Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'merry'

English Word: merry

Key Russian Translations:

• веселый /vʲɪˈsʲelɨj/ - [Informal, Adjective]
• радостный /ˈradəstnɨj/ - [Formal, Adjective, Used in more elevated or emotional contexts]

Frequency: High (This word and its variants are commonly used in everyday Russian conversation, literature, and media.)

Difficulty: A2 (Basic level for beginners; straightforward for English speakers to grasp, but requires attention to adjective inflections.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

веселый: /vʲɪˈsʲelɨj/

радостный: /ˈradəstnɨj/

Note on веселый: The stress is on the second syllable (/sʲel/), and the initial 'в' is a voiced labiodental fricative. Be mindful of the palatalized 'с' sound, which can be tricky for non-native speakers.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Cheerful, joyous, or festive (e.g., describing a person or atmosphere full of merriment)

Translation(s) & Context:

• веселый - Used in informal, everyday situations to describe someone who is lively or fun-loving, such as at parties or social gatherings.
• радостный - Applied in more formal or emotional contexts, like expressing deep joy or happiness in literature or speeches.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: Он всегда веселый на вечеринках, но сегодня он грустный.

  English: He is always merry at parties, but today he is sad.

• Русский: Дети были радостные, когда увидели новогоднюю елку.

  English: The children were merry when they saw the New Year's tree.

• Русский: Веселый фестиваль собрал всю семью вместе.

  English: The merry festival brought the whole family together.

• Русский: Она спела радостную песню, чтобы поднять настроение.

  English: She sang a merry song to lift the spirits.

• Русский: В канун Рождества все становятся более веселыми и отзывчивыми.

  English: On Christmas Eve, everyone becomes more merry and responsive.

Secondary Meaning: Festive or holiday-related (e.g., in phrases like "Merry Christmas")

Translation(s) & Context:

• веселый - Often used in greetings, like "Веселого Рождества!" (Merry Christmas!), in casual contexts.
• радостный - Less common for direct greetings but can appear in poetic or formal holiday descriptions.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: Мы желаем вам веселого Нового года!

  English: We wish you a merry New Year!

• Русский: Радостные праздники всегда полны сюрпризов.

  English: Merry holidays are always full of surprises.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "веселый" and "радостный" are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow standard patterns for first-declension adjectives.

Note: These adjectives do not have irregular inflections; they follow the regular pattern for hard-stem adjectives in Russian.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • радостный (similar to веселый but with a more profound emotional connotation)
  • веселенький (a diminutive form, implying something cutely merry)
  • бодрый (energetic and cheerful, often in physical contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • грустный (sad)
  • скучный (boring)
  • мрачный (gloomy)

Related Phrases:

• Веселый праздник - A merry holiday; often used for festive occasions like New Year's.
• Радостное событие - A joyful event; refers to happy gatherings or celebrations.
• Веселиться от души - To have a merry time with all one's heart; an idiomatic expression for enjoying festivities fully.

Usage Notes:

"Веселый" is the most direct translation for "merry" in informal contexts, such as describing someone's mood or a festive atmosphere, while "радостный" is better for more serious or emotional expressions. In Russian, adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify, so always adjust accordingly (e.g., "веселый день" for a merry day, but "веселая вечеринка" for a merry party). When using in greetings like "Merry Christmas," opt for "Веселого Рождества!" for a natural feel. Be cautious with regional variations; in some dialects, synonyms might be preferred.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "веселый" interchangeably with "счастливый" (happy), which can lead to confusion in emotional nuance.

  Correct: "Веселый" implies light-hearted fun, while "счастливый" means deeper happiness. Example: Incorrect: "Он веселый после успеха" (if you mean truly content); Correct: "Он счастливый после успеха".

• Error: Forgetting to inflect the adjective, e.g., saying "веселый книга" instead of "веселая книга".

  Correct: Always match gender and case; "веселая книга" for a merry book.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "веселый" are often associated with holidays such as New Year's and Christmas, reflecting a tradition of communal joy and celebration. For instance, "Веселого Рождества!" is a common greeting that embodies the festive spirit, influenced by both Orthodox traditions and Western influences, emphasizing warmth and togetherness during winter festivities.

Related Concepts:

• счастье (happiness)
• радость (joy)
• праздник (holiday)