Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Active'

English Word: Active

Key Russian Translations:

• активный [akˈtʲivnɨj] - [Formal, Informal, General Usage]
• деятельный [dʲeɪˈtʲelʲnɨj] - [Formal, Often in Professional Contexts]

Frequency: High (Widely used in various contexts)

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner to Intermediate for "активный"; B1 for "деятельный")

Pronunciation (Russian):

активный: [akˈtʲivnɨj]

Note on активный: Stress falls on the second syllable. The final 'ы' sounds like a short 'i'.

деятельный: [dʲeɪˈtʲelʲnɨj]

Note on деятельный: Stress on the second syllable. The soft 'л' requires a palatalized pronunciation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Energetic or Engaged (Physical or Mental Activity)

Translation(s) & Context:

• активный - Used to describe someone who is energetic or participates actively in activities.

Usage Examples:

• Он очень активный человек.

  He is a very active person.

• Дети были активны на уроке.

  The children were active during the lesson.

• Она активно участвует в общественной жизни.

  She actively participates in community life.

2. Involved in Work or Initiatives (Professional Context)

Translation(s) & Context:

• деятельный - Often used for someone proactive or industrious in a professional or organizational setting.
• активный - Can also be used, but less formal than "деятельный" in this context.

Usage Examples:

• Он деятельный руководитель.

  He is an industrious leader.

• Её активная позиция помогла проекту.

  Her active stance helped the project.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

активный (Adjective): Declines according to standard Russian adjective rules based on gender, number, and case.

Case	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Plural
Nominative	активный	активная	активное	активные
Genitive	активного	активной	активного	активных

деятельный (Adjective): Follows similar declension patterns as "активный".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for активный:

• энергичный (energetic)
• живой (lively)

Note: "энергичный" emphasizes physical energy, while "живой" can imply liveliness in character.

Antonyms for активный:

• пассивный (passive)
• вялый (sluggish)

Related Phrases:

• активное участие - Active participation (often in events or discussions).
• активный образ жизни - Active lifestyle (referring to a physically or socially engaged life).
• деятельная натура - Industrious nature (describing someone's proactive character).

Usage Notes:

• "активный" is the most versatile and common translation for "active", suitable for both formal and informal contexts.
• "деятельный" is more formal and often used in professional or intellectual contexts to imply initiative or industriousness.
• Ensure agreement in gender, number, and case when using these adjectives in Russian sentences.

Common Errors:

Error 1: Incorrect Gender/Case Agreement

Many learners forget to adjust "активный" to match the noun it modifies. For example, saying "активный женщина" instead of "активная женщина" is incorrect due to gender mismatch.

Correct: Она активная женщина. (She is an active woman.)

Incorrect: Она активный женщина.

Error 2: Overusing "деятельный" in Casual Contexts

Using "деятельный" in informal speech can sound overly formal or awkward. Use "активный" for casual descriptions of energy or involvement.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, being "активный" is often associated with positive traits like sociability and productivity, especially in community or workplace settings. However, excessive activity might sometimes be seen as restlessness, so context matters.

Related Concepts:

• энергия (energy)
• инициатива (initiative)
• движение (movement)