Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'snob'

English Word: snob

Key Russian Translations:

• сноб [/snob/] - [Formal, Literary]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in discussions of culture, society, or criticism, but not in everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; as a borrowed word from English, it requires familiarity with Russian phonetics and social contexts)

Pronunciation (Russian):

сноб: /snob/

Note on сноб: This word is pronounced similarly to its English origin, with stress on the first syllable. It may vary slightly in regional accents, such as in Moscow vs. St. Petersburg dialects, where the 'o' sound can be more rounded.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A person who has an exaggerated respect for high social status, culture, or exclusivity, often looking down on others.

Translation(s) & Context:

• сноб - Used in formal, literary, or critical contexts to describe someone with pretentious attitudes toward culture or social class; common in media or intellectual discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Он настоящий сноб, который презирает всё, что не является классическим искусством.

  He is a real snob who despises everything that isn't classical art.

• В этом клубе собрались одни снобы, обсуждающие вина и оперу.

  In this club, only snobs gather to discuss wines and opera.

• Её снобизм проявляется в том, как она относится к модным тенденциям.

  Her snobbery shows in how she treats fashion trends.

• Сноб из большого города высмеивает простые радости сельской жизни.

  The snob from the big city mocks the simple pleasures of rural life.

• Иногда снобизм маскируется под культурную осведомлённость.

  Sometimes snobbery is disguised as cultural awareness.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"сноб" is a masculine noun (мужской род) borrowed from English, and it follows standard Russian declension patterns for nouns ending in a consonant. It is inflected based on case and number, but it does not have irregular forms.

Note: As a modern borrowed word, it doesn't have archaic or dialectal variations, making it relatively straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: элитист (elitist; implies a focus on exclusivity), снобист (snobbish; a more casual variant)
• Antonyms: простолюдин (commoner; refers to someone from the lower classes), демократичный человек (democratic person; implies openness and equality)

Explanation: "Элитист" often highlights intellectual or social elitism, while "снобист" is a diminutive form that can soften the tone in informal contexts.

Related Phrases:

• Высший снобизм - Meaning: The height of snobbery; used to describe extreme pretentiousness in cultural or social attitudes.
• Снобский вкус - Meaning: Snobbish taste; refers to preferences that are overly refined or exclusive.
• Культурный сноб - Meaning: Cultural snob; specifically for someone who judges based on cultural knowledge.

Usage Notes:

This word directly corresponds to the English "snob" as a borrowed term, often carrying a derogatory connotation in Russian. It is typically used in formal or written contexts, such as literature, journalism, or social commentary, rather than casual speech. When choosing between translations like "сноб" and "элитист", opt for "сноб" if the emphasis is on social pretension; be mindful of grammatical agreement, as it must align with Russian case and gender rules. In spoken Russian, it might be softened in polite conversations to avoid offense.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "сноб" without proper declension, e.g., saying "Я встретил сноб" instead of "Я встретил сноба" in accusative case. Correct: Always decline based on context, as in "Я видел сноба на вечеринке" (I saw a snob at the party). Explanation: English speakers often forget Russian's case system, leading to grammatical errors.

• Error: Confusing it with similar words like "сnob" (a misspelling) or using it interchangeably with "элитный" (elite). Correct: "сноб" specifically implies negative judgment, while "элитный" is neutral. Explanation: This can alter the intended meaning, making the speaker sound imprecise or unintentionally complimentary.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "сноб" often evokes images of intellectuals or urban elites from the Soviet era or post-Soviet times who prioritize Western influences over traditional Russian values. It can carry historical undertones related to class struggles, as seen in 19th-century literature by authors like Chekhov, where snobbery is critiqued as a facade for insecurity.

Related Concepts:

• элита (elite)
• аристократ (aristocrat)
• презрение (contempt)