Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Differ'

English Word: differ

Key Russian Translations:

• отличаться [ɐtˈlʲit͡ɕət͡sə] - [Neutral, Commonly Used]
• различаться [rəzlʲɪˈt͡ɕət͡sə] - [Formal, Academic]

Frequency: High

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

отличаться: [ɐtˈlʲit͡ɕət͡sə]

Note on отличаться: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "ч" sound is a soft "ch" as in "church."

различаться: [rəzlʲɪˈt͡ɕət͡sə]

Note on различаться: Stress on the third syllable. Pay attention to the soft "л" sound before "и."

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To Be Different (General Sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• отличаться - Used for general differences between objects, people, or ideas.

Usage Examples:

• Эти машины отличаются по цвету и мощности.

  These cars differ in color and power.

• Мы отличаемся во взглядах на эту проблему.

  We differ in our views on this issue.

• Его стиль отличается от традиционного подхода.

  His style differs from the traditional approach.

2. To Vary (Formal or Technical Sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• различаться - Often used in formal, academic, or technical contexts to denote variation or distinction.

Usage Examples:

• Цены на эти товары могут различаться в зависимости от региона.

  Prices for these goods may differ depending on the region.

• Мнения ученых по этому вопросу различаются.

  The opinions of scientists on this issue differ.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

отличаться (Verb, Imperfective, Reflexive): This verb follows regular conjugation patterns for reflexive verbs in Russian. It is used in the imperfective aspect, indicating an ongoing or habitual action.

различаться (Verb, Imperfective, Reflexive): Similar to "отличаться," this verb is reflexive and imperfective, with regular conjugation patterns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "отличаться":

• выделяться (to stand out)
• разниться (to vary)

Note: "выделяться" often implies standing out positively, while "разниться" is more neutral and less common.

Antonyms for "отличаться":

• совпадать (to coincide)
• соответствовать (to correspond)

Related Phrases:

• отличаться от других - "to differ from others" (used to highlight uniqueness).
• различаться по качеству - "to differ in quality" (common in formal comparisons).

Usage Notes:

• "отличаться" is more versatile and widely used in everyday speech to express differences of any kind.
• "различаться" is preferred in formal or written contexts, especially when discussing technical or systematic variations.
• Both verbs are reflexive (require the "-ся" ending) and are typically used with the preposition "от" when comparing to something specific (e.g., "отличаться от кого-то" - "to differ from someone").

Common Errors:

Error 1: Forgetting the reflexive "-ся" ending, e.g., saying "отличаю" instead of "отличаюсь." "Отличаю" means "I distinguish," which is an active verb, not reflexive.

Correct Usage: Я отличаюсь от своих друзей. (I differ from my friends.)

Incorrect: *Я отличаю от своих друзей.

Error 2: Using "различаться" in casual conversation, which can sound overly formal or awkward.

Correct Usage: Мы отличаемся по характеру. (We differ in character.)

Incorrect Context: *Мы различаемся по характеру. (Sounds too formal for casual speech.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, pointing out differences (using "отличаться") can sometimes carry a neutral or positive connotation, especially when highlighting uniqueness or individuality. However, in certain contexts, it might imply criticism, so tone and context are important.

Related Concepts:

• разница (difference)
• сходство (similarity)
• особенность (peculiarity)