Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Absolutely'

English Word: absolutely

Key Russian Translations:

• абсолютно [ɐbsɐˈlutnə] - [Formal/Neutral]
• совершенно [səvʲɪrˈʂɛnːə] - [Neutral, Often used for emphasis]
• полностью [pɐˈlʲnəstʲju] - [Neutral, Often implies completeness]

Frequency: High

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner to Intermediate, depending on context and nuances)

Pronunciation (Russian):

абсолютно: [ɐbsɐˈlutnə]

Note on абсолютно: Stress falls on the third syllable. The 'о' sounds are reduced due to unstressed positions.

совершенно: [səvʲɪrˈʂɛnːə]

Note on совершенно: Stress on the third syllable. The double 'н' is pronounced distinctly.

полностью: [pɐˈlʲnəstʲju]

Note on полностью: Stress on the second syllable. Pay attention to the soft 'л' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Completely or Totally (Emphasizing Agreement or Certainty)

Translation(s) & Context:

• абсолютно - Used in formal or neutral contexts to express total agreement or certainty.
• совершенно - Commonly used for emphasis in everyday speech, slightly less formal.

Usage Examples:

• Я абсолютно с вами согласен.

  I absolutely agree with you.

• Это совершенно невероятно!

  This is absolutely incredible!

• Он абсолютно прав в этом вопросе.

  He is absolutely right about this issue.

2. Entirely or Fully (Indicating Completeness)

Translation(s) & Context:

• полностью - Often used to indicate something is done or felt in full measure.
• совершенно - Can be used interchangeably in some contexts for completeness.

Usage Examples:

• Я полностью доверяю тебе.

  I absolutely trust you.

• Она совершенно забыла о встрече.

  She absolutely forgot about the meeting.

• Мы полностью готовы к экзамену.

  We are absolutely ready for the exam.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All three translations (абсолютно, совершенно, полностью) are adverbs and do not inflect. They remain unchanged regardless of the grammatical context, gender, number, or case of related words in a sentence.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• целиком
• вполне
• всецело

Note: "вполне" is often softer in tone, implying "quite" or "fully" rather than the stronger "absolutely."

Antonyms:

• частично
• отчасти

Related Phrases:

• абсолютно точно - "absolutely certain" (used to confirm something with certainty)
• совершенно ясно - "absolutely clear" (used to emphasize clarity of understanding)
• полностью согласен - "absolutely agree" (common in discussions or debates)

Usage Notes:

• абсолютно is the most direct translation for "absolutely" and is suitable for formal and written contexts. It often conveys a sense of precision or undeniable truth.
• совершенно is very common in spoken Russian and can sometimes sound more emphatic or emotional than "абсолютно."
• полностью emphasizes totality or completeness and is often used when referring to actions or states that are finished or whole.
• Choose based on context: Use "полностью" for physical or measurable completeness, "совершенно" for emotional emphasis, and "абсолютно" for logical or factual certainty.

Common Errors:

1. Mixing up nuances: English learners often use "полностью" in contexts where "абсолютно" would be more appropriate for agreement or certainty. For example, saying "Я полностью согласен" is correct, but "Я полностью уверен" (I am absolutely sure) might sound odd in some contexts compared to "Я абсолютно уверен."

2. Overusing "совершенно": While it’s versatile, using "совершенно" in very formal writing can sound out of place. Reserve "абсолютно" for such contexts.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, emphasizing agreement or certainty with words like "абсолютно" or "совершенно" is common in both formal and informal speech. However, overusing such strong adverbs in casual conversation might make a speaker sound overly intense or dramatic, especially in certain regional dialects or social settings.

Related Concepts:

• точно
• определённо
• несомненно