Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'clever'

English Word: clever

Key Russian Translations:

• умный [ˈumnɨj] - [Formal, General Use]
• хитрый [ˈxitrɨj] - [Informal, Often with a Negative or Cunning Connotation]
• сообразительный [səəbrɐˈzʲitʲɪlʲnɨj] - [Neutral, Emphasizes Quick Thinking]

Frequency: High (especially "умный")

Difficulty: A2 (умный), B1 (хитрый, сообразительный)

Pronunciation (Russian):

умный: [ˈumnɨj]

Note on умный: The stress is on the first syllable. The "ы" sound is unique to Russian and does not have a direct English equivalent; it’s a sound between "i" and "u".

хитрый: [ˈxitrɨj]

Note on хитрый: The initial "х" is a guttural sound, similar to the Scottish "loch". Stress is on the first syllable.

сообразительный: [səəbrɐˈzʲitʲɪlʲnɨj]

Note on сообразительный: Stress falls on the fourth syllable. The soft consonants (indicated by ʲ) require a slight "y" sound after them.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Intelligent, Smart (Positive Connotation)

Translation(s) & Context:

• умный - Used to describe someone with high intelligence or knowledge, often in a positive or neutral context.
• сообразительный - Refers to quick thinking or resourcefulness, often in problem-solving situations.

Usage Examples:

• Он очень умный студент.

  He is a very clever student.

• Эта девочка такая сообразительная, она быстро решает задачи.

  This girl is so clever; she solves problems quickly.

• Умный человек всегда найдёт выход из ситуации.

  A clever person will always find a way out of a situation.

2. Cunning, Sly (Neutral or Negative Connotation)

Translation(s) & Context:

• хитрый - Used when "clever" implies craftiness, trickery, or slyness, often with a negative or playful tone.

Usage Examples:

• Он хитрый, как лиса.

  He is clever like a fox (cunning).

• Она придумала хитрый план, чтобы обмануть всех.

  She came up with a clever plan to deceive everyone.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

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

Gender/Number	Form
Masculine Singular	умный
Feminine Singular	умная
Neuter Singular	умное
Plural	умные

хитрый (Adjective): Follows similar declension patterns as "умный".

сообразительный (Adjective): Also declines by gender, number, and case, with the same structure as above.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for умный:

• интеллигентный (refined, intellectual)
• мудрый (wise)

Synonyms for хитрый:

• лукавый (sly, deceptive)
• коварный (treacherous)

Antonyms for умный:

• глупый (stupid)
• тупой (dull)

Related Phrases:

• умный как Эйнштейн - "clever like Einstein" (used to emphasize high intelligence)
• хитрый ход - "clever move" (often in games or strategies, with a cunning tone)
• сообразить на троих - "to figure out together" (colloquial, often about sharing something like drinks)

Usage Notes:

• The choice between "умный", "хитрый", and "сообразительный" depends on context. "Умный" is the safest and most general term for intelligence, while "хитрый" often carries a negative or playful connotation of cunning. "Сообразительный" emphasizes quick wit or resourcefulness.
• Be cautious with "хитрый" as it can imply deceitfulness, which might not be the intended meaning of "clever" in English.
• Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they describe, which is a key grammatical difference from English.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "хитрый" when intending to give a compliment. Example: *Он хитрый учитель* (He is a cunning teacher) instead of *Он умный учитель* (He is a clever teacher). Explanation: "Хитрый" implies slyness, which can be offensive in this context.
• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement. Example: *Она умный* instead of *Она умная*. Explanation: The adjective must match the gender of the noun ("она" is feminine, so "умная" is correct).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, being "хитрый" (cunning) is sometimes admired in folklore and stories (e.g., the cunning fox in fables), but in modern contexts, it can be seen as a negative trait. On the other hand, "умный" is universally respected and often associated with education and wisdom.

Related Concepts:

• мудрость (wisdom)
• интеллект (intellect)
• хитрость (cunningness)