Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'laud'

English Word: laud

Key Russian Translations:

• хвалить [xvaˈlʲitʲ] - [Informal, Verb, Commonly used in everyday speech]
• восхвалять [vəsxvaˈlʲatʲ] - [Formal, Verb, Used in literary or official contexts]
• похвала [pɐˈxvaɫə] - [Noun, Formal/Informal, Refers to praise as a concept]

Frequency: Medium (The verb forms are encountered in standard Russian texts and conversations, but not as common as basic verbs like "сказать".)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and formal/informal distinctions, per CEFR standards.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

хвалить: [xvaˈlʲitʲ]

восхвалять: [vəsxvaˈlʲatʲ]

похвала: [pɐˈxvaɫə]

Note on хвалить: The initial "х" sound is a voiceless velar fricative, similar to the "ch" in Scottish "loch"; be careful with the soft "лʲ" which affects the preceding vowel.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: To praise or commend someone or something publicly.

Translation(s) & Context:

• хвалить - Used in informal settings, such as everyday conversations about achievements.
• восхвалять - Employed in formal contexts, like speeches or written praises, to emphasize high regard.

Usage Examples:

• Она всегда хвалит своих детей за хорошие оценки. (Ona vsegda khvalit svoikh detey za khoroshie otsenki.)

  She always praises her children for good grades. (This example shows the verb in a familial context.)

• В газете его восхваляют как выдающегося ученого. (V gazete yego voskhvalyayut kak vydajushchegoся uchenogo.)

  In the newspaper, he is lauded as an outstanding scientist. (Illustrates formal usage in media.)

• Похвала от начальника мотивирует сотрудников. (Pokhvala ot nachal'nika motiviruet sotrudnikov.)

  Praise from the boss motivates employees. (Demonstrates the noun form in a professional setting.)

• Друзья хвалят его кулинарные таланты на вечеринках. (Drug'i khvalyat yego kulinarnye talanty na vecherinkakh.)

  Friends laud his culinary talents at parties. (Shows informal, social usage.)

• Восхвалять героя войны – это традиция в нашей культуре. (Voskhvalyat' geroya voyny – eto traditsiya v nashey kul'ture.)

  Lauding a war hero is a tradition in our culture. (Highlights cultural or historical context.)

Secondary Meaning: To express admiration through words or actions.

Translation(s) & Context:

• хвалить - In casual admiration, often with emotional undertones.

Usage Examples:

• Он хвалит картину, но не покупает ее. (On khvalit kartuiny, no ne pokupaet yeyo.)

  He lauds the painting but doesn't buy it. (Example of verbal praise without action.)

• Восхвалять искусство – значит ценить его вклад. (Voskhvalyat' iskusstvo – znachit tsenit' yego vklad.)

  To laud art is to value its contribution. (Formal expression in artistic discussions.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For verbs like "хвалить" and "восхвалять", Russian exhibits regular conjugation patterns based on aspect (imperfective for хвалить, perfective for восхвалять in some contexts). Nouns like "похвала" follow standard declension.

Note: "Похвала" is a feminine noun and does not change in some cases but follows the first declension pattern.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • похвалить (Similar to восхвалять, but more neutral)
  • восхищаться (To admire, with a connotation of wonder)
• Antonyms:
  • осуждать (To condemn)
  • критиковать (To criticize)

Related Phrases:

• Хвалить до небес (Khvalit' do nebes) - To praise to the skies; meaning excessive admiration.
• Восхвалять заслуги (Voskhvalyat' zaslugi) - To laud merits; used in formal recognition.
• Похвала на публику (Pokhvala na publiku) - Praise for show; implies insincere flattery.

Usage Notes:

"Laud" corresponds closely to "хвалить" in informal English-Russian translation, but "восхвалять" is preferred for more elevated or public contexts. Be mindful of aspect in Russian verbs: "хвалить" is imperfective (ongoing action), while related perfectives like "похвалить" indicate completion. In formal writing, opt for "восхвалять" to match the grandeur of "laud". Avoid overusing in casual speech to prevent sounding overly dramatic.

Common Errors:

• Confusing aspect: Learners often use "хвалить" when a perfective form is needed, e.g., saying "Я хвалю его" instead of "Я похвалил его" for a completed action. Correct: Use "похвалил" for past completed praise.

• Mispronouncing the initial sound: Non-native speakers might soften "х" in "хвалить" to an English "h", making it sound like "hvalit'". Correct pronunciation: Emphasize the guttural [x] sound.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, public praise like "восхвалять" is often tied to traditions of honoring heroes or achievements, such as in literature (e.g., Pushkin's works) or state awards, reflecting a historical emphasis on collective admiration and patriotism.

Related Concepts:

• Благодарить (To thank)
• Восхищение (Admiration)
• Критика (Criticism)