Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'honour'

English Word: honour

Key Russian Translations:

• честь [ˈt͡ɕesʲtʲ] - [Formal, often used in contexts of personal integrity or moral value]
• почёт [pɐˈt͡ɕot] - [Formal, emphasizing public respect or ceremonial honor]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature, formal discussions, and cultural contexts, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, as it involves understanding abstract concepts and basic noun inflections; for 'честь', it's straightforward, but 'почёт' may require more context)

Pronunciation (Russian):

честь: [ˈt͡ɕesʲtʲ]

почёт: [pɐˈt͡ɕot]

Note on честь: The initial 'ч' sound is a voiceless palatal fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers; it's softer than English 'ch' in 'church'. Variations may occur in regional accents.

Audio: []

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Honour as personal integrity or moral value

Translation(s) & Context:

• честь - Used in formal or literary contexts to denote one's sense of ethics and reputation, often in personal or societal discussions.
• почёт - Applied in ceremonial or public settings, such as awards, to signify respect and admiration.

Usage Examples:

• Он защитил свою честь в суде. (He defended his honour in court.)

  English Translation: He defended his honour in court. This example shows 'честь' in a legal context, emphasizing moral integrity.

• Её честь была оскорблена ложными обвинениями. (Her honour was insulted by false accusations.)

  English Translation: Her honour was insulted by false accusations. Here, 'честь' is used in an emotional, personal scenario.

• В армии почёт — это высшая награда. (In the army, honour is the highest reward.)

  English Translation: In the army, honour is the highest reward. This illustrates 'почёт' in a military context, highlighting public recognition.

• С честью выполнять долг — это долг каждого гражданина. (To perform one's duty with honour is the obligation of every citizen.)

  English Translation: To perform one's duty with honour is the obligation of every citizen. This phrase demonstrates 'честь' in a phraseological expression.

2. Honour as respect or esteem in social contexts

Translation(s) & Context:

• честь - In social interactions, referring to earned respect or dignity.
• почёт - Specifically for formal events, like ceremonies, to denote bestowed honour.

Usage Examples:

• Ему оказали почёт на юбилейном вечере. (They paid honour to him at the anniversary evening.)

  English Translation: They paid honour to him at the anniversary evening. This example uses 'почёт' in a celebratory setting.

• Честь семьи — это то, что передаётся из поколения в поколение. (The honour of the family is something passed down from generation to generation.)

  English Translation: The honour of the family is something passed down from generation to generation. 'Честь' here shows familial and cultural continuity.

• С честью носить звание героя. (To wear the title of hero with honour.)

  English Translation: To wear the title of hero with honour. This phrase integrates 'честь' into idiomatic language.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'честь' and 'почёт' are feminine nouns in Russian, following standard inflection patterns for third-declension nouns. 'Честь' is invariant in some forms due to its ending, while 'почёт' has regular changes.

*Note: 'Честь' is often used in singular forms and has limited plural usage. It follows irregular patterns in some cases due to historical linguistic influences.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • достоинство [dəstɐˈjɪnstvə] (dignity; more focused on inherent worth)
  • репутация [rʲɪpʊˈtaʦɨjə] (reputation; implies public perception, often in professional contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • бесчестье [bʲɪsˈt͡ɕesʲtʲjə] (dishonour; directly opposite, used in contexts of shame)
  • позор [pɐˈzor] (disgrace; more emotional and public)

Related Phrases:

• С честью (s chest'yu) - With honour; used to describe actions performed admirably, e.g., in military or ethical contexts.
• Потерять честь (poteryat' chest') - To lose honour; implies a fall from grace or moral failure.
• Оказать почёт (okazat' pochet) - To pay honour; common in formal ceremonies or tributes.

Usage Notes:

'Честь' directly corresponds to the British English 'honour' as a noun for moral integrity, while 'почёт' aligns more with ceremonial or public aspects. In Russian, these words are often used in formal writing or speech; avoid them in casual conversations to prevent sounding overly dramatic. When choosing between translations, opt for 'честь' in personal contexts and 'почёт' for institutional ones. Grammatically, both nouns require agreement in gender, number, and case with accompanying words.

• Be mindful of cultural nuances: Russians may emphasize 'честь' in discussions of personal reputation, which can influence sentence structure.
• In phrases, 'с честью' is a fixed expression similar to English 'with honour', making it versatile for translations.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse 'честь' with 'чехол' (a cover or case), due to similar pronunciation. For example, incorrectly saying "Он потерял честь" as "Он потерял чехол" (He lost his honour vs. He lost his case). Correct usage: Always double-check the context; 'честь' relates to abstract concepts, not physical objects. Another error is improper inflection, such as using nominative in all cases, e.g., saying "Я горжусь честь" instead of "Я горжусь честью" (I am proud of honour). Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, so practice declensions to avoid this.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'честь' carries deep historical significance, rooted in traditions like duels in the 19th century or military valor in Soviet times. It often symbolizes personal and national pride, as seen in literature by authors like Tolstoy, where honour dictates social interactions and conflicts.

Related Concepts:

• гордость (pride)
• долг (duty)
• репутация (reputation)