Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'success'

English Word: success

Key Russian Translations:

• успех (/ʊˈspʲɛx/) - [Formal, General use]
• достижение (/dəsˈtʲiʐənʲjə/) - [Formal, Often in contexts of achievement or accomplishment]

Frequency: High - This word is commonly used in everyday Russian conversation, media, and literature.

Difficulty: A2 - Basic level for learners, as it involves straightforward vocabulary and simple grammar structures.

Pronunciation (Russian):

успех: /ʊˈspʲɛx/ - The stress is on the second syllable; the 'х' is pronounced like a soft 'h' in English.

Note on успех: Be mindful of the palatalized 'с' which can be tricky for English speakers; it's softer than in English words like "success".

достижение: /dəsˈtʲiʐənʲjə/ - Stress on the third syllable; the 'ж' sound is similar to the 's' in "measure".

Note on достижение: This word has a more emphatic pronunciation in formal settings, with clear separation of syllables.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Achievement of a goal or positive outcome

Translation(s) & Context:

• успех - Used in general contexts for personal or professional accomplishments, such as in business or daily life.
• достижение - Applied in more formal or motivational contexts, emphasizing effort and results.

Usage Examples:

• Его успех в бизнесе вдохновил многих. (His success in business inspired many.)

  English: His success in business inspired many. (This example shows 'успех' in a professional context.)

• После долгих тренировок она наконец достигла успеха в спорте. (After long training sessions, she finally achieved success in sports.)

  English: After long training sessions, she finally achieved success in sports. (Here, 'успех' is used with verbs to indicate progression.)

• Это достижение открыло новые возможности для команды. (This achievement opened new opportunities for the team.)

  English: This achievement opened new opportunities for the team. (Demonstrates 'достижение' in a team or collective context.)

• Успех приходит к тем, кто не сдаётся. (Success comes to those who don't give up.)

  English: Success comes to those who don't give up. (This proverb-like sentence highlights 'успех' in motivational language.)

2. Positive result or favorable outcome in specific events

Translation(s) & Context:

• успех - Common in everyday scenarios, like exams or social events.

Usage Examples:

• Экзамен закончился полным успехом. (The exam ended in complete success.)

  English: The exam ended in complete success. (Illustrates 'успех' with adjectives for emphasis.)

• Мы желаем вам успеха в новых начинаниях. (We wish you success in your new endeavors.)

  English: We wish you success in your new endeavors. (Shows 'успех' in idiomatic expressions.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'успех' and 'достижение' are masculine nouns in Russian, which means they follow standard noun declension patterns. 'Успех' is a third-declension noun and inflects irregularly in some cases, while 'достижение' is more regular.

Note: 'Успех' has a plural form 'успехи' for multiple successes, which is common in narratives. 'Достижение' follows a more predictable pattern for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • успех - Similar to 'победа' (victory), but 'победа' implies a more competitive context.
  • достижение - Synonymous with 'результат' (result), often used interchangeably in achievement-focused scenarios.
• Antonyms:
  • неудача (/nʲɪʊˈdafə/) - Failure, directly opposite in meaning.
  • провал (/prɐˈval/) - Defeat or flop, used in more dramatic contexts.

Related Phrases:

• Пожелать успеха - Wish success; used in greetings or encouragements. (e.g., Before an exam.)
• Ключ к успеху - Key to success; a common motivational phrase. (e.g., In self-help contexts.)
• Достичь успеха - Achieve success; implies effort leading to results. (e.g., In personal development.)

Usage Notes:

'Успех' directly corresponds to the English 'success' in most contexts, but it's more versatile in Russian and can be used formally or informally. Choose 'достижение' for emphasis on tangible achievements. Be aware of case agreements; for example, in phrases like 'в успехе' (in success), it must match the sentence structure. English learners often prefer 'успех' for everyday use due to its simplicity.

• In formal writing, pair it with verbs like 'достичь' (to achieve) for precision.
• Avoid overusing in casual speech; Russians might opt for synonyms to vary language.

Common Errors:

One common mistake is incorrect case usage, e.g., saying 'Я видел успех' instead of 'Я видел успех' (correct for accusative), but in genitive contexts like 'ради успеха' (for the sake of success), learners forget to change to 'успеха'. Correct example: Use 'успеха' in genitive. Error: 'Я работаю для успех' (wrong) vs. Correct: 'Я работаю для успеха' – Remember to inflect based on the preposition.

• Another error: Confusing with 'успехи' (plural) when singular is needed, e.g., 'Мой успех' vs. incorrectly saying 'Мои успех' for a single instance.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'успех' often carries connotations of personal resilience and collective achievement, especially in post-Soviet contexts where it symbolizes overcoming historical challenges. For instance, in literature like Tolstoy's works, success is tied to moral and social themes rather than just material gains.

Related Concepts:

• амбиция (ambition)
• мотивация (motivation)
• прогресс (progress)