Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'manly'

English Word: manly

Key Russian Translations:

• мужественный [muˈʐɛstvʲɪnɨj] - [Formal, often used in literary or descriptive contexts]
• мужской [muʐˈskoj] - [Informal, more literal for 'male' qualities, but can imply manly in casual speech]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literature, speeches, and everyday discussions about character traits)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective declensions and nuanced vocabulary)

Pronunciation (Russian):

мужественный: [muˈʐɛstvʲɪnɨj]

мужской: [muʐˈskoj]

Note on мужественный: The stress is on the third syllable; be careful with the soft sign (ʲ) which affects the pronunciation of the preceding consonant. This word can vary slightly in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Having qualities traditionally associated with men, such as courage, strength, or resolve.

Translation(s) & Context:

• мужественный - Used in formal contexts to describe heroic or resilient behavior, often in literature or motivational speeches.
• мужской - Applied in informal settings to refer to typical male characteristics, but can sometimes carry a stereotypical connotation.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда проявляет мужественный дух в трудных ситуациях.

  He always shows a manly spirit in difficult situations.

• Её мужской подход к проблемам впечатляет коллег.

  Her manly approach to problems impresses her colleagues.

• Мужественный воин защитил свою семью от опасности.

  The manly warrior protected his family from danger.

• В этом фильме главный герой демонстрирует типично мужской характер.

  In this film, the main character exhibits a typically manly character.

• Его мужественный поступок спас жизнь многим людям.

  His manly action saved the lives of many people.

Meaning 2: Resembling or characteristic of a man in a physical or behavioral sense (less common, more literal).

Translation(s) & Context:

• мужской - Used in everyday contexts, such as describing appearance or mannerisms, but avoid in formal writing as it may sound reductive.

Usage Examples:

• У него мужской голос, который идеально подходит для ролей в театре.

  He has a manly voice that suits theater roles perfectly.

• Эта прическа придает ему более мужской вид.

  This hairstyle gives him a more manly appearance.

• Мужской стиль одежды популярен среди молодежи.

  Manly style clothing is popular among young people.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Adjectives like мужественный follow the standard pattern for hard-stem adjectives, while мужской is a soft-stem adjective. They agree with the nouns they modify.

Note: These adjectives do not change in predicative position (e.g., after "быть"). Irregularities are minimal, but always ensure agreement with the noun.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • смелый (brave; similar but emphasizes courage more)
  • героический (heroic; used for exceptional manly feats)
  • мужественный - often interchangeable with смелый in formal contexts, but мужественный carries a gender-specific nuance.
• Antonyms:
  • трусливый (cowardly)
  • слабый (weak)
  • женственный (feminine; directly contrasts with manly traits)

Related Phrases:

• мужественный поступок - A manly action (refers to brave deeds in challenging situations).
• мужской характер - Manly character (describes personality traits associated with traditional masculinity).
• быть мужественным в беде - To be manly in trouble (a common idiom for showing resilience under pressure).

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "manly" translations like мужественный are often used in contexts where English emphasizes positive masculine traits, but be cautious of cultural sensitivities—мужественный can sound archaic or overly formal. Choose мужской for everyday conversations to avoid sounding stilted. Grammatically, always decline the adjective to match the noun's gender, number, and case. For example, if the English word is used metaphorically, мужественный is preferred over мужской for depth.

• When selecting between translations, use мужественный for heroic or inspirational contexts and мужской for literal descriptions.
• In modern Russian, gender-neutral language is increasingly preferred, so pair with context to avoid stereotypes.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse мужественный by not declining it correctly, e.g., saying "мужественный женщина" instead of "мужественная женщина" (manly woman). Correct: Always ensure adjective-noun agreement. Another error is confusing it with мужской, leading to phrases like "мужской дух" when мужественный дух is more appropriate for "manly spirit." Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree in all aspects, unlike English, so practice declension tables to avoid this.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like мужественный often evoke historical ideals from literature (e.g., in works by Tolstoy), symbolizing stoicism and bravery tied to national identity. However, contemporary discussions promote gender equality, so using "manly" equivalents can carry outdated connotations; it's best used in historical or fictional contexts to appreciate its cultural depth without reinforcing stereotypes.

Related Concepts:

• смелость (courage)
• героизм (heroism)
• мужчина (man)