Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'triumph'

English Word: triumph

Key Russian Translations:

• триумф [trʲiˈumf] - [Formal, used in contexts of grand victory or achievement]
• успех [uˈspʲex] - [Informal, when emphasizing personal or general success]

Frequency: Medium - Commonly encountered in formal writing, literature, and historical discussions, but less frequent in everyday casual speech.

Difficulty: B2 - Intermediate level, as it involves understanding nuanced vocabulary and basic noun inflections; for "успех", it may vary slightly but remains B2 due to its common usage.

Pronunciation (Russian):

триумф: [trʲiˈumf]

Note on триумф: The stress falls on the second syllable; the 'р' is rolled, which can be challenging for English speakers. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

успех: [uˈspʲex]

Note on успех: The 'ш' sound is a soft palatal fricative; it's straightforward but requires attention to the soft sign (ь) for correct articulation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A great victory, achievement, or success in a challenging endeavor

Translation(s) & Context:

• триумф - Used in formal or historical contexts, such as celebrating major accomplishments or events, e.g., in sports, politics, or arts.
• успех - Applied in more everyday or informal situations, emphasizing positive outcomes without the grandeur of "триумф".

Usage Examples:

• Русский: Этот матч стал настоящим триумфом для российской сборной по футболу.

  English: This match was a real triumph for the Russian national football team.

• Русский: После многих лет работы, его книга стала большим успехом в издательском мире.

  English: After many years of work, his book became a great success in the publishing world.

• Русский: Триумф революции 1917 года изменил ход истории России.

  English: The triumph of the 1917 revolution changed the course of Russian history.

• Русский: Её выступление на концерте было не просто успехом, а настоящим триумфом.

  English: Her performance at the concert was not just a success, but a true triumph.

• Русский: Несмотря на трудности, их совместный успех в бизнесе стал триумфом над обстоятельствами.

  English: Despite the difficulties, their joint success in business was a triumph over circumstances.

Meaning 2: A state of joy or exultation following a victory

Translation(s) & Context:

• триумф - Often used metaphorically in emotional or celebratory contexts, such as personal milestones.
• успех - Less emotional, more neutral, in contexts of daily achievements.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: В тот момент она почувствовала триумф, поднимаясь на пьедестал.

  English: At that moment, she felt triumph as she stepped onto the podium.

• Русский: Его успех в переговорах принес команде долгожданный триумф.

  English: His success in the negotiations brought the team a long-awaited triumph.

• Русский: Триумф победы был омрачен последствиями.

  English: The triumph of victory was overshadowed by the consequences.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"триумф" is a masculine noun of the first declension, which follows standard patterns for Russian nouns. It has regular inflections for cases and numbers. "успех" is also a masculine noun but can be invariable in some contexts due to its abstract nature.

Note: Both words are invariable in gender but change according to case and number as shown. "успех" is more commonly used in singular forms in everyday speech.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • победа (pobeda) - More general term for victory, often interchangeable but less grandiose.
  • достижение (dostizheniye) - Emphasizes achievement, suitable for professional contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • поражение (porazheniye) - Direct opposite, meaning defeat.
  • неудача (neudacha) - Failure, especially in informal settings.

Related Phrases:

• триумфальный марш (triumphed march) - A ceremonial procession celebrating victory; used in historical or military contexts.
• большой успех (big success) - Refers to a significant achievement; common in business or personal development.
• триумф воли (triumph of the will) - A phrase with historical connotations, often from philosophy or film; implies overcoming obstacles through determination.

Usage Notes:

"Триумф" directly corresponds to the English "triumph" in formal or epic contexts, such as historical events, while "успех" aligns more with everyday successes. Use "триумф" for dramatic emphasis and "успех" in neutral descriptions. Be mindful of Russian's case system when integrating these words into sentences—e.g., always decline according to the sentence structure. In formal writing, "триумф" is preferred over "успех" for its elevated tone, but in spoken language, "успех" is more versatile and less likely to sound overly dramatic.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "триумф" in casual conversations where "успех" would be more appropriate, e.g., saying "Это был триумф на экзамене" instead of "Это был успех на экзамене".
  Correct: "Это был успех на экзамене" – Explanation: "Триумф" implies a grand scale, which can sound exaggerated in minor contexts.
• Mistake: Forgetting to decline the noun, e.g., saying "в триумф" instead of "в триумфе".
  Correct: "в триумфе" – Explanation: Russian requires prepositional case for locations or states, so always check the case based on the preposition.
• Mistake: Confusing with English pronunciation, e.g., pronouncing "триумф" as [try-umf] without the rolled 'r'.
  Correct: [trʲiˈumf] – Explanation: This can lead to misunderstandings; practice the Russian 'р' sound for accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

"Триумф" often evokes images of Russian historical events, such as the Soviet triumphs in World War II or cultural victories in literature and sports. In Russian culture, it carries a sense of collective pride and resilience, reflecting the nation's history of overcoming adversity, as seen in works like Tolstoy's novels or state celebrations.

Related Concepts:

• победа
• достижение
• прогресс