Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Agile'

English Word: agile

Key Russian Translations:

• гибкий [ˈɡʲibkʲɪj] - [Formal, Used for mental or physical flexibility]
• ловкий [ˈlofkʲɪj] - [Informal, Often used for physical agility or dexterity]
• проворный [prɐˈvornɨj] - [Informal, Emphasizes quickness in movement]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in specific contexts like sports, business, or metaphors)

Difficulty: B1-B2 (Intermediate; varies slightly by translation and context)

Pronunciation (Russian):

гибкий: [ˈɡʲibkʲɪj]

Note on гибкий: Stress falls on the first syllable. The soft 'г' sound can be tricky for non-native speakers.

ловкий: [ˈlofkʲɪj]

Note on ловкий: The 'о' is stressed, and the 'в' is pronounced softly before 'к'.

проворный: [prɐˈvornɨj]

Note on проворный: Stress on the second syllable. Pay attention to the rolled 'р' sounds.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Physically Agile (quick and nimble in movement)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ловкий - Used for physical dexterity, often in sports or manual tasks.
• проворный - Emphasizes speed and quick reactions, often for animals or children.

Usage Examples:

• Он очень ловкий футболист.

  He is a very agile soccer player.

• Кот был настолько проворный, что поймал птицу на лету.

  The cat was so agile that it caught the bird mid-flight.

2. Mentally Agile (quick-thinking or adaptable)

Translation(s) & Context:

• гибкий - Used for mental flexibility or adaptability, often in business or problem-solving contexts.

Usage Examples:

• У него гибкий ум, он всегда находит решения.

  He has an agile mind; he always finds solutions.

• Гибкий подход к управлению проектами очень важен.

  An agile approach to project management is very important.

• Она проявила гибкость в переговорах.

  She showed agility in negotiations.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

гибкий (Adjective): Declines according to gender, number, and case. Below is the basic declension for singular forms:

Case	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	гибкий	гибкая	гибкое
Genitive	гибкого	гибкой	гибкого
Accusative	гибкий/гибкого	гибкую	гибкое

Note: Plural form in nominative is "гибкие".

ловкий (Adjective): Follows similar declension patterns as "гибкий".

проворный (Adjective): Also declines like other adjectives, with similar patterns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for гибкий:

• податливый (pliable, adaptable)
• эластичный (elastic, flexible - more literal)

Synonyms for ловкий:

• сметливый (quick-witted, resourceful)
• умелый (skillful)

Antonyms for ловкий/проворный:

• неуклюжий (clumsy)
• медленный (slow)

Related Phrases:

• гибкий график - Flexible schedule (common in work contexts).
• ловкие руки - Agile hands (used for skilled manual work).
• проворные движения - Agile movements (often for quick, nimble actions).

Usage Notes:

• "гибкий" is the most versatile translation, often used metaphorically for mental agility or adaptability, especially in formal or business contexts.
• "ловкий" and "проворный" are more specific to physical agility. "ловкий" can also imply cunning or resourcefulness, while "проворный" focuses on speed.
• Choose the translation based on whether the context is physical or mental. For IT or business contexts (e.g., "agile methodology"), "гибкий" is almost always used.

Common Errors:

Error 1: Using "ловкий" for mental agility in formal contexts. For example, saying "ловкий подход" instead of "гибкий подход" for "agile approach" sounds informal and slightly incorrect.

Correct: Гибкий подход к решению проблем. (An agile approach to problem-solving.)

Incorrect: Ловкий подход к решению проблем.

Error 2: Misusing adjective agreements by not matching gender or case. For instance, using "гибкий" with a feminine noun without changing it to "гибкая".

Correct: Гибкая стратегия. (An agile strategy.)

Incorrect: Гибкий стратегия.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, the concept of agility (especially mental) is often tied to resourcefulness and adaptability, traits historically valued due to the need to navigate complex social and political systems. "гибкий" can carry a positive connotation of cleverness in such contexts.

Related Concepts:

• изобретательный (inventive)
• быстрый (fast)
• адаптивный (adaptive)