Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Brown'

English Word: Brown

Key Russian Translations:

• коричневый [ˌkorʲɪˈtɕnʲevɨj] - [Adjective, Neutral/Formal]
• бурый [ˈburɨj] - [Adjective, Often used for natural tones like fur or soil, Slightly Literary]

Frequency: High (especially "коричневый")

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for "коричневый"); B1 (Intermediate for "бурый")

Pronunciation (Russian):

коричневый: [ˌkorʲɪˈtɕnʲevɨj]

Note on коричневый: Stress falls on the third syllable. The "ч" sound is a soft affricate, similar to 'ch' in "church."

бурый: [ˈburɨj]

Note on бурый: Stress on the first syllable. The "ы" sound is a unique Russian vowel, somewhat between 'i' and 'u.'

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Color (General Description)

Translation(s) & Context:

• коричневый - Used for general description of the color brown, applicable to objects, clothing, etc.

Usage Examples:

• У меня коричневая куртка.

  I have a brown jacket.

• Стены покрашены в коричневый цвет.

  The walls are painted brown.

• Её глаза тёмно-коричневые.

  Her eyes are dark brown.

2. Natural Tones (Soil, Fur, etc.)

Translation(s) & Context:

• бурый - Often used for natural tones, especially in literary or descriptive contexts like animal fur or earth.

Usage Examples:

• Бурый медведь живёт в лесу.

  The brown bear lives in the forest.

• Бурая земля была влажной после дождя.

  The brown earth was damp after the rain.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

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

бурый (Adjective): Follows similar declension rules as "коричневый."

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for коричневый:

• каштановый (chestnut, often for hair)
• шоколадный (chocolate-colored, informal)

Note: "каштановый" is more specific to hair or wood tones, while "шоколадный" is colloquial.

Antonyms for коричневый:

• белый (white)
• чёрный (black, in some contrasting contexts)

Related Phrases:

• коричневый сахар - Brown sugar (referring to unrefined sugar)
• бурый уголь - Brown coal (lignite, a type of coal)

Usage Notes:

• "коричневый" is the most common and neutral term for the color brown, suitable for most everyday contexts.
• "бурый" is more specific and often carries a descriptive or literary tone, primarily used for natural elements like fur or soil. Avoid using it for artificial objects like clothing.
• Russian adjectives like "коричневый" and "бурый" must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "бурый" for man-made objects. Incorrect: "Бурый стол" (Brown table). Correct: "Коричневый стол."
• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement. Incorrect: "Коричневый сумка" (should match feminine form). Correct: "Коричневая сумка" (Brown bag).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the color brown ("коричневый") does not carry strong symbolic meaning as it might in other cultures. However, "бурый" often evokes imagery of wilderness or rustic settings due to its association with bears and earth.

Related Concepts:

• цвет (color)
• оттенок (shade/tone)
• тёмный (dark)