Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'idolise'

English Word: idolise

Key Russian Translations:

• обожать (/ɐ.bɐˈʐatʲ/) - [Informal, commonly used in everyday speech for expressing strong affection]

Frequency: Medium (This verb is frequently encountered in modern Russian literature, media, and casual conversations, but not as ubiquitous as basic verbs like "любить".)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; learners at this level should grasp its conjugation and usage, though irregular aspects may require practice.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

обожать: /ɐ.bɐˈʐatʲ/

Note on обожать: The stress falls on the third syllable (-ʐatʲ), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft 'ж' sound. Pronounce it with a voiced fricative, similar to the 's' in "measure".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To admire or love someone or something excessively, often to the point of idealization.

Translation(s) & Context:

• обожать - Used in informal contexts to express intense admiration, such as for celebrities or hobbies, but can imply naivety or obsession in certain scenarios.

Usage Examples:

• Мои дети обожают эту певицу и вешают её плакаты на стены.

  My children idolise this singer and hang her posters on the walls.

• Он обожает свой новый смартфон и не выпускает его из рук.

  He idolises his new smartphone and never lets it out of his hands.

• Многие подростки обожают знаменитостей, но это иногда приводит к разочарованиям.

  Many teenagers idolise celebrities, but this sometimes leads to disappointments.

• Она обожает классическую музыку и тратит часы на прослушивание концертов.

  She idolises classical music and spends hours listening to concerts.

• В детстве я обожал супергероев из комиксов и мечтал быть как они.

  In childhood, I idolised superheroes from comics and dreamed of being like them.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Обожать" is a first-conjugation verb in Russian, which means it follows regular patterns for most forms, but like many verbs, it has imperfective aspects. It is imperfective and does not have a perfective counterpart in standard usage for this meaning. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: This verb does not change in imperative forms as drastically; e.g., imperative: обожай (singular informal). It remains relatively regular, making it easier for intermediate learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: любить (/lʲʉˈbʲitʲ/) - More general affection, often without the intensity of idolisation.
• поклоняться (/pɐk.lɐˈnjatʲsə/) - Implies worship or reverence, suitable for formal or religious contexts.
• Antonyms: ненавидеть (/nʲɪ.nɐˈvʲi.dʲetʲ/) - Strong dislike or hatred.
• презирать (/prʲɪˈzʲi.ratʲ/) - To despise or look down upon, often with contempt.

Related Phrases:

• Обожать кого-то - To idolise someone; often used in personal relationships or fan culture.
• Обожать что-то - To be obsessed with something; e.g., in hobbies like "обожать путешествовать" (to idolise travelling, meaning to love it excessively).
• Безумно обожать - Madly idolise; adds emphasis for stronger emotional contexts.

Usage Notes:

"Обожать" directly corresponds to "idolise" in English by conveying excessive admiration, but it's more commonly used in informal settings. Unlike English, where "idolise" might carry a negative connotation of blind worship, Russian "обожать" is often neutral or positive. Be mindful of context: in formal writing, opt for "идолизировать" if a more precise match is needed. Grammatically, it requires agreement with the object in gender and number in certain constructions, and it's typically followed by the accusative case.

• Choose "обожать" for everyday speech to sound natural.
• Avoid overusing it in professional contexts to prevent sounding overly emotional.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse "обожать" with "любить" due to similar meanings. For example:

• Error: Using "обожать" interchangeably with "любить" in all contexts, e.g., saying "Я обожаю яблоки" when you mean simple liking (correct: "Я люблю яблоки").
• Correct: Reserve "обожать" for intense admiration, as in "Я обожаю эту книгу" (I idolise this book, implying obsession). Explanation: "Обожать" implies a deeper, almost worshipful level, which can make it inappropriate for mild preferences.
• Another error: Incorrect conjugation, e.g., saying "обожаетс" instead of "обожает" in third person. Correct: Always ensure proper ending based on person and tense as shown in the inflections table.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "обожать" is frequently associated with celebrity worship or fandom, reflecting the influence of Western pop culture. For instance, it's common in discussions about idols in music or sports, but it can also tie into historical reverence for figures like poets or leaders, highlighting Russia's tradition of idolizing intellectual or artistic icons.

Related Concepts:

• Культ личности (cult of personality)
• Фанатизм (fanaticism)
• Идол (idol)