Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'rejoice'

English Word: rejoice

Key Russian Translations:

• радоваться [rɐdəvɐˈtʲat͡ɕ] - [Informal, Verb; Used in everyday expressions of joy]
• ликовать [lʲɪkɐˈvatʲ] - [Formal; Used for more intense, celebratory joy, such as in triumphant contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in daily conversations, literature, and media, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "быть" – to be)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; Requires understanding of verb conjugations. For "радоваться", it's intermediate; for "ликовать", it may be B2 due to its formal nuance.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

радоваться: [rɐdəvɐˈtʲat͡ɕ]

ликовать: [lʲɪkɐˈvatʲ]

Note on радова́ться: The stress falls on the second syllable ("до"), which is a common challenge for English speakers; ensure the soft 'тʲ' sound is pronounced lightly. Variations may occur in dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To feel or show great joy or delight

Translation(s) & Context:

• радоваться - Used in informal, personal contexts to express everyday happiness, such as rejoicing over good news.
• ликовать - Applied in formal or celebratory settings, like national holidays or victories, to convey exultation.

Usage Examples:

• Я радуюсь каждому новому дню.

  I rejoice in every new day. (Simple present tense, showing habitual joy.)

• Дети радуются снегу зимой.

  Children rejoice in the snow in winter. (Plural subject, illustrating joy in seasonal activities.)

• Мы ликуем после победы команды.

  We rejoice after the team's victory. (Formal tone, emphasizing triumphant joy in a group context.)

• Она радуется подаркам от друзей.

  She rejoices in gifts from friends. (Object-focused, showing joy derived from relationships.)

• Люди ликуют на празднике, забывая о повседневных заботах.

  People rejoice at the festival, forgetting everyday worries. (Extended context, contrasting joy with routine life.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are verbs and follow standard Russian conjugation patterns. "Радоваться" is an imperfective verb, while "ликовать" is also imperfective. Russian verbs change based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Below is a table for "радоваться" in the present tense; "ликовать" follows similar patterns but with its own root.

For "ликовать": It conjugates similarly, e.g., Я ликую, Ты ликуешь. These verbs do not have irregular forms in the present tense but require attention to reflexive endings (e.g., -ся in "радоваться").

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Веселиться (to have fun; more playful than deep joy)
  • Торжествовать (to celebrate triumph; similar to ликовать but with a victory focus)
• Antonyms:
  • Грустить (to be sad; directly opposite for emotional states)
  • Огорчаться (to grieve; used for disappointment or sorrow)

Related Phrases:

• Радоваться жизни – To enjoy life (A common phrase emphasizing a positive outlook on daily experiences.)
• Ликовать победе – To rejoice in victory (Used in competitive or achievement contexts, often in sports or history.)
• Радоваться успехам других – To rejoice in others' successes (Promotes empathy and shared happiness in social settings.)

Usage Notes:

"Радоваться" directly corresponds to the informal, everyday sense of "rejoice" in English, making it ideal for casual conversations. Use "ликовать" for more formal or public expressions of joy to avoid sounding overly dramatic in daily speech. Be mindful of reflexive verbs in Russian; "радоваться" always ends in "-ся," which indicates an internal state. When translating, choose based on context: opt for "радоваться" in personal narratives and "ликовать" in celebratory events. Grammatically, ensure subject-verb agreement as shown in the inflections table.

Common Errors:

• English learners often forget the reflexive "-ся" ending, e.g., incorrectly saying "Радовать" instead of "Радоваться." Correct usage: "Радоваться" (to rejoice) – This error stems from direct word-for-word translation; always include "-ся" for reflexive verbs.

• Mixing up with synonyms: Using "ликовать" in casual contexts, like "Я ликую хорошей погоде" (incorrect for everyday joy), when "Я радуюсь хорошей погоде" is more appropriate. Explanation: "Ликовать" implies grandeur, so reserve it for significant events.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "радоваться" often appears in contexts like family gatherings or national holidays (e.g., New Year's), reflecting a value on communal joy and resilience. It's tied to the concept of "душевная радость" (soulful joy), which emphasizes emotional depth over superficial happiness, influenced by Russia's literary traditions in works by authors like Tolstoy.

Related Concepts:

• Счастье (happiness)
• Веселье (fun)
• Торжество (celebration)