Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'virile'

English Word: virile

Key Russian Translations:

• мужественный [muʐɨˈʂtʲvʲɪn̪ɨj] - [Formal, Literary; Used to describe masculine strength or courage]
• сильный [ˈsʲilʲnɨj] - [Informal; Used in everyday contexts for physical or energetic strength, though less specifically masculine]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literary, formal, or cultural discussions but not in casual everyday speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; Requires understanding of Russian adjectives and their inflections, with some nuance in cultural connotations)

Pronunciation (Russian):

мужественный: [muʐɨˈʂtʲvʲɪn̪ɨj]

сильный: [ˈsʲilʲnɨj]

Note on мужественный: The 'ж' sound (like 'zh' in 'measure') can be tricky for beginners; stress on the third syllable. Variations in fast speech may soften the consonants.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary meaning: Strong, energetic, and masculine, often implying physical vigor or sexual potency

Translation(s) & Context:

• мужественный - Used in formal or literary contexts to emphasize heroic or manly qualities, such as in historical or motivational texts.
• сильный - Applied in more general or informal settings for strength, but can imply virility when describing men.

Usage Examples:

• Его мужественный характер помог ему преодолеть трудности. (Yego muzhestvennyy kharakter pomog yemu preodolett' trudnosti.)

  His virile character helped him overcome difficulties.

• В этом фильме главный герой показан как сильный и мужественный воин. (V etom fil'me glavnıy geroy pokazan kak sil'nyy i muzhestvennyy voyin.)

  In this film, the main hero is portrayed as a strong and virile warrior.

• Она восхищается его сильным телосложением, которое выглядит мужественным. (Ona voskhishchayetsya yego sil'nym teloslozheniyem, kotoroye vyglyadit muzhestvennym.)

  She admires his virile physique, which looks strong and masculine.

• Мужественный лидер всегда вдохновляет команду на новые свершения. (Muzhestvennyy lider vsegda vdokhnovlyayet komandu na novyye sversheniya.)

  A virile leader always inspires the team to new achievements.

• Сильный мужчина должен быть не только физически крепким, но и мужественным в решениях. (Sil'nyy muzhchina dolzhen byt' ne tol'ko fizicheski krepkim, no i muzhestvennym v resheniyakh.)

  A virile man should be not only physically strong but also resolute in his decisions.

Secondary meaning: Related to fertility or reproductive capability (e.g., in medical contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• вирильный (rare borrowed term) - Used in scientific or medical discussions, but less common in everyday Russian.

Usage Examples:

• В медицинских текстах часто обсуждается вирильный потенциал. (V meditsinskikh tekstakh chasto obsuzhdayetsya viril'nyy potentsial.)

  In medical texts, virile potential is often discussed.

• Мужественный аспект здоровья включает вирильные функции. (Muzhestvennyy aspekt zdorov'ya vkljuchaet viril'nyye funktsii.)

  The virile aspect of health includes reproductive functions.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. "Мужественный" follows standard first-declension adjective patterns, while "Сильный" is also a standard adjective with regular inflections.

Note: These adjectives are regular and do not have irregular forms, making them straightforward for learners once basic declension rules are understood.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • смелый (smelyy) - Brave; often interchangeable in contexts of courage.
  • отважный (otvazhnyy) - Courageous; implies boldness with a slight heroic connotation.
• Antonyms:
  • слабый (slabyy) - Weak; directly contrasts physical or mental strength.
  • трусливый (truslivyy) - Cowardly; opposes the masculine bravery aspect.

Related Phrases:

• мужественный дух (muzhestvennyy dukh) - Manly spirit; Refers to inner strength and resilience in challenging situations.
• сильный характер (sil'nyy kharakter) - Strong character; Describes someone with virile determination and fortitude.
• мужественный поступок (muzhestvennyy postupok) - Virile act; Used for heroic deeds, often in literature or history.

Usage Notes:

"Мужественный" is a more precise translation for 'virile' in contexts emphasizing masculinity, such as in literature or cultural discussions, while "сильный" is broader and can be used interchangeably with 'strong' in everyday language. Be cautious with gender implications, as Russian adjectives must agree with the noun they modify. For English speakers, avoid direct word-for-word translation; instead, choose based on context—use "мужественный" for formal or emotional scenarios and "сильный" for physical ones. Grammar note: Always inflect the adjective to match the noun's case, number, and gender.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "мужественный" without proper inflection, e.g., saying "мужественный женщина" instead of "мужественная женщина".
  Correct: "Мужественная женщина" (A virile woman).
  Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree in gender; this error stems from English's lack of gender agreement.
• Mistake: Confusing with "мужской" (male), leading to overuse in non-gender contexts, e.g., "мужской человек" for 'virile person'.
  Correct: Use "мужественный" for qualities, not just gender.
  Explanation: "Мужской" means 'male' literally, so it doesn't capture the energetic aspect of 'virile'.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "мужественный" often carry connotations of historical heroism, as seen in literature (e.g., Tolstoy's characters) or wartime narratives. It reflects traditional values of masculinity, where physical and moral strength are idealized, but modern usage may critique gender stereotypes in progressive contexts.

Related Concepts:

• сила (sila) - Strength
• смелость (smelost') - Courage
• мужчина (muzhchina) - Man