Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Abruptly'

English Word: abruptly

Key Russian Translations:

• внезапно [vʲnʲɪˈzapnə] - [Neutral, Common]
• резко [ˈrʲezkə] - [Neutral, Often used for tone or movement]
• неожиданно [nʲɪɐˈʐɨdənə] - [Neutral, Emphasizes unexpectedness]

Frequency: High (All translations are commonly used in everyday speech and writing)

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner to Intermediate; pronunciation and context choice may pose slight challenges)

Pronunciation (Russian):

внезапно: [vʲnʲɪˈzapnə]

Note on внезапно: Stress falls on the second syllable. The initial "в" is pronounced softly with a slight palatalization.

резко: [ˈrʲezkə]

Note on резко: Stress on the first syllable. The "р" is rolled, and "е" is pronounced as a soft "ye".

неожиданно: [nʲɪɐˈʐɨdənə]

Note on неожиданно: Stress on the third syllable. Pay attention to the soft "н" and the vowel reduction in unstressed syllables.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Suddenly (Unexpectedly)

Translation(s) & Context:

• внезапно - Used for sudden actions or events without prior warning.
• неожиданно - Emphasizes the element of surprise, often in emotional or situational contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Он внезапно остановился посреди улицы.

  He abruptly stopped in the middle of the street.

• Неожиданно пошёл сильный дождь.

  It abruptly started raining heavily.

• Внезапно все замолчали, услышав странный звук.

  Everyone abruptly fell silent upon hearing a strange sound.

2. Sharply (Harshly or Quickly in Tone/Movement)

Translation(s) & Context:

• резко - Used for abrupt changes in tone, movement, or behavior, often with a negative connotation.

Usage Examples:

• Она резко ответила на вопрос.

  She replied abruptly to the question.

• Он резко повернулся и ушёл.

  He turned abruptly and left.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All three translations (внезапно, резко, неожиданно) are adverbs and do not inflect in Russian. They remain unchanged regardless of the grammatical context, gender, number, or case of related nouns or pronouns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• вдруг (similar to внезапно, often more colloquial)
• остановочно (less common, similar to резко in specific contexts)

Note: "вдруг" is often used in storytelling to denote suddenness, while "остановочно" is rare and context-specific.

Antonyms:

• постепенно (gradually)
• медленно (slowly)

Related Phrases:

• внезапно исчезнуть - to disappear abruptly
• резко возразить - to object abruptly
• неожиданно для всех - unexpectedly for everyone

Usage Notes:

• While "abruptly" in English can cover both suddenness and harshness, in Russian, the choice between внезапно, резко, and неожиданно depends on the specific nuance. Use внезапно for neutral sudden actions, резко for harsh or sharp tones/movements, and неожиданно to emphasize surprise.
• These adverbs are often placed before the verb in a sentence for emphasis, though word order in Russian is flexible.
• Be mindful of the context, as резко can sometimes imply rudeness or negativity, unlike the other two translations.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using резко in contexts where suddenness (not harshness) is meant. Example: *Он резко пришёл домой* (incorrect, implies harshness). Correct: Он внезапно пришёл домой (He came home abruptly).
• Error: Mispronouncing неожиданно by stressing the wrong syllable. Stress should be on "жи", not "не". Incorrect stress can confuse listeners.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian communication, abruptness in tone or behavior (often conveyed by резко) can be perceived as more impolite than in some English-speaking cultures. If describing someone's speech as резко, it often carries a critical undertone unless the context is purely physical (e.g., a sharp turn).

Related Concepts:

• вдруг (suddenly, colloquial)
• мгновенно (instantly)
• спонтанно (spontaneously)