Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'successful'

English Word: successful

Key Russian Translations:

• успешный /ʊˈspʲeʂ.nɨj/ - [Formal, General use]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday language, business, and media contexts).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjectives and basic sentence structures).

Pronunciation (Russian):

успешный: /ʊˈspʲeʂ.nɨj/

Note on успешный: The stress falls on the second syllable (/ˈspʲeʂ/). Be mindful of the palatalized 'ш' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers; it’s similar to 'sh' in 'she' but softer.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Achieving success, favorable outcome, or prosperity (as an adjective describing people, events, or endeavors).

Translation(s) & Context:

• успешный - Used in formal and informal contexts to describe something that has led to positive results, such as a career or project.

Usage Examples:

• Он очень успешный бизнесмен, который основал несколько компаний.

  He is a very successful businessman who founded several companies.

• Эта конференция была успешной благодаря отличной организации.

  This conference was successful due to excellent organization.

• Успешный студент всегда планирует своё время эффективно.

  A successful student always plans their time effectively.

• Её успешная карьера в науке вдохновляет многих молодых людей.

  Her successful career in science inspires many young people.

• Успешный исход переговоров зависит от взаимного доверия.

  The successful outcome of negotiations depends on mutual trust.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

успешный is an adjective in Russian, which means it inflects based on gender, number, and case. It follows the standard pattern for first-declension adjectives (short form exists but is less common). Below is a table of its main forms:

Note: This adjective does not have irregular forms, making it relatively straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • удачный (udachnyy) - More casual, often implies good fortune or suitability.
  • преуспевающий (preuspevaushchiy) - Emphasizes ongoing success, especially in business.
• Antonyms:
  • неудачный (neudachnyy) - Unsuccessful or unfortunate.
  • провальный (provainyy) - Completely failed, often used for events or projects.

Related Phrases:

• успешный бизнес (uspeshnyy biznes) - Successful business; refers to a thriving enterprise.
• успешная карьера (uspeshnaya kar'yera) - Successful career; common in professional contexts.
• успешный исход (uspeshnyy iskhod) - Successful outcome; used in negotiations or projects.

Usage Notes:

успешный directly corresponds to "successful" in English but is more commonly used in formal writing, business discussions, or motivational contexts in Russian. It agrees in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies, so always check the noun's form (e.g., успешный for masculine singular). In informal speech, synonyms like удачный might be preferred for a lighter tone. When choosing between translations, use успешный for long-term achievements and удачный for immediate, fortunate results.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using the wrong gender or case, e.g., saying "успешный женщина" instead of "успешная женщина" (successful woman).

  Correct: успешная женщина. Explanation: Adjectives must agree with the noun's gender; here, женщина is feminine.

• Error: Confusing with similar words like "успех" (success, a noun), leading to misuse in sentences.

  Correct: Use успешный as an adjective, e.g., "успешный проект" not "успех проект". Explanation: "успех" is a noun and cannot directly modify another noun without proper linking.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like успешный often carry connotations of personal achievement and resilience, influenced by historical emphasis on collective success in Soviet times. Today, it's frequently used in media to discuss economic prosperity, reflecting Russia's modern focus on individualism in business and education.

Related Concepts:

• успех (uspekh) - Success (noun)
• достижение (dostizheniye) - Achievement
• прогресс (progress) - Progress