Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Common'

English Word: Common

Key Russian Translations:

• общий [ˈobʂɨj] - [Formal, General Use]
• обычный [ɐˈbɨtʂnɨj] - [Informal, Everyday Use]
• распространённый [rəsprəstrɐˈnʲɵnnɨj] - [Formal, Often Used for Ideas or Phenomena]

Frequency: High (All translations are frequently used in various contexts)

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner to Intermediate; "общий" and "обычный" are A2, while "распространённый" is B1 due to nuanced usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

общий: [ˈobʂɨj]

Note on общий: Stress on the first syllable; the "щ" sound is a soft "sh" unique to Russian.

обычный: [ɐˈbɨtʂnɨj]

Note on обычный: Stress on the second syllable; the initial "о" is reduced to a schwa sound [ɐ] when unstressed.

распространённый: [rəsprəstrɐˈnʲɵnnɨj]

Note on распространённый: Stress on the fourth syllable; long word with palatalized consonants ("н" sounds soft).

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Shared by Multiple Entities (e.g., "common interest")

Translation(s) & Context:

• общий - Used for shared traits, ownership, or interests in formal and neutral contexts.

Usage Examples:

• У нас общий интерес к музыке.

  We have a common interest in music.

• Это наш общий дом.

  This is our common home.

• Общий язык был найден быстро.

  A common language was found quickly.

• У них общая цель.

  They have a common goal.

• Мы обсудили общие проблемы.

  We discussed common issues.

2. Ordinary or Usual (e.g., "common person")

Translation(s) & Context:

• обычный - Refers to something typical or everyday, often with a neutral or slightly informal tone.

Usage Examples:

• Это обычный день в моей жизни.

  This is a common day in my life.

• Он обычный человек, как и мы.

  He is a common person, just like us.

• Обычная еда здесь очень вкусная.

  The common food here is very tasty.

• У меня обычная работа.

  I have a common job.

• Это обычная ошибка для новичков.

  This is a common mistake for beginners.

3. Widespread or Prevalent (e.g., "common knowledge")

Translation(s) & Context:

• распространённый - Used for ideas, beliefs, or phenomena that are widely known or distributed, often in formal contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Это распространённое мнение в обществе.

  This is a common opinion in society.

• Распространённые ошибки в изучении языка.

  Common mistakes in language learning.

• Этот вирус очень распространён.

  This virus is very common.

• Распространённые традиции в этой стране.

  Common traditions in this country.

• Это распространённый факт.

  This is common knowledge.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

общий (Adjective): Declines according to gender, number, and case. Below is the basic declension for singular forms:

Case	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	общий	общая	общее
Genitive	общего	общей	общего
Dative	общему	общей	общему

обычный (Adjective): Follows similar declension patterns as "общий" for gender, number, and case.

распространённый (Adjective, Past Participle Form): Also declines like other adjectives but derived from the verb "распространить" (to spread). Same pattern as above.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for общий:

• совместный (joint)
• коллективный (collective)

Note: "совместный" emphasizes collaboration, while "коллективный" implies a group effort.

Synonyms for обычный:

• нормальный (normal)
• стандартный (standard)

Synonyms for распространённый:

• популярный (popular)
• общеизвестный (widely known)

Antonyms (for all translations):

• редкий (rare)
• уникальный (unique)

Related Phrases:

• общий знаменатель - Common denominator (literal and figurative).
• обычное дело - Common thing (used to describe something typical or expected).
• распространённое заблуждение - Common misconception (often used in discussions).

Usage Notes:

• "общий" is the most neutral and versatile term for "common" when referring to something shared or general. Use it in formal or written contexts.
• "обычный" conveys ordinariness and is more conversational, often used in spoken language to describe everyday things or people.
• "распространённый" is best for abstract or widespread concepts (e.g., opinions, diseases) and is more formal or academic in tone.
• Be mindful of adjective agreement in Russian; all translations must match the gender, number, and case of the noun they describe.

Common Errors:

• Mixing up translations: English learners often use "обычный" for shared concepts (e.g., "common goal"). Incorrect: "Обычная цель"; Correct: "Общая цель". Explanation: "обычный" implies ordinariness, not shared ownership.
• Wrong stress in pronunciation: Stressing the wrong syllable in "распространённый" (e.g., stressing the first syllable) can make the word sound unnatural. Correct stress is on "нён".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of "общий" (shared or common) often carries a historical connotation due to the Soviet era's emphasis on communal living and shared resources (e.g., "общее имущество" - common property). Understanding this context can help learners grasp subtle emotional or social undertones in conversations.

Related Concepts:

• совместный (joint)
• коллектив (collective)
• типичный (typical)