Thread: Forever

In meaning, usage, or nuance, is there any difference between the adverbs: вовеки, всегда,
навсегда, и вечно?

По значению, употреблению, или оттенку, есть ли какая-нибудь разница между
наречиями: вовеки, всегда, навсегда, и вечно?



Feel free to correct my mistakes.
Будьте вольны исправлять мои ошибки.

Since nobody replay, then I try to. And I would say "yes". These words are definetily slightly different from each other. Full-size expanation is something above my knowledge and writing skill. BTW here is my short example: you can say "ты всегда опаздываешь" or "ты вечно опаздываешь" (kind of more pathetic), but you absolutely cannot say "ты навсегда опаздываешь" or "ты вовеки опаздываешь". The word "вовеки" is seriosly outdated/ancient and appropriate only somethere in fairy tales or historical texts.

Originally Posted by mudrets

In meaning, usage, or nuance, is there any difference between the adverbs: вовеки, всегда,
навсегда, и вечно?

"Всегда" means "always". "Навсегда" means "forever", that is "always from a given point in time". "Вовеки" is a high style alternative for "навсегда". It literary means "for all remaining ages" (во веки) or "for full remaining lifetime". "Вечно" means "eternally" in the standard language. It is used to describe a very long period of time and is stronger then "всегда". I mean it can be used to emphasize the eternity: "потомки будут вечно помнить подвиг героев". In informal speech it can be also used instead of "всегда": "ты вечно опаздываешь".

Originally Posted by kmisoft

(kind of more pathetic)

kmisoft, the word "pathetic" is a translator's false friend.

Thank you for correction. I am not a translator nor a linguist. I am just a mere computer programmer