Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Arid'

English Word: arid

Key Russian Translations:

• сухой [ˈsuxoj] - [Formal, General Usage]
• засушливый [zəˈsuʂlʲɪvɨj] - [Formal, Often used for climate or regions]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

сухой: [ˈsuxoj]

Note on сухой: The stress falls on the first syllable. The 'kh' sound is a guttural fricative, which may be challenging for English speakers.

засушливый: [zəˈsuʂlʲɪvɨj]

Note on засушливый: Stress on the second syllable. Pay attention to the soft 'l' sound, typical in Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Dry (Lacking Moisture)

Translation(s) & Context:

• сухой - Used for describing dry weather, skin, or objects lacking moisture.

Usage Examples:

• Погода сегодня очень сухая.

  The weather today is very dry.

• У меня сухая кожа после зимы.

  My skin is dry after the winter.

• Этот хлеб стал сухим.

  This bread has become dry.

2. Arid (Climate or Region with Little Rainfall)

Translation(s) & Context:

• засушливый - Primarily used for climates, regions, or seasons with little rainfall.

Usage Examples:

• Этот регион известен своим засушливым климатом.

  This region is known for its arid climate.

• Лето было особенно засушливым в этом году.

  The summer was particularly arid this year.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

сухой (Adjective): Declines according to gender, number, and case.

засушливый (Adjective): Follows similar declension patterns as 'сухой'.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for сухой:

• высохший (dried up, often for objects)
• иссушенный (parched, more intense)

Synonyms for засушливый:

• безводный (waterless, stronger connotation)

Antonyms for both:

• влажный (humid, moist)
• мокрый (wet)

Related Phrases:

• сухой воздух - dry air (used for weather or indoor conditions)
• засушливый сезон - arid season (common in geographical or seasonal contexts)
• сухой закон - dry law (historical term for prohibition of alcohol)

Usage Notes:

• While both 'сухой' and 'засушливый' can translate 'arid,' 'сухой' is more versatile and used in everyday contexts for dryness in general (e.g., skin, bread). 'Засушливый' is more specific to climates or regions and carries a formal tone.
• Be mindful of adjective agreement in Russian. The form of the adjective must match the noun it describes in gender, number, and case.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'сухой' for arid climates. Example: *Этот пустынный регион очень сухой.* (Incorrect)

  Correction: Use 'засушливый' instead: Этот пустынный регион очень засушливый.

  Explanation: 'Сухой' can sound too general or informal when describing large-scale arid conditions like deserts or climates.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian-speaking regions, especially in areas like Central Asia, the concept of arid climates ('засушливый') is significant due to the historical and geographical context of steppes and deserts. Discussions around 'засушливый климат' often relate to agriculture and water scarcity, which are culturally and economically important topics.

Related Concepts:

• пустыня (desert)
• засуха (drought)
• климат (climate)