Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'winner'

English Word: winner

Key Russian Translations:

• победитель /pɐˈbʲedʲɪtʲɛlʲ/ - [Formal, Singular]
• выигравший /vɨˈiɡrəvʂɨj/ - [Informal, Participle form, Used in casual contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in sports, competitions, and everyday discussions, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun declensions and basic verb forms for accurate usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

победитель: /pɐˈbʲedʲɪtʲɛlʲ/

выигравший: /vɨˈiɡrəvʂɨj/

Note on победитель: The stress is on the third syllable; be careful with the palatalized 'дʲ' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: A person who wins a competition, contest, or game.

Translation(s) & Context:

• победитель - Used in formal or neutral contexts, such as sports events or official announcements.
• выигравший - Used in informal settings, often as a participle to describe someone who has just won.

Usage Examples:

• Он стал победителем олимпийских игр. (He became the winner of the Olympic Games.)

  Translation: He became the winner of the Olympic Games.

• Выигравший приз был очень счастлив. (The winner of the prize was very happy.)

  Translation: The winner of the prize was very happy.

• В конкурсе победитель получит награду. (In the competition, the winner will receive a prize.)

  Translation: In the competition, the winner will receive a prize.

• Она — выигравшая в лотерее. (She is the one who won the lottery.)

  Translation: She is the one who won the lottery.

• Победитель матча был награждён кубком. (The winner of the match was awarded the cup.)

  Translation: The winner of the match was awarded the cup.

Secondary Meaning: Someone who is successful or triumphant in a broader sense (e.g., in life or business).

Translation(s) & Context:

• победитель - In metaphorical contexts, such as personal achievements.

Usage Examples:

• В жизни каждый может стать победителем. (In life, anyone can become a winner.)

  Translation: In life, anyone can become a winner.

• Выигравший битву с трудностями заслуживает уважения. (The one who won the battle against difficulties deserves respect.)

  Translation: The one who won the battle against difficulties deserves respect.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

победитель is a masculine noun in Russian, belonging to the first declension. It follows standard noun inflection patterns for case, number, and gender. выигравший is a past active participle and inflects based on its adjectival form.

For выигравший, as a participle, it agrees with the noun it modifies in gender, number, and case (e.g., выигравшая for feminine).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • чемпион (/t͡ɕɪˈmʲpʲɪɐn/ - Often used in sports contexts, similar to 'champion')
  • лауреат (/lɐʊˈrʲɛt/ - For award winners, with a connotation of prestige)
• Antonyms:
  • проигравший (/prəiˈɡrəvʂɨj/ - The one who lost)
  • неудачник (/nʲɪʊˈdat͡ɕnʲɪk/ - Loser or failure, with a broader negative implication)

Related Phrases:

• победитель в борьбе (pobeditel v bor'be) - Winner in the fight; a phrase used for metaphorical struggles.
• выигранный приз (vygzannyj priz) - Won prize; refers to an award obtained through competition.
• стать победителем (stat' pobeditel'em) - To become a winner; commonly used in motivational contexts.

Usage Notes:

победитель directly corresponds to 'winner' in contexts involving competitions, but it carries a more formal tone in Russian. Use выигравший for informal or narrative descriptions. Be mindful of gender agreement in sentences, as Russian nouns must agree with adjectives and verbs. For example, choose between the feminine form выигравшая if referring to a female winner. In business or life contexts, победитель can be metaphorical, similar to English, but it's less common in everyday speech.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using победитель without proper declension, e.g., saying "Я видел победитель" instead of "Я видел победителя" (I saw the winner).

  Correct: Я видел победителя. Explanation: In accusative case, the noun must change to reflect the object of the verb.

• Error: Confusing with similar words like 'победить' (to win), leading to incorrect verb usage.

  Correct: Use победитель as a noun, not as a verb form. For example, don't say "Он победитель" when meaning "He won"; say "Он победил" for the verb.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of a 'winner' is often tied to perseverance and collective success, as seen in historical events like the Great Patriotic War. Terms like победитель evoke national pride, especially in sports or military contexts, reflecting Russia's emphasis on resilience and achievement.

Related Concepts:

• чемпион
• приз
• соревнование