Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'revel'

English Word: revel

Key Russian Translations:

• весели́ться [vʲɪsʲɪˈlʲit͡sə] - [Informal, often used in everyday contexts for enjoying oneself]
• праздновать [prɐznɐˈvatʲ] - [Formal, typically for organized celebrations]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are commonly encountered in conversational Russian, especially in social or festive contexts, but not as frequent as basic verbs like 'to be' or 'to go').

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; learners at this level should grasp the basic conjugations, but mastering nuances in usage may require further practice. For 'весели́ться', it's B1; for 'праздновать', it's A2 due to its regularity.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

весели́ться: [vʲɪsʲɪˈlʲit͡sə]

праздновать: [prɐznɐˈvatʲ]

Note on весели́ться: This is a reflexive verb, so the stress falls on the '-и́-' syllable; be careful with the soft 'л' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. Variations in regional accents may alter vowel length.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To take great pleasure in something, often in a lively or festive way (Verb form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• весели́ться - Used in informal settings, such as parties or casual gatherings, to describe enjoying oneself without restraint.
• праздновать - Applied in more formal or structured events, like holidays, where celebration is organized.

Usage Examples:

• Они весели́лись всю ночь на вечеринке. (They reveled all night at the party.)

  English Translation: They enjoyed themselves wildly throughout the night at the party.

• Дети весели́лись в парке, играя в игры. (The children reveled in the park, playing games.)

  English Translation: The children had a great time in the park, engaging in playful activities.

• Мы праздновали Новый год, веселясь до утра. (We reveled in the New Year celebrations until morning.)

  English Translation: We celebrated the New Year with joy and festivities until the morning.

• После экзамена студенты решили весели́ться в кафе. (After the exam, the students decided to revel at the cafe.)

  English Translation: After the exam, the students chose to have fun and relax at the cafe.

Meaning 2: A wild or joyous celebration (Noun form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• веселье - Informal context, referring to general merriment or fun.
• пир - More formal or historical context, implying a feast or grand celebration.

Usage Examples:

• Это было настоящее веселье с музыкой и танцами. (It was a true revel with music and dancing.)

  English Translation: It was a genuine celebration filled with music and dancing.

• На пиру все гости весели́лись до поздней ночи. (At the revel, all guests enjoyed themselves until late at night.)

  English Translation: At the festive gathering, everyone had a great time until late at night.

• Веселье на свадьбе продолжалось несколько дней. (The revel at the wedding lasted for several days.)

  English Translation: The joyous celebration at the wedding went on for several days.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'весели́ться' and 'праздновать' are verbs, so they follow Russian verb conjugation patterns. 'Весели́ться' is a reflexive verb (ending in '-ся'), which means it requires the reflexive particle in various forms. 'Праздновать' is a regular first-conjugation verb.

Note: These verbs do not have irregular forms, making them relatively straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • весели́ться: развлекаться (razvlekat'sya) - More playful, often involves entertainment.
  • праздновать: отмечать (otmechat') - Similar but can be less formal.
• Antonyms: грустить (grustit') - To be sad; скучать (skuchat') - To be bored.

Related Phrases:

• Весели́ться от души - To revel wholeheartedly; used to describe uninhibited enjoyment.
• Праздновать победу - To celebrate a victory; common in sports or achievements contexts.
• Веселье на полную катушку - To party to the fullest; an idiomatic expression for intense reveling.

Usage Notes:

'Revel' as a verb closely aligns with 'весели́ться' in informal English-Russian contexts, but 'праздновать' is better for structured events. Be mindful of the reflexive nature of 'весели́ться', which requires the '-ся' particle; this is a common feature in Russian for actions directed at oneself. In formal writing, opt for 'праздновать' to match a more polished tone. When choosing between translations, consider the setting: informal social gatherings favor 'весели́ться', while official celebrations suit 'праздновать'.

Common Errors:

• English learners often forget the reflexive particle in 'весели́ться', saying "веселить" instead, which means "to amuse others" rather than "to enjoy oneself." Correct usage: Use "весели́ться" for personal enjoyment. Example of error: *Я веселить на вечеринке* (Wrong: I amuse at the party) vs. Correct: Я весели́юсь на вечеринке (I am reveling at the party).
• Confusing 'праздновать' with 'отмечать', where 'отмечать' is more neutral; this can lead to understatement in festive contexts. Explanation: Always use 'праздновать' for events with joy and celebration to convey the full sense of 'revel'.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'весели́ться' is often associated with traditional festivals like Maslenitsa or New Year's Eve, where communal joy and feasting play a central role. This reflects Russia's emphasis on collective celebrations, differing from more individualistic Western practices, and can evoke a sense of national identity through shared merriment.

Related Concepts:

• праздник (holiday)
• весна (spring, often linked to seasonal revels)
• гости (guests, as in social gatherings)