Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Chilly'

English Word: chilly

Key Russian Translations:

• холодный [ˈxolədnɨj] - [Formal, Informal, General Use]
• зябкий [ˈzʲabkʲɪj] - [Informal, Often Used for Weather or Feeling]
• прохладный [prəˈxladnɨj] - [Neutral, Often for Mild Coolness]

Frequency: High (especially "холодный")

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for "холодный"); B1 (Intermediate for "зябкий" and "прохладный")

Pronunciation (Russian):

холодный: [ˈxolədnɨj]

Note on холодный: The stress falls on the first syllable. The "х" sound is a voiceless fricative, similar to a harsh "h".

зябкий: [ˈzʲabkʲɪj]

Note on зябкий: Pay attention to the soft "з" and "к" sounds, which are palatalized.

прохладный: [prəˈxladnɨj]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Cold in Temperature (Weather or Objects)

Translation(s) & Context:

• холодный - Used for describing cold weather, objects, or liquids.
• прохладный - Refers to mild coolness, often pleasant or refreshing.

Usage Examples:

• Сегодня холодный день.

  Today is a chilly day.

• Вода в озере холодная.

  The water in the lake is chilly.

• Прохладный ветер дует с севера.

  A chilly wind is blowing from the north.

2. Feeling Cold (Personal Sensation)

Translation(s) & Context:

• зябкий - Often used to describe the sensation of feeling chilly or shivery.

Usage Examples:

• Мне зябко без куртки.

  I feel chilly without a jacket.

• Утром было зябко, но солнце согрело.

  It felt chilly in the morning, but the sun warmed things up.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

холодный (Adjective): Declines according to gender, number, and case. Below is the nominative case:

зябкий (Adjective): Follows similar declension patterns as "холодный".

прохладный (Adjective): Also declines like "холодный".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "холодный":

• студёный
• ледяной

Note: "ледяной" often implies extreme cold, like ice.

Antonyms for "холодный":

• тёплый
• горячий

Related Phrases:

• холодный ветер - "chilly wind"
• холодный приём - "chilly reception" (figurative, unfriendly)
• прохладный напиток - "chilly drink" (refreshing cool drink)

Usage Notes:

• "холодный" is the most versatile and commonly used term for "chilly" in Russian, applicable to weather, objects, and even figurative contexts (e.g., a "chilly" reception).
• "зябкий" is more specific to the personal sensation of feeling cold and is less formal.
• "прохладный" often implies a milder, sometimes pleasant coolness, such as a refreshing breeze or drink.
• Be mindful of adjective agreement in Russian; the form must match the gender, number, and case of the noun it modifies.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "зябкий" to describe objects or weather directly.
  Incorrect: Сегодня зябкий день.
  Correct: Сегодня холодный день.
  Explanation: "зябкий" is used for personal feelings of cold, not for describing external conditions.
• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement.
  Incorrect: Холодный вода.
  Correct: Холодная вода.
  Explanation: "вода" (water) is feminine, so the adjective must be "холодная".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, describing weather as "холодный" or "зябкий" often carries an emotional undertone, reflecting the harshness of Russian winters. Complaining about the cold is common and can be a bonding topic in conversations.

Related Concepts:

• мороз
• стужа
• холод