Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'proud'

English Word: proud

Key Russian Translations:

• гордый [ˈɡordɨj] - [Adjective, Formal, Singular]
• гордиться [ɡɐrˈdʲit͡sə] - [Verb, Informal, Used in everyday contexts]
• гордая [ˈɡordəjə] - [Adjective, Feminine form, Formal]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literature, speeches, and daily conversations, but not as frequent as basic adjectives like "happy").

Difficulty: B1 Intermediate (Requires understanding of adjective and verb inflections; easier for those familiar with basic Russian grammar, but challenging for beginners due to declensions).

Pronunciation (Russian):

гордый: [ˈɡordɨj]

гордиться: [ɡɐrˈdʲit͡sə]

гордая: [ˈɡordəjə]

Note on гордый: The stress falls on the first syllable; be careful with the soft 'д' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers as it's palatalized.

Audio: Play pronunciation for гордый [Audio file placeholder]

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Feeling deep pleasure or satisfaction resulting from one's own achievements, qualities, or associations.

Translation(s) & Context:

• гордый - Used in formal or descriptive contexts, such as describing a person's character in literature or speeches.
• гордиться - Used as a verb in informal or personal contexts, like expressing pride in family or accomplishments.

Usage Examples:

• Он гордый человек, который никогда не жалуется на трудности.

  He is a proud man who never complains about difficulties.

• Она гордая от природы, но всегда помогает друзьям.

  She is proud by nature, but always helps her friends.

• Я горжусь своим успехом в работе.

  I am proud of my success at work. (Shows verb usage in a personal context.)

• Гордые люди часто скрывают свои эмоции.

  Proud people often hide their emotions. (Plural form in a general statement.)

• Дети гордились своими родителями на церемонии.

  The children were proud of their parents at the ceremony. (Verb in a familial context.)

Meaning 2: Having or showing a high opinion of oneself, sometimes excessively (e.g., arrogant pride).

Translation(s) & Context:

• гордый - In negative contexts, implying arrogance, often in formal writing or criticism.

Usage Examples:

• Его гордый взгляд отпугивал собеседников.

  His proud gaze intimidated his conversation partners.

• Гордый лидер отказался от компромисса.

  The proud leader refused to compromise. (Highlights negative connotation.)

• Она была слишком гордая, чтобы просить помощи.

  She was too proud to ask for help. (Common idiomatic use.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "гордый" (adjective), it follows the standard first-declension pattern for adjectives in Russian, which changes based on gender, number, and case. "Гордиться" is a verb that conjugates irregularly in some aspects.

Note: "Гордиться" is an imperfective verb and does not change in perfective form without additional context (e.g., perfective is "похвастаться" for boasting). It remains relatively stable across tenses but requires auxiliary verbs for past and future.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: самодовольный (self-satisfied, with a nuance of contentment), надменный (haughty, implying arrogance)
• Antonyms: скромный (modest, often used in positive contexts), униженный (humiliated, for extreme opposition)

Brief note: "Самодовольный" is similar but can carry a slightly negative connotation of smugness, while "надменный" is more intense than basic "гордый".

Related Phrases:

• Гордиться успехом - To be proud of success; used in motivational or personal development contexts.
• Гордый взгляд - A proud look; common in literary descriptions to convey arrogance or dignity.
• Быть гордыми предками - To be proud ancestors; often in historical or familial discussions.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "гордый" as an adjective must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies, unlike the invariable English "proud". For example, use "гордый" for masculine subjects and "гордая" for feminine. When translating the verb form, "гордиться" is more dynamic and implies an action of feeling pride, so it's better for contexts involving "to be proud of" something. Choose between translations based on context: use "гордый" for static descriptions and "гордиться" for emotional expressions. This word is neutral in formal settings but can sound overly dramatic in casual speech.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "гордый" without proper inflection, e.g., saying "гордый женщина" instead of "гордая женщина". Correct: Always match the adjective to the noun's gender and case. Explanation: Russian adjectives decline, so this mistake can make the sentence grammatically incorrect and confusing.

• Error: Confusing "гордиться" with "гордый" in verb contexts, e.g., saying "Я гордый моим домом" instead of "Я горжусь моим домом". Correct: Use the verb form for expressions of pride. Explanation: English learners often treat "proud" as solely adjectival, but Russian requires the infinitive or conjugated verb for dynamic pride.

• Error: Overusing in negative contexts, e.g., translating "proud" as "надменный" when it's not arrogant. Correct: Stick to "гордый" for neutral pride. Explanation: This can alter the meaning, making the speaker sound more judgmental than intended.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressing pride (e.g., "гордиться") is often tied to collective identity, such as national achievements or family heritage, as seen in Soviet-era rhetoric or modern patriotism. For instance, phrases like "гордиться Родиной" (to be proud of the Motherland) carry deep emotional and historical weight, reflecting Russia's emphasis on resilience and communal strength rather than individual accomplishments.

Related Concepts:

• самоуважение (self-respect)
• достоинство (dignity)
• честь (honor)