Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'worthy'

English Word: worthy

Key Russian Translations:

• достойный [dɐˈstoj.nɨj] - [Formal, Adjective]
• заслуживающий [zɐˈsluʐɨ.vajuʂʲɪj] - [Informal, often in spoken contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in formal writing and discussions, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective declensions and context-dependent usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

достойный: [dɐˈstoj.nɨj] (Stress on the second syllable; the 'ы' sound is a subtle, centralized vowel)

заслуживающий: [zɐˈsluʐɨ.vajuʂʲɪj] (Note the soft 'ж' sound, which can be challenging for beginners)

Note on достойный: This word has palatalization in certain forms, making the 'н' sound softer before vowels.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Deserving of respect or admiration (e.g., morally or ethically worthy)

Translation(s) & Context:

• достойный - Used in formal contexts, such as describing people or actions in literature or speeches.
• заслуживающий - Applied in everyday situations, like praising someone's efforts informally.

Usage Examples:

• Он достойный человек, всегда помогает другим.

  He is a worthy person, always helping others.

• Эта награда для тех, кто заслуживающий похвалы.

  This award is for those who are worthy of praise.

• В истории есть много достойных лидеров, изменивших мир.

  In history, there are many worthy leaders who changed the world.

• Она заслуживающая уважения за свою смелость.

  She is worthy of respect for her bravery.

• Достойный кандидат должен обладать лидерскими качествами.

  A worthy candidate should possess leadership qualities.

Meaning 2: Suitable or adequate for a purpose (e.g., worthy of consideration)

Translation(s) & Context:

• достойный - Often used in professional or academic settings to indicate suitability.
• заслуживающий - Less common here, but can imply earned suitability in informal discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Это достойный план для нашего проекта.

  This is a worthy plan for our project.

• Заслуживающий внимания фильм был показан на фестивале.

  A worthy film was shown at the festival.

• Достойный ответ на вопрос ожидается от эксперта.

  A worthy response to the question is expected from the expert.

• Его идея достойная, но требует доработки.

  His idea is worthy but needs refinement.

• Заслуживающий инвестиций проект принесет прибыль.

  A worthy investment project will bring profit.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "достойный" and "заслуживающий" are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Adjectives follow standard patterns for first-declension adjectives.

For "заслуживающий", it follows the same declension pattern as above, but is less commonly used in plural forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • заслуженный (more formal, implying earned status)
  • стоящий (informal, meaning worthwhile or valuable)
• Antonyms:
  • недостойный (not worthy, opposite in moral contexts)
  • незаслуживающий (not deserving, especially in achievement scenarios)

Related Phrases:

• достойный уважения - Worthy of respect (Used to express admiration for someone's character).
• заслуживающий доверия - Worthy of trust (Common in professional or personal relationships).
• достойный внимания - Worthy of attention (Often in reviews or evaluations).

Usage Notes:

"Достойный" is the most direct translation for "worthy" in formal contexts and aligns closely with English usage, while "заслуживающий" emphasizes earned merit and is better for informal or dynamic situations. Be mindful of Russian adjective agreement: always match gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies. For example, use "достойный" for masculine singular nouns. When choosing between translations, opt for "достойный" in written or official language, as it carries a more neutral, elevated tone.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "достойный" without proper declension, e.g., saying "достойный женщина" instead of "достойная женщина". Correct: Always decline the adjective to match the noun's gender and case. Explanation: Russian requires strict agreement, unlike English, which can lead to confusion for learners.

• Error: Confusing with similar words like "достой" (which is not standard); instead, use full forms. Correct: Stick to "достойный". Explanation: "Достой" is archaic or poetic and not commonly used in modern Russian.

• Error: Overusing in casual speech; e.g., saying "заслуживающий" when "хороший" (good) suffices. Correct: Reserve for contexts where merit is emphasized. Explanation: This can make speech sound overly formal or unnatural.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "достойный" often carry a moral or ethical weight, reflecting values from literature (e.g., in works by Tolstoy or Dostoevsky), where worthiness is tied to personal integrity and societal contributions. This can imply a deeper philosophical connotation compared to English, emphasizing communal respect over individual achievement.

Related Concepts:

• уважение (respect)
• заслуга (merit)
• честь (honor)