируя сигналы.

  The car sped headlong down the highway, ignoring the signals.

• Она очертя голову влюбилась в незнакомца.

  She fell headlong in love with a stranger.

• Команда ринулась стремглав к финишу, несмотря на усталость.

  The team rushed headlong to the finish line, despite their fatigue.

2. As an adjective: Headfirst or reckless in manner

Translation(s) & Context:

• стремглав - In descriptive contexts, emphasizing speed and directness.

Usage Examples:

• Его стремглавный прыжок был полон риска.

  His headlong jump was full of risk.

• Очертя голову принятое решение привело к проблемам.

  The headlong decision led to problems.

• В стремглавном падении он потерял равновесие.

  In his headlong fall, he lost his balance.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'стремглав' is an adverb and does not inflect; it remains unchanged across cases, numbers, or genders.

'очертя голову' is a fixed idiomatic phrase. 'Очертя' is an adverbial form derived from 'очертяй' (meaning carelessly), and 'голову' is the accusative form of the noun 'голова' (head). Here's a simple table for 'голова' as it appears in the phrase:

Note: The phrase as a whole doesn't change; it's used invariantly in idiomatic expressions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • внезапно (vnezapno) - Suddenly, but less emphatic on recklessness.
  • спешно (speshno) - Hastily, often in urgent situations.
• Antonyms:
  • осторожно (ostorozhno) - Carefully, implying caution to avoid the headlong nature.
  • разумно (razumno) - Reasonably, contrasting with impulsive actions.

Related Phrases:

• Броситься очертя голову - Meaning: To rush headlong into something; used for impulsive decisions.
• Мчаться стремглав - Meaning: To speed headlong; common in descriptions of fast movement.
• Очертя голову ввязаться - Meaning: To get involved headlong; implies reckless participation.

Usage Notes:

'Headlong' often translates to 'стремглав' for literal, physical actions and 'очертя голову' for metaphorical ones. Choose 'стремглав' in formal or literary contexts for precision, while 'очертя голову' suits informal speech. Be mindful of grammatical structures: 'стремглав' typically follows the verb, e.g., 'бежать стремглав'. In Russian, these words carry a connotation of risk, so they don't perfectly align with neutral English uses. For learners, start with simple sentences to avoid overcomplicating with idioms.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'очертя голову' literally as 'without a head', e.g., saying "Он пошёл очертя голову" when meaning physical absence. Correct: This phrase is idiomatic for recklessness, not literal headless action. Example of error: "Очертя голову" (wrong context). Correct: "Очертя голову влез в драку" (He jumped headlong into a fight).

• Error: Misplacing 'стремглав' in a sentence, e.g., "Стремглав он бежал" instead of "Он бежал стремглав". Correct: Place it after the verb for natural flow. Explanation: Russian adverbs often follow the main verb to maintain rhythm.

Cultural Notes:

The phrase 'очертя голову' draws from Russian folklore and literature, often depicting heroic but foolish characters in stories like those by Pushkin. It reflects a cultural emphasis on passion and risk-taking, contrasting with more cautious Western approaches, and is frequently used in modern media to humorously critique impulsive behavior.

Related Concepts:

• рискованно (riskovanno)
• импульсивно (impulsivno)
• неосторожно (neostorozhno)