Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Absurd'

English Word: absurd

Key Russian Translations:

• абсурдный [ɐbˈsurdnɨj] - [Formal, Adjective]
• нелепый [nʲɪˈlʲepɨj] - [Informal, Adjective]
• бессмысленный [bʲɪsˈsmɨslʲɪnnɨj] - [Formal/Neutral, Adjective]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "абсурдный" and "нелепый"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "бессмысленный"

Pronunciation (Russian):

абсурдный: [ɐbˈsurdnɨj]

Note on абсурдный: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "р" sound is rolled slightly.

нелепый: [nʲɪˈlʲepɨj]

Note on нелепый: The "е" in the second syllable is stressed and pronounced as "ye".

бессмысленный: [bʲɪsˈsmɨslʲɪnnɨj]

Note on бессмысленный: Stress on the second syllable; ensure soft pronunciation of "л" due to palatalization.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Ridiculous or illogical (General Sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• абсурдный - Often used in formal or intellectual contexts to describe something illogical or contrary to reason.
• нелепый - More colloquial, often implying something silly or out of place.

Usage Examples:

• Это абсурдное предложение не имеет смысла.

  This absurd proposal makes no sense.

• Его нелепый костюм вызвал смех у всех.

  His absurd costume made everyone laugh.

• Абсурдная идея привела к полному провалу.

  The absurd idea led to a complete failure.

2. Meaningless or purposeless

Translation(s) & Context:

• бессмысленный - Used when emphasizing a lack of purpose or meaning, often in serious or philosophical contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Этот спор совершенно бессмысленный.

  This argument is completely absurd (meaningless).

• Бессмысленные действия только ухудшили ситуацию.

  Absurd (pointless) actions only made the situation worse.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

абсурдный (Adjective): Follows standard Russian adjective declension based on gender, number, and case.

Case	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Plural
Nominative	абсурдный	абсурдная	абсурдное	абсурдные
Genitive	абсурдного	абсурдной	абсурдного	абсурдных

нелепый (Adjective): Similar declension pattern to "абсурдный".

бессмысленный (Adjective): Follows the same adjective declension rules, with a stem ending in a soft consonant affecting spelling.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "абсурдный":

• нелогичный
• парадоксальный

Note: "нелогичный" focuses on lack of logic, while "парадоксальный" may imply an intriguing contradiction.

Antonyms for "абсурдный":

• логичный
• разумный

Related Phrases:

• абсурдная ситуация - An absurd situation; used to describe an illogical or ridiculous scenario.
• нелепая ошибка - An absurd mistake; often implies a silly or avoidable error.
• бессмысленная трата времени - An absurd (pointless) waste of time; highlights futility.

Usage Notes:

• "абсурдный" is the closest direct translation of "absurd" and is often used in formal or intellectual discussions (e.g., philosophy, literature).
• "нелепый" carries a lighter, more colloquial tone, often used to describe something comically out of place or silly.
• "бессмысленный" emphasizes a lack of meaning or purpose, so it may not always align with "absurd" in the sense of ridiculousness.
• Choose the translation based on context: use "абсурдный" for abstract or serious illogicality, "нелепый" for everyday silliness, and "бессмысленный" for pointlessness.

Common Errors:

Error 1: Using "бессмысленный" when the intended meaning is "ridiculous" rather than "pointless".

Incorrect: Его костюм бессмысленный. (His costume is pointless.)

Correct: Его костюм нелепый. (His costume is absurd/ridiculous.)

Explanation: "бессмысленный" implies a lack of purpose, not necessarily ridiculousness. Use "нелепый" for visual or situational absurdity.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of the "absurd" is often associated with literary and philosophical traditions, such as the works of Dostoevsky or the Soviet-era absurdism in theater. The word "абсурдный" may evoke deeper existential connotations than its English counterpart in certain contexts.

Related Concepts:

• парадокс
• иррациональность
• нелогичность