Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Broad'

English Word: broad

Key Russian Translations:

• широкий [ʂɨˈrokʲɪj] - [Formal/Informal, General Use]
• обширный [ɐpˈʂɨrnɨj] - [Formal, Often Abstract or Figurative]

Frequency: High (for "широкий"); Medium (for "обширный")

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for "широкий"); B1 (Intermediate for "обширный")

Pronunciation (Russian):

широкий: [ʂɨˈrokʲɪj]

Note on широкий: Stress is on the second syllable. The "ш" sound is a retroflex sibilant, which may be challenging for English speakers.

обширный: [ɐpˈʂɨrnɨj]

Note on обширный: Stress is on the second syllable. The initial "о" is reduced to a schwa sound [ɐ] in unstressed position.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Wide in Physical Dimension (Literal)

Translation(s) & Context:

• широкий - Used for physical width, such as a road or river.

Usage Examples:

• У нас широкая река в деревне.

  We have a broad river in our village.

• Эта дорога очень широкая.

  This road is very broad.

• Его плечи широкие и сильные.

  His shoulders are broad and strong.

2. Extensive or Comprehensive (Figurative)

Translation(s) & Context:

• обширный - Used for abstract concepts like knowledge or scope.
• широкий - Can also be used figuratively, often for general or wide-ranging topics.

Usage Examples:

• У него обширные знания в истории.

  He has broad knowledge of history.

• Мы обсуждали широкий спектр вопросов.

  We discussed a broad range of issues.

• Её обширный опыт помог решить проблему.

  Her broad experience helped solve the problem.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

широкий (Adjective): Declines according to gender, number, and case, following standard Russian adjective patterns.

Note: Other cases (Accusative, Instrumental, Prepositional) follow similar patterns. Short forms exist (e.g., широк, широка) but are less common in modern usage.

обширный (Adjective): Follows similar declension rules as "широкий." Refer to standard adjective tables for full forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for широкий:

• просторный (spacious, often for areas)
• объёмный (voluminous, sometimes for scope)

Synonyms for обширный:

• огромный (vast, often for size or scale)
• всесторонний (comprehensive, for knowledge or approach)

Antonyms:

• узкий (narrow, for both literal and figurative uses)
• ограниченный (limited, for scope or range)

Related Phrases:

• широкая улыбка - A broad smile (indicating friendliness or happiness).
• широкие возможности - Broad opportunities (referring to many options or prospects).
• обширная территория - Vast territory (used for large areas or lands).

Usage Notes:

• "широкий" is the most versatile and common translation for "broad," applicable to both literal (physical width) and figurative (broad interests) contexts.
• "обширный" is more formal and often used in abstract or intellectual contexts, such as "broad knowledge" or "broad territory." It is less common in everyday speech.
• Be cautious with adjective agreement in Russian; the form must match the noun in gender, number, and case.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "обширный" for physical width (e.g., "обширная дорога" for "broad road"). Correction: Use "широкая дорога." Explanation: "обширный" is rarely used for tangible, everyday objects like roads or shoulders.
• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement (e.g., saying "широкий река" instead of "широкая река"). Correction: Match the adjective to the noun’s gender ("река" is feminine, so use "широкая").

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the word "широкий" often carries positive connotations, especially in expressions like "широкая душа" (broad soul), which means a generous or open-hearted person. This reflects the cultural value of hospitality and emotional openness.

Related Concepts:

• простор (space, expanse)
• размах (scope, scale)
• объём (volume, extent)