Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'swagger'

English Word: swagger

Key Russian Translations:

• самоуверенная походка [sɐmuˈuvʲɪrʲɪnəjə pəˈxɔdkə] - [Informal, Noun, Used in descriptive contexts like literature or everyday observations]
• хвастаться [xvɐˈstatʲsə] - [Informal, Verb, Used to describe boastful behavior or actions]

Frequency: Medium - The term is not among the most common everyday words but appears in narratives, media, or discussions about personality traits.

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) - Requires understanding of nuanced vocabulary and basic Russian grammar; for "самоуверенная походка," it's straightforward, but "хвастаться" involves verb conjugation, which may vary slightly in difficulty for learners.

Pronunciation (Russian):

самоуверенная походка: [sɐmuˈuvʲɪrʲɪnəjə pəˈxɔdkə]

Note on самоуверенная походка: The stress falls on the third syllable of "самоуверенная," which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft consonants; practice with native audio for accurate intonation.

хвастаться: [xvɐˈstatʲsə]

Note on хвастаться: This is a verb with a soft 'т' sound; the infinitive form is standard, but conjugated forms alter pronunciation slightly.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A confident and arrogant manner of walking or carrying oneself (Noun form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• самоуверенная походка - Used in informal or literary contexts to describe someone walking with exaggerated confidence, often implying arrogance.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда входит в комнату с самоуверенной походкой, как будто владеет всем миром.

  He always enters the room with a swagger, as if he owns the whole world.

• Её самоуверенная походка привлекала внимание на улицах города.

  Her swagger drew attention on the city streets.

• В фильме главный герой демонстрирует самоуверенную походку, чтобы показать свою власть.

  In the movie, the main character shows a swagger to display his power.

• После победы в соревновании, его самоуверенная походка стала ещё заметнее.

  After winning the competition, his swagger became even more noticeable.

Meaning 2: To behave in a boastful or arrogant manner (Verb form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• хвастаться - Used in everyday conversations to describe someone bragging or showing off, often in informal settings.

Usage Examples:

• Он любит хвастаться своими достижениями на работе.

  He loves to swagger about his work achievements.

• Дети иногда хвастаются новыми игрушками, чтобы привлечь внимание друзей.

  Kids sometimes swagger with their new toys to get their friends' attention.

• Не стоит хвастаться богатством; это может оттолкнуть людей.

  Don't swagger about your wealth; it might push people away.

• Она хвастается своими путешествиями, но никто не знает, насколько это правда.

  She swaggers about her travels, but no one knows how true it is.

• В компании он начал хвастаться, чтобы поднять свой статус.

  In the group, he started to swagger to boost his status.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "самоуверенная походка" (feminine noun):

This is a feminine noun in the nominative singular form. Russian nouns inflect for case, number, and gender. "Походка" follows the first declension pattern for feminine nouns ending in -a.

For "хвастаться" (verb, imperfective):

This is an imperfective verb that conjugates irregularly in some aspects. It follows the first conjugation pattern. Below is a basic present tense conjugation:

Note: The verb is invariable in terms of aspect but can form perfective pairs like "похвастаться" for completed actions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: надменность (arrogance, with a focus on haughtiness), хвастовство (boasting, similar to swaggering behavior) - "надменность" is more formal and implies superiority.
• Antonyms: скромность (modesty, the opposite of boastful behavior)

Related Phrases:

• Хвастаться своими успехами - To brag about one's successes; used in casual conversations to warn against excessive pride.
• Идти с надменной походкой - To walk with an arrogant stride; common in literary descriptions to depict character traits.
• Самоуверенная манера поведения - A swaggering manner of behavior; often used in psychological or social contexts.

Usage Notes:

"Swagger" in English often carries a negative connotation of overconfidence, which aligns closely with "самоуверенная походка" or "хвастаться" in Russian. Use "самоуверенная походка" for physical descriptions and "хвастаться" for actions. Be mindful of context: in formal Russian, opt for more neutral terms like "надменность" to avoid sounding colloquial. When conjugating verbs like "хвастаться," ensure agreement with subject gender and number. For English learners, choose "хвастаться" over other synonyms when the emphasis is on ongoing behavior, as in imperfective aspects.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "хвастаться" with "хвастать" (a less common or incorrect form). Correct: Use "хвастаться" as the proper infinitive; for example, incorrect: "Он хвастать." Correct: "Он хвастается." Explanation: "Хвастаться" is reflexive and requires the -ся ending for proper usage in Russian.

• Error: Overusing in formal contexts. Correct: In business or academic settings, replace with "демонстрировать уверенность" instead of "хвастаться" to avoid sounding unprofessional. Explanation: English learners might directly translate "swagger" without considering Russian's emphasis on register.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "хвастаться" is often viewed negatively, associated with the Soviet-era emphasis on modesty (e.g., in literature like Chekhov's works). It contrasts with Western individualism, where swagger might be seen as assertive. Understanding this can help English speakers navigate social interactions in Russia, where humility is prized.

Related Concepts:

• надменность
• скромность
• самоуверенность