Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'paramount'

English Word: paramount

Key Russian Translations:

• главный [ˈɡlavnɨj] - [Formal, commonly used in official or professional contexts]
• первостепенный [pɪrvɐsˈtʲepʲɪnɨj] - [Formal, emphasizes priority in decision-making]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are encountered in everyday Russian, especially in business, politics, and education, but not as ubiquitous as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective declensions and formal language structures. For 'главный', it's B1; for 'первостепенный', it might lean towards B2 due to less common usage.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

главный: [ˈɡlavnɨj]

первостепенный: [pɪrvɐsˈtʲepʲɪnɨj]

Note on главный: Stress falls on the first syllable; be cautious with the soft 'н' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers due to its palatalization.

Note on первостепенный: This word has a rolling 'р' and a stressed third syllable; practice with native audio for accurate intonation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Most important or supreme (Referring to something of primary significance)

Translation(s) & Context:

• главный - Used in formal contexts like business decisions or hierarchical structures, e.g., "the paramount issue in a meeting."
• первостепенный - Applied in contexts emphasizing urgency or priority, such as in strategic planning or problem-solving.

Usage Examples:

• Это главный вопрос в нашем обсуждении. (Eto glavnyy vopros v nashem obsuzhdenii.)

  This is the paramount question in our discussion. (Shows use in a formal meeting context.)

• В проекте первостепенный фактор — безопасность. (V proekte pervostepennyy faktor — bezopasnost'.)

  In the project, safety is the paramount factor. (Illustrates emphasis on priority in professional settings.)

• Главный лидер страны должен принимать такие решения. (Glavnyy lider strany dolzhen prinimat' takie resheniya.)

  The paramount leader of the country must make such decisions. (Demonstrates hierarchical usage in politics.)

• Первостепенный приоритет — это здоровье населения. (Pervostepennyy prioritet — eto zdorovie naseleniya.)

  Health of the population is the paramount priority. (Highlights use in policy or social contexts.)

• Для успеха проекта главный аспект — командная работа. (Dlya uspekha proekta glavnyy aspekt — komandnaya rabota.)

  For the project's success, teamwork is the paramount aspect. (Shows application in collaborative environments.)

Meaning 2: Supreme or dominant (Implying authority or dominance)

Translation(s) & Context:

• главный - In contexts of leadership or supremacy, e.g., "paramount ruler."
• первостепенный - Less common here, but can imply overriding importance in authoritative scenarios.

Usage Examples:

• Главный авторитет в семье — дедушка. (Glavnyy avtoritet v sem'ye — dedushka.)

  The paramount authority in the family is the grandfather. (Family dynamics context.)

• Первостепенный контроль за проектом лежит на менеджере. (Pervostepennyy kontrol' za proektom lezhit na menedzhere.)

  The paramount control over the project lies with the manager. (Management and oversight context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'главный' and 'первостепенный' are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern for most cases, but 'главный' is regular, while 'первостепенный' follows the same rules without irregularities.

Note: These adjectives agree with the nouns they modify. For example, in feminine form, 'главная' for 'главный'.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • основной (osnovnoy) - More general, often used interchangeably but implies foundational importance.
  • ключевой (klyuchevoy) - Emphasizes a key role, with a slight nuance of being pivotal.
• Antonyms:
  • второстепенный (vtorostepennyy) - Secondary or less important.
  • незначительный (neznachitel'nyy) - Insignificant or minor.

Related Phrases:

• Главный офис - Main office (Refers to the primary headquarters of a company.)
• Первостепенный вопрос - Paramount issue (Used for the most critical topic in discussions.)
• Главный приоритет - Top priority (Indicates the foremost focus in planning or decision-making.)

Usage Notes:

'Главный' directly corresponds to 'paramount' in contexts of importance or supremacy, making it a versatile choice for formal English translations. However, 'первостепенный' is better for emphasizing urgency and is often restricted to written or official Russian. Be mindful of declensions to match the noun's case, gender, and number. When choosing between translations, opt for 'главный' in everyday formal scenarios and 'первостепенный' for strategic or hierarchical contexts. English learners should note that Russian adjectives don't have degrees like 'more paramount'; instead, use adverbs like 'очень' (very) for intensification.

Common Errors:

• Using 'главный' without proper declension: Error - "Я вижу главный дом" (incorrect if 'дом' is in a different case); Correct - "Я вижу главный дом" only in nominative, but in genitive: "Я вижу дом главного" (I see the house of the paramount one). Explanation: Russian requires agreement, so always adjust the ending based on the noun's case.
• Confusing with synonyms: Error - Using 'основной' when 'paramount' implies supremacy, e.g., "Это основной лидер" instead of "Это главный лидер"; Correct - "Это главный лидер". Explanation: 'Основной' means foundational, not necessarily supreme, leading to a dilution of meaning.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'главный' often reflect hierarchical structures prevalent in society, such as in government or family dynamics. For instance, the 'главный' figure in a family or organization embodies authority, drawing from historical contexts like the Soviet era where central leadership was paramount, influencing modern usage in business and politics.

Related Concepts:

• авторитетный (avtoritetnyy)
• доминирующий (dominiruyushchiy)
• ключевой (klyuchevoy)