Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'abnormal'

English Word: abnormal

Key Russian Translations:

• ненормальный [nʲɪnɐrˈmalʲnɨj] - [Formal/Informal, Adjective]
• аномальный [ɐnɐˈmalʲnɨj] - [Formal, Scientific/Technical, Adjective]
• необычный [nʲɪɐˈbɨtʃnɨj] - [Neutral, Adjective, Often implies "unusual"]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in specific contexts like medicine or science)

Difficulty: B1-B2 (Intermediate; varies by translation - "ненормальный" is B1, "аномальный" is B2)

Pronunciation (Russian):

ненормальный: [nʲɪnɐrˈmalʲnɨj]

Note on ненормальный: Stress on the second syllable ("nor"). The "р" is rolled slightly.

аномальный: [ɐnɐˈmalʲnɨj]

Note on аномальный: Stress on the third syllable ("mal"). The initial "а" is unstressed and sounds like a schwa.

необычный: [nʲɪɐˈbɨtʃnɨj]

Note on необычный: Stress on the second syllable ("bych"). The "ч" is a soft sound, like "ch" in "church".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Deviating from the norm (general sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ненормальный - Used for describing behavior, situations, or conditions that are not standard or expected (can have a negative connotation).
• необычный - Often used for something unusual or out of the ordinary, with a neutral or positive tone.

Usage Examples:

• Его поведение кажется ненормальным.

  His behavior seems abnormal.

• Это ненормально, что он так кричит.

  It’s abnormal for him to shout like that.

• У неё необычный стиль одежды.

  She has an abnormal (unusual) style of clothing.

2. Scientifically or medically irregular

Translation(s) & Context:

• аномальный - Used in formal, scientific, or medical contexts to describe irregularities or deviations (e.g., abnormal weather, abnormal cells).

Usage Examples:

• Аномальная жара накрыла регион.

  Abnormal heat has covered the region.

• Врачи обнаружили аномальные клетки.

  Doctors found abnormal cells.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

ненормальный (Adjective): Declines according to gender, number, and case, following standard adjective patterns in Russian.

Case	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Plural
Nominative	ненормальный	ненормальная	ненормальное	ненормальные
Genitive	ненормального	ненормальной	ненормального	ненормальных

(Note: Full declension table for other cases follows a similar pattern.)

аномальный (Adjective): Follows the same declension rules as "ненормальный".

необычный (Adjective): Also declines as a standard adjective with similar patterns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for ненормальный:

• странный (strange)
• ненатуральный (unnatural)

Note: "странный" is more colloquial and can imply "weird"; "ненатуральный" often refers to artificiality.

Antonyms for ненормальный:

• нормальный (normal)
• обычный (usual)

Related Phrases:

• ненормальное поведение - Abnormal behavior
• аномальные явления - Abnormal phenomena (often used in scientific contexts)
• необычный случай - An abnormal (unusual) case

Usage Notes:

• "ненормальный" often carries a negative connotation and is used for behaviors or situations perceived as wrong or problematic. Avoid using it lightly as it may sound judgmental.
• "аномальный" is more neutral and formal, suitable for scientific or technical discussions.
• "необычный" is the safest choice when describing something simply as "unusual" without a negative implication.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "ненормальный" in a neutral context where "необычный" would be more appropriate. For example, saying "Это ненормальный подарок" (This is an abnormal gift) might imply something negative, whereas "Это необычный подарок" (This is an unusual gift) is neutral or positive.
• Error: Misplacing stress in pronunciation (e.g., stressing the wrong syllable in "аномальный"). Correct stress is crucial for clarity.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, labeling something or someone as "ненормальный" can be quite strong and may imply a social or moral judgment. It’s often used in heated or emotional contexts, so English speakers should be cautious and consider the tone and context before using it.

Related Concepts:

• странный (strange)
• ненатуральный (unnatural)
• патологический (pathological)