Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'amiss'

English Word: amiss

Key Russian Translations:

• не так [nʲe tak] - [Informal, General Use]
• не в порядке [nʲe v parˈjadkʲe] - [Neutral, Often Used for Situations]
• неправильно [nʲepravˈilʲnə] - [Formal, Often Used for Actions or Behavior]

Frequency: Medium (used in specific contexts, not everyday speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for all translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

не так: [nʲe tak]

Note on не так: Stress on the second word; 'так' is pronounced with a short, sharp 'a' sound.

не в порядке: [nʲe v parˈjadkʲe]

Note on не в порядке: Stress on 'jad' in 'порядке'; ensure clear articulation of the rolled 'r'.

неправильно: [nʲepravˈilʲnə]

Note on неправильно: Stress on 'il'; the ending 'но' is reduced in spoken language.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Something is wrong or out of order

Translation(s) & Context:

• не так - Used in informal contexts to indicate something feels or seems wrong.
• не в порядке - Commonly used to describe a situation or condition that is not right.

Usage Examples:

• Что-то здесь не так.

  Something is not right here.

• У меня всё не в порядке с машиной.

  Something is amiss with my car.

• Ты выглядишь так, будто что-то не так.

  You look like something is amiss.

2. Incorrectly or improperly (behavior or action)

Translation(s) & Context:

• неправильно - Used in formal or neutral contexts to indicate incorrect behavior or action.

Usage Examples:

• Вы неправильно поняли мои слова.

  You took my words amiss.

• Он неправильно выполнил задание.

  He did the task amiss.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

не так: This phrase is invariable; it does not change based on grammatical case, number, or gender.

не в порядке: The phrase is generally fixed, though 'порядке' (prepositional case of 'порядок') can theoretically change based on context, but it remains static in this expression.

неправильно: This is an adverb and does not inflect; it remains unchanged regardless of context.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for не так / не в порядке (something wrong):

• неверно
• не то

Note: 'неверно' is more formal than 'не так' and often used in written contexts.

Synonyms for неправильно (incorrectly):

• ошибочно
• неточно

Antonyms for неправильно (incorrectly):

• правильно
• верно

Related Phrases:

• Что-то пошло не так - Something went wrong.
• Всё не в порядке - Everything is amiss/not in order.
• Понять неправильно - To take something amiss (misunderstand).

Usage Notes:

• 'не так' is the most versatile and informal translation, often used in spoken language to express a vague sense of something being wrong.
• 'не в порядке' is more specific to situations or conditions and is slightly more formal than 'не так'.
• 'неправильно' is typically reserved for actions or interpretations that are incorrect and is often used in formal or instructional contexts.
• Be cautious when choosing between these translations, as they are not always interchangeable. Context dictates the correct choice.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'неправильно' when describing a general sense of something being wrong (e.g., "Что-то неправильно").

  Correct Usage: Use 'не так' instead (e.g., "Что-то не так").

  Explanation: 'неправильно' implies a specific incorrect action, not a vague feeling of something being off.

• Error: Overusing 'не в порядке' in personal contexts (e.g., "Я чувствую себя не в порядке" for feeling unwell).

  Correct Usage: Use 'нехорошо' or 'плохо' (e.g., "Я чувствую себя плохо").

  Explanation: 'не в порядке' is more suited for situations or objects, not personal feelings.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, expressing that something is 'amiss' often carries an understated tone in informal contexts. Russians may use 'не так' to subtly hint at a problem without directly stating it, reflecting a cultural tendency to avoid confrontation in casual conversation.

Related Concepts:

• ошибка (mistake)
• проблема (problem)
• недоразумение (misunderstanding)