Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'highbrow'

English Word: highbrow

Key Russian Translations:

• интеллектуальный [ɪn.tʲɪlʲ.ɛk.tu.ˈalʲ.nɨj] - [Formal, Adjective]
• высококультурный [vɨs.ə.kəˈkulʲ.tʊr.nɨj] - [Formal, Adjective, Used in cultural or artistic contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in intellectual discussions, literature, and media, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: Intermediate (B2 level, as it involves understanding nuanced adjectives and their inflections; for 'высококультурный', also B2 due to its specificity)

Pronunciation (Russian):

интеллектуальный: [ɪn.tʲɪlʲ.ɛk.tu.ˈalʲ.nɨj]

высококультурный: [vɨs.ə.kəˈkulʲ.tʊr.nɨj]

Note on интеллектуальный: The stress falls on the fourth syllable ('tu'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft consonants (e.g., 'тʲ' sounds like a palatalized 't'). Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Referring to something intellectual, sophisticated, or appealing to educated tastes.

Translation(s) & Context:

• интеллектуальный - Used in formal contexts to describe ideas, events, or people that require high intellectual engagement, such as academic discussions or cultural events.
• высококультурный - Applied in artistic or social settings to denote elite cultural pursuits, often implying exclusivity.

Usage Examples:

• Этот фильм слишком интеллектуальный для массовой аудитории. (This film is too highbrow for a mass audience.)

  English Translation: This film is too intellectual for a mass audience.

• В её предпочтениях преобладают высококультурные мероприятия, такие как оперные представления. (In her preferences, highbrow events like opera performances prevail.)

  English Translation: In her preferences, highbrow events like opera performances prevail.

• Интеллектуальный журнал публикует статьи о современной философии. (The highbrow journal publishes articles on modern philosophy.)

  English Translation: The highbrow journal publishes articles on modern philosophy.

• Высококультурный фестиваль привлекает элиту общества. (The highbrow festival attracts society's elite.)

  English Translation: The highbrow festival attracts society's elite.

• Его интеллектуальный юмор не всегда понятен широкой публике. (His highbrow humor isn't always understood by the general public.)

  English Translation: His highbrow humor isn't always understood by the general public.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'интеллектуальный' and 'высококультурный' are adjectives in Russian, which inflect for gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow standard patterns for first-declension adjectives.

Note: These adjectives are regular and follow the standard adjective declension rules in Russian, with no irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • интеллигентный (more focused on refined manners and education)
  • культурный (broader, emphasizing general culture)
• Antonyms:
  • массовый (mass-market or popular)
  • популярный (widely appealing, mainstream)

Related Phrases:

• интеллектуальный разговор (intellectual conversation) - A discussion involving deep, thoughtful topics.
• высококультурный театр (highbrow theater) - Refers to elite theatrical performances with cultural significance.
• интеллектуальный элитаризм (intellectual elitism) - The idea of restricting cultural access to the educated class.

Usage Notes:

'Интеллектуальный' directly corresponds to 'highbrow' in contexts involving intellectual pursuits, but it can be more neutral in Russian than the sometimes pejorative English connotation. Use 'высококультурный' for artistic or social exclusivity. Both are formal and best in written or academic settings; avoid in casual speech to prevent sounding pretentious. When choosing between translations, opt for 'интеллектуальный' for ideas and 'высококультурный' for events. Grammatically, ensure agreement with the noun's gender, number, and case.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'интеллектуальный' without proper inflection, e.g., saying "интеллектуальный женщина" instead of "интеллектуальная женщина". Correct: Always inflect to match the noun (feminine in this case). This mistake arises from English speakers overlooking Russian adjective agreement.

• Error: Confusing with 'интеллигентный', which implies personal refinement rather than content. Example of error: "Этот фильм интеллигентный" (meaning a film about refined people, not highbrow content). Correct: Use "интеллектуальный фильм" for content-focused descriptions.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like 'интеллектуальный' often evoke the legacy of the Russian intelligentsia, a 19th-20th century social class of educated individuals who played key roles in literature, philosophy, and social reform. This can carry a sense of national pride but also criticism of elitism, especially in post-Soviet contexts where access to high culture has democratized.

Related Concepts:

• культура (culture)
• элита (elite)
• образование (education)