Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Conditional'

English Word: conditional

Key Russian Translations:

• условный [ʊˈslovnɨj] - [Formal, Adjective]
• условное [ʊˈslovnəjə] - [Neutral, Adjective, Neuter Form]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate)

Pronunciation (Russian):

условный: [ʊˈslovnɨj]

Note on условный: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "ы" sound is a unique Russian vowel, pronounced like a short, unrounded "i".

условное: [ʊˈslovnəjə]

Note on условное: Similar stress pattern to "условный", with a neutral ending for neuter nouns.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Dependent on a Condition (General Sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• условный - Used in formal or technical contexts to describe something dependent on a condition, such as in grammar (conditional mood) or logic.

Usage Examples:

• Это предложение выражает условное наклонение.

  This sentence expresses the conditional mood.

• Его согласие было условным.

  His agreement was conditional.

• Условный срок не означает полного освобождения.

  A conditional sentence does not mean full release.

2. Hypothetical or Provisional

Translation(s) & Context:

• условное - Often used in a more abstract or neutral sense, such as referring to hypothetical scenarios or provisional terms.

Usage Examples:

• Мы обсудили условное соглашение.

  We discussed a provisional agreement.

• Это всего лишь условное предположение.

  This is just a hypothetical assumption.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

условный (Adjective, Masculine Base Form)

As a Russian adjective, "условный" changes form based on gender, number, and case. Below is a simplified declension table for the nominative case:

Note: Full declension across all six Russian cases (nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, instrumental, prepositional) follows standard adjective patterns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• предположительный (hypothetical)
• зависимый (dependent) - Slight nuance of dependency rather than conditionality.

Antonyms:

• безусловный (unconditional)
• абсолютный (absolute)

Related Phrases:

• условный срок - Probation or suspended sentence (legal context).
• условное наклонение - Conditional mood (grammar context).
• условный рефлекс - Conditioned reflex (scientific context, e.g., Pavlov's experiments).

Usage Notes:

• "условный" is the primary translation for "conditional" and is widely used in formal, legal, and grammatical contexts. It often implies something that depends on a specific condition or circumstance.
• Unlike English, Russian adjectives like "условный" must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify. Pay attention to noun-adjective agreement when using this word.
• In conversational Russian, "условный" may sound overly formal in casual discussions of hypothetical situations. Native speakers might use alternative phrasing or synonyms like "предположительный".

Common Errors:

• Error: Forgetting gender agreement, e.g., using "условный" with a feminine noun like "ситуация" (situation).
  Incorrect: условный ситуация
  Correct: условная ситуация
  Explanation: Adjectives must match the gender of the noun they describe.
• Error: Overusing "условный" in informal contexts where a simpler phrase would suffice.
  Incorrect: Это условный план. (Sounds overly formal for "This is a tentative plan.")
  Better: Это предварительный план.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, the term "условный срок" (probation or suspended sentence) is a common legal phrase and reflects a cultural emphasis on conditional leniency in judicial systems, often tied to behavioral conditions. Understanding this term is crucial when discussing legal matters in Russian contexts.

Related Concepts:

• безусловный (unconditional)
• предположение (assumption)
• условие (condition)