Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| аплоди́ровать | aplodírovatʹ | |
| приве́тствовать | privétstvovatʹ | |
| поощря́ть | pooščrjátʹ | |
| воодушевля́ть | vooduševljátʹ | |
| подба́дривать | podbádrivatʹ | |
| ликова́ть | likovátʹ | |
| боле́ть | bolétʹ | imperfective |
Russian uses different verbs to express different types of cheering. Use аплоди́ровать for the physical act of clapping hands, боле́ть when rooting for a sports team and воодушевля́ть when you mean to inspire or lift someone's spirits. Other forms include приве́тствовать, поощря́ть, подба́дривать and ликова́ть (to rejoice or exult in victory).
What does it mean word for word?
The verb воодушевля́ть is built from the root дух (spirit) and literally means 'to put spirit into' someone.
Which one should you use?
While аплоди́ровать specifically refers to the physical act of clapping, the other forms may imply vocal cheering or general encouragement. For a more literary or formal tone, ликова́ть can be used to describe a state of intense, triumphant cheering or rejoicing, such as a crowd reacting to a massive victory.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the verb боле́ть to mean 'to cheer for a team', it must be followed by the preposition за and the accusative case.
How do you pronounce it?
aplodírovatʹ
Did you know?
- Russian has a specific noun болельщик for a 'cheerer' or fan, derived from the same root as 'to be sick'. It literally means 'one who suffers' for their team.
- If you want to say you are 'cheering for' a team, you use the verb боле́ть, which also means 'to be sick' or 'to ache'.
- To 'cheer' someone up after they are sad is often expressed as подня́ть настроение, which literally means 'to lift the mood'.
Examples in context
- Зрители начали громко аплоди́ровать.Zriteli nachali gromko aplodirovat'.The audience began to applaud loudly.
- Мы должны аплоди́ровать каждому выступающему.My dolzhny aplodirovat' kazhdomu vystupayushchemu.We should applaud every performer.
- Публика стала аплоди́ровать после концерта.Publika stala aplodirovat' posle kontserta.The public began to applaud after the concert.
Example conversation
Dmitry and Olga are at a small theater after a performance.
- Дмитрий DmitryТы видела, как все начали аплоди́ровать?Ty videla, kak vse nachali aplodirovat'?Did you see how everyone started to applaud?
- Ольга OlgaДа, это было очень красиво, Дмитрий.Da, eto bylo ochen' krasivo, Dmitriy.Yes, it was very beautiful, Dmitry.
- Дмитрий DmitryОльга, актёры заслуживают этих похвал.Ol'ga, aktyory zasluzhivayut etikh pokhval.Olga, the actors deserve this praise.
- Ольга OlgaСогласна, они действительно молодцы.Soglasna, oni deystvitel'no molodtsy.I agree, they really did a great job.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cheer” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
