Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Casual'

English Word: casual

Key Russian Translations:

• неформальный [nʲɪfɐrˈmalʲnɨj] - [Informal, Adjective]
• повседневный [pɐvsʲɪdˈnʲevnɨj] - [Everyday, Informal, Adjective]
• случайный [sluˈt͡ɕaɪnɨj] - [Random, Occasional, Adjective]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for all translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

неформальный: [nʲɪfɐrˈmalʲnɨj]

Note on неформальный: Stress falls on the third syllable. The "р" is rolled slightly.

повседневный: [pɐvsʲɪdˈnʲevnɨj]

Note on повседневный: Stress on the fourth syllable. The "вс" cluster can be tricky for non-native speakers.

случайный: [sluˈt͡ɕaɪnɨj]

Note on случайный: Stress on the second syllable. The "щ" sounds like a soft "shch".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Informal (not formal in style or behavior)

Translation(s) & Context:

• неформальный - Used to describe informal settings, dress, or tone.
• повседневный - Often refers to informal or everyday clothing or situations.

Usage Examples:

• Мы выбрали неформальный стиль для встречи.

  We chose a casual style for the meeting.

• Его повседневная одежда очень простая.

  His casual clothing is very simple.

• Это был неформальный разговор за чашкой кофе.

  It was a casual conversation over a cup of coffee.

2. Random or Occasional (not planned or regular)

Translation(s) & Context:

• случайный - Used for something unplanned, accidental, or occasional.

Usage Examples:

• Это был случайный выбор, без особого плана.

  It was a casual choice, without much planning.

• Мы встретились случайно на улице.

  We met casually on the street.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

неформальный (Adjective): Declines according to gender, number, and case in Russian grammar.

повседневный (Adjective): Follows similar declension patterns as above.

случайный (Adjective): Also declines by gender, number, and case, following standard adjective rules.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for неформальный/повседневный (Informal):

• неофициальный
• разговорный

Note: "неофициальный" is closer to "unofficial" but can overlap with "casual" in some contexts.

Antonyms for неформальный/повседневный (Informal):

• формальный
• официальный

Synonyms for случайный (Random):

• произвольный
• ненамеренный

Related Phrases:

• неформальная обстановка - Casual atmosphere (used for informal settings or environments).
• повседневная жизнь - Everyday life (refers to routine or casual daily activities).
• случайная встреча - Casual meeting (an unplanned or accidental encounter).

Usage Notes:

• "неформальный" is the most direct translation for "casual" in terms of tone or style, often used for social interactions or dress codes.
• "повседневный" emphasizes the everyday or routine aspect of "casual," often used for clothing or mundane activities.
• "случайный" should be used when "casual" means unplanned or random, not in the sense of informality.
• Be mindful of context when choosing between these translations, as they are not interchangeable.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "случайный" to mean informal style.
  Incorrect: Его стиль случайный. (Intended: His style is casual.)
  Correct: Его стиль неформальный.
  Explanation: "случайный" means random or accidental, not informal.
• Error: Overusing "повседневный" for abstract concepts like tone.
  Incorrect: Тон был повседневный.
  Correct: Тон был неформальный.
  Explanation: "повседневный" is more concrete, often tied to physical objects like clothing.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the distinction between formal and informal settings (and thus the use of "неформальный") can be more pronounced than in some English-speaking cultures. For instance, addressing someone casually in a professional environment might be seen as inappropriate unless a relationship is established. Additionally, "повседневный" often carries a connotation of simplicity or modesty, reflecting a cultural value placed on practicality in daily life.

Related Concepts:

• формальность (Formality)
• этикет (Etiquette)
• стиль (Style)