Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'copious'

English Word: copious

Key Russian Translations:

• обильный [ɐˈbʲilʲnɨj] - [Formal, Adjective]
• изобильный [ɪzɐˈbʲilʲnɨj] - [Formal, Literary or Poetic]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in written and formal spoken Russian, such as in literature, journalism, and academic contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjective declensions and formal vocabulary)

Pronunciation (Russian):

обильный: [ɐˈbʲilʲnɨj]

изобильный: [ɪzɐˈbʲilʲnɨj]

Note on обильный: The stress falls on the second syllable ("bʲilʲ"), which is a common challenge for English speakers due to Russian's mobile stress patterns. Pronunciation may vary slightly by region, but the standard is as above.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Abundant or plentiful in quantity (e.g., referring to a large amount of something).

Translation(s) & Context:

• обильный - Used in formal or descriptive contexts, such as describing harvests, resources, or data. Often implies a positive abundance.
• изобильный - Similar but more poetic or archaic, often in literary works to emphasize richness or excess.

Usage Examples:

• В саду был обильный урожай яблок после дождливого лета.

  In the garden, there was a copious harvest of apples after the rainy summer.

• Её лекции всегда содержат обильный материал для размышлений.

  Her lectures always contain copious material for reflection.

• Изобильный стол на празднике удивил гостей разнообразием блюд.

  The copious table at the feast surprised the guests with its variety of dishes.

• Обильный снегопад в Сибири часто приводит к задержкам транспорта.

  The copious snowfall in Siberia often leads to transportation delays.

• В его отчёте был изобильный перечень статистических данных.

  In his report, there was a copious list of statistical data.

2. Excessive or profuse (e.g., in a more negative or overwhelming sense, though less common for 'copious').

Translation(s) & Context:

• обильный - Can imply excess in informal critiques, but less frequent than the positive sense.

Usage Examples:

• Обильный дождь вызвал наводнение в городе.

  The copious rain caused flooding in the city.

• Его обильные объяснения утомили аудиторию.

  His copious explanations tired the audience.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "обильный" and "изобильный" are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. They follow the standard first-declension pattern for adjectives, meaning they change endings according to grammatical context. There are no irregularities, but learners must pay attention to agreement with nouns.

Note: The forms for "изобильный" follow the same pattern, e.g., изобильная, изобильного, etc.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: богатый (wealthy/rich, often for material abundance), обширный (extensive, for scale)
• Antonyms: скудный (scarce, implying lack), бедный (poor, for insufficiency)

Related Phrases:

• обильный урожай - A copious harvest; used in agricultural contexts to describe bountiful yields.
• обильный дождь - Copious rain; refers to heavy precipitation, common in weather discussions.
• изобильный стол - A copious table; implies a richly laden feast, often in cultural or festive settings.

Usage Notes:

"Обильный" is the most direct translation of "copious" and is preferred in everyday formal Russian, while "изобильный" is more archaic or literary. English speakers should note that Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify, which has no direct equivalent in English. For example, use "обильный" for positive abundance in professional or academic writing, but avoid it in very casual speech where simpler words like "много" (much) might suffice. When choosing between translations, opt for "обильный" if the context is neutral or positive, and "изобильный" for poetic emphasis.

Common Errors:

• Error: Forgetting to decline the adjective, e.g., saying "обильный дом" in genitive case as "обильный дома" instead of "обильного дома". Correct: Always match the case, as in "в обильном доме" (in a copious house). Explanation: Russian requires adjective-noun agreement, unlike English, which can lead to grammatical errors.

• Error: Using "обильный" in overly casual contexts, e.g., confusing it with "много" and saying "обильный еда" instead of "много еды". Correct: Reserve "обильный" for formal descriptions; use simpler words for everyday talk. Explanation: This can make speech sound unnatural or pretentious to native speakers.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "обильный" often evoke themes of abundance in folklore and literature, such as in descriptions of harvest festivals or the vast Russian landscape. For instance, it ties into the cultural value of hospitality, where a "обильный стол" symbolizes generosity and community, reflecting historical agricultural roots in rural Russia.

Related Concepts:

• обильность
• изобилие
• богатство