Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'capacious'

English Word: capacious

Key Russian Translations:

• Просторный [prɐˈstornɨj] - [Formal; used for physical or metaphorical spaciousness, e.g., in architecture or descriptions]
• Объемный [ɐbˈjɛmnɨj] - [Formal; often for capacity in terms of volume or size, e.g., containers]
• Емкий [ˈjemkʲij] - [Formal; typically for abstract capacity, like intellectual or storage capacity]

Frequency: Medium - This word and its translations are commonly encountered in everyday Russian, especially in descriptive contexts, but not as ubiquitous as basic adjectives.

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) - Requires understanding of Russian adjective declensions and contexts; "Просторный" and similar forms are straightforward for learners at this level, but nuances in usage may challenge beginners.

Pronunciation (Russian):

Просторный: [prɐˈstornɨj] - Stress on the third syllable; the 'ы' sound is a soft, back vowel common in Russian.

Объемный: [ɐbˈjɛmnɨj] - Stress on the second syllable; note the palatalized 'й' sound, which can be tricky for non-native speakers.

Емкий: [ˈjemkʲij] - Stress on the first syllable; the 'й' indicates a soft consonant, and the ending changes in declensions.

Note on Просторный: Be cautious with the 'р' sound, which is rolled in standard Russian; variations may occur in dialects.

Note on Объемный: The 'о' at the beginning is often reduced to a schwa-like sound in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Having a lot of space or capacity to hold or contain things.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Просторный - Used in contexts describing physical space, such as rooms or landscapes; common in formal writing or everyday conversation about environments.
• Объемный - Applied to objects with significant volume, like bags or data storage; suitable for technical or scientific discussions.
• Емкий - Often metaphorical, for things that can hold a lot of information or ideas; used in educational or intellectual contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Эта просторная квартира идеально подходит для большой семьи. (This spacious apartment is perfect for a large family.)

  English Translation: This capacious apartment is ideal for a big family. (Shows use in real estate or daily life contexts.)

• Объемный рюкзак поместит все необходимые вещи для похода. (This voluminous backpack will fit all the necessary items for the hike.)

  English Translation: This capacious backpack will hold everything needed for the trip. (Illustrates practical, outdoor usage.)

• Емкий ум ученого позволяет ему усваивать сложные концепции быстро. (The capacious mind of the scholar allows him to grasp complex concepts quickly.)

  English Translation: The capacious intellect of the scholar enables him to absorb intricate ideas swiftly. (Demonstrates metaphorical application in intellectual discussions.)

• В просторном зале театра зрители чувствуют себя комфортно. (In the capacious hall of the theater, the audience feels comfortable.)

  English Translation: In the spacious theater hall, viewers feel at ease. (Highlights cultural or social settings.)

• Этот объемный контейнер используется для хранения сезонных вещей. (This capacious container is used for storing seasonal items.)

  English Translation: This voluminous container is ideal for keeping seasonal belongings. (Shows everyday storage contexts.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations ("Просторный", "Объемный", "Емкий") are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. They follow standard first-declension patterns for hard-stem adjectives.

These adjectives are regular and change endings predictably. If used in compound sentences, ensure agreement with the noun's gender and number.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Обширный (obshirnyy) - Similar to "просторный" but often implies a larger scale; used for vast areas.
  • Пространный (prostrannyj) - More literary, emphasizing breadth in narratives.
  • Широкий (shirokij) - Focuses on width rather than overall capacity.
• Antonyms:
  • Тесный (tesnyy) - Conveys cramped or confined spaces.
  • Узкий (uzkij) - Means narrow, often in physical dimensions.

Related Phrases:

• Просторная комната (prostornaia komnata) - A spacious room; used in housing descriptions to indicate comfort and size.
• Объемный багаж (ob"emnij bagazh) - Bulky luggage; common in travel contexts for items that take up a lot of space.
• Емкий диск (emkij disk) - High-capacity disk; refers to storage devices in tech discussions.
• Просторный ландшафт (prostornyj landshaft) - Expansive landscape; often in nature or geography-related conversations.

Usage Notes:

"Capacious" translates most directly to "просторный" for spatial contexts, but choose "объемный" for volume-focused scenarios or "емкий" for intellectual ones. In Russian, these adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify, which is a key grammatical difference from English. For formal writing, "просторный" is preferred in descriptive prose, while informal speech might use simpler alternatives. When deciding between translations, consider the context: physical vs. abstract capacity.

• Always check for noun agreement to avoid errors.
• In metaphorical uses, "емкий" can parallel English idioms like "a capacious mind."

Common Errors:

One common mistake is failing to decline the adjective correctly, e.g., saying "просторный комната" instead of "просторная комната" for a feminine noun like "комната" (room). Correct usage: Use "просторная" to match the feminine gender. Another error is confusing "просторный" with "простой" (simple), leading to misunderstandings; for example, a learner might say "простой рюкзак" meaning "simple backpack" but intend "capacious backpack," which should be "объемный рюкзак." Explanation: Russian adjectives require precise agreement, so always identify the noun's properties first.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "просторный" often evoke the vastness of Russia's landscapes, such as the Siberian plains or Moscow's wide avenues. This can carry a positive connotation of freedom and opportunity, reflecting historical themes of expansion and endurance in Russian literature and daily life.

Related Concepts:

• Комфортный (comfortnyj) - Comfortable, often paired with spatial descriptions.
• Простой (prostoj) - Simple, which might be confused but relates to ease rather than size.
• Обширный (obshirnyy) - Extensive, building on ideas of scale.