Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Alike'

English Word: Alike

Key Russian Translations:

• похожий [pɐˈxoʐɨj] - [Formal/Informal, Adjective]
• подобный [pɐˈdobnɨj] - [Formal, Adjective]
• одинаковый [ɐdʲɪˈnakɨvɨj] - [Informal, Adjective, Often for Identical Items]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate) for all translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

похожий: [pɐˈxoʐɨj]

Note on похожий: Pay attention to the stress on the second syllable and the soft 'ж' sound, which is like the 's' in 'measure'.

подобный: [pɐˈdobnɨj]

Note on подобный: The stress is on the second syllable, and the 'б' is pronounced softly before 'н'.

одинаковый: [ɐdʲɪˈnakɨvɨj]

Note on одинаковый: Stress falls on the third syllable; ensure the 'д' is palatalized due to the following 'и'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Similar in Appearance or Nature

Translation(s) & Context:

• похожий - Used to describe similarity in appearance or characteristics, often for people or objects.
• подобный - More formal, often used in written language or to describe abstract similarities.

Usage Examples:

• Мы с братом очень похожи.

  My brother and I look very alike.

• У них похожие взгляды на жизнь.

  They have similar views on life.

• Подобные случаи встречаются редко.

  Similar cases are rare.

2. Identical or the Same

Translation(s) & Context:

• одинаковый - Used for things that are exactly the same or identical, often tangible objects.

Usage Examples:

• У нас одинаковые телефоны.

  We have the same phones.

• Все ответы были одинаковыми.

  All the answers were alike.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

похожий (Adjective): Follows standard adjective declension in Russian, agreeing in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies.

Case	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Plural
Nominative	похожий	похожая	похожее	похожие
Genitive	похожего	похожей	похожего	похожих

подобный (Adjective): Follows a similar declension pattern to 'похожий'.

одинаковый (Adjective): Follows standard adjective declension as well.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• сходный (similar, often formal)
• аналогичный (analogous, formal)

Note: 'сходный' is often used in technical or formal contexts, while 'аналогичный' implies a direct analogy.

Antonyms:

• разный (different)
• отличный (distinct)

Related Phrases:

• похож на кого-то - "looks like someone" (used for physical resemblance)
• одинаковый с чем-то - "the same as something" (used for direct comparison)
• подобно тому, как - "similar to how" (used in formal comparisons)

Usage Notes:

• 'похожий' is the most versatile and commonly used term for 'alike' when referring to similarity in appearance or traits. Use it in most casual or general contexts.
• 'подобный' is more formal and often appears in written texts or academic discussions. It may sound overly stiff in casual speech.
• 'одинаковый' strictly implies identical qualities or features, so avoid using it for mere similarity.

Common Errors:

Error 1: Using 'одинаковый' for non-identical similarities.

Incorrect: У них одинаковые характеры. (Their personalities are identical.)

Correct: У них похожие характеры. (Their personalities are alike/similar.)

Explanation: 'одинаковый' suggests exact sameness, which is rarely true for abstract qualities like personality.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, describing similarity with 'похожий' often carries a personal or emotional tone, especially when talking about family resemblance. Russians may use it frequently when discussing familial traits or nostalgia, reflecting the cultural value placed on family connections.

Related Concepts:

• сходство (similarity)
• различие (difference)
• сравнение (comparison)