Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'countless'

English Word: countless

Key Russian Translations:

• бесчисленный [bʲɪsˈtɕislʲɪnnɨj] - [Formal, Adjective]
• многочисленный [mnɐˈɡotɕislʲɪnnɨj] - [Formal/Neutral, Adjective]
• несметный [nʲɪsˈmʲetnɨj] - [Literary, Often Poetic]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1-B2 (Intermediate) for "бесчисленный" and "многочисленный"; C1 (Advanced) for "несметный"

Pronunciation (Russian):

бесчисленный: [bʲɪsˈtɕislʲɪnnɨj]

Note on бесчисленный: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "щ" sound is a soft "shch" unique to Russian.

многочисленный: [mnɐˈɡotɕislʲɪnnɨj]

Note on многочисленный: Stress on the third syllable. The prefix "много-" means "many."

несметный: [nʲɪsˈmʲetnɨj]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Too many to be counted (literal or figurative)

Translation(s) & Context:

• бесчисленный - Often used for abstract or unquantifiable things (e.g., stars, opportunities).
• многочисленный - Commonly used for countable entities in formal or neutral contexts (e.g., population, members).
• несметный - Used in literary or poetic contexts to emphasize vastness (e.g., treasures, wealth).

Usage Examples:

• На небе сияли бесчисленные звёзды.

  Countless stars shone in the sky.

• В этом городе живут многочисленные народы.

  Numerous peoples live in this city.

• Он мечтал о несметных богатствах.

  He dreamed of countless riches.

• Мы получили бесчисленные письма с благодарностью.

  We received countless letters of gratitude.

• Многочисленные попытки не привели к успеху.

  Numerous attempts did not lead to success.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All translations are adjectives and follow standard Russian adjective declension patterns based on gender, number, and case.

бесчисленный (Masculine Nominative Singular):

Note: Similar declension applies to "многочисленный" and "несметный."

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• неисчислимый (immeasurable, often abstract)
• огромный (enormous, for size or quantity)

Antonyms:

• ограниченный (limited)
• немногочисленный (few, not numerous)

Related Phrases:

• бесчисленное множество - "a countless multitude" (used for emphasizing vast numbers)
• многочисленные примеры - "numerous examples" (common in formal writing)
• несметные сокровища - "countless treasures" (often in storytelling or poetic contexts)

Usage Notes:

• "бесчисленный" is the most direct equivalent to "countless," often used for things that are impossible or impractical to count.
• "многочисленный" translates more closely to "numerous" and is preferred in formal or statistical contexts.
• "несметный" carries a poetic or archaic tone and is less common in everyday speech; it often implies something immeasurable and grand.
• Ensure agreement in gender, number, and case when using these adjectives with nouns in Russian sentences.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "многочисленный" for uncountable abstract concepts. Incorrect: "многочисленные возможности" (numerous opportunities).

  Correct: Use "бесчисленные возможности" (countless opportunities) for abstract ideas.

• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement. Incorrect: "бесчисленный звезда" (should match gender).

  Correct: "бесчисленная звезда" (feminine form for "star").

Cultural Notes:

In Russian literature and folklore, terms like "несметный" are often used to describe vast, almost mythical quantities, such as "несметные богатства" (countless riches), reflecting a cultural fascination with the boundless and unattainable.

Related Concepts:

• огромный (huge)
• безграничный (boundless)
• неограниченный (unlimited)