Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'dismal'

English Word: dismal

Key Russian Translations:

• мрачный /mraˈtʃnɨj/ - [Formal, used for describing gloomy or depressing situations]
• унылый /uˈnɨlɨj/ - [Informal, often for dreary or monotonous contexts]

Frequency: Medium (The word and its translations appear in everyday conversations, literature, and media, but not as frequently as basic adjectives.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, according to CEFR; involves understanding nuances of adjectives and their inflections, which may vary slightly between translations.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

мрачный: /mraˈtʃnɨj/

Note on мрачный: The stress is on the second syllable; be careful with the 'ch' sound, which is a soft palatal fricative, similar to the 'ch' in German "ich".

унылый: /uˈnɨlɨj/

Note on унылый: The 'ы' sound is a back unrounded vowel, which can be tricky for English speakers; it sounds like a prolonged 'i' in "bit" but deeper in the throat.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Gloomy or depressing (e.g., referring to weather, situations, or moods)

Translation(s) & Context:

• мрачный - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe something dark and disheartening, such as weather or future prospects.
• унылый - Applied in informal settings for something dull or monotonous, like a boring routine or atmosphere.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: В тот день погода была мрачной, и никто не хотел выходить на улицу.

  English: On that day, the weather was dismal, and no one wanted to go outside.

• Русский: После неудачи на работе его настроение стало унылым, как осенний дождь.

  English: After the failure at work, his mood became dismal, like an autumn rain.

• Русский: Мрачные новости о экономике заставили всех чувствовать себя подавленными.

  English: The dismal news about the economy made everyone feel depressed.

• Русский: Этот унылый город с серыми зданиями не вдохновляет на приключения.

  English: This dismal town with its gray buildings doesn't inspire any adventures.

• Русский: В мрачном свете луны парк выглядел ещё более унылым, чем днём.

  English: In the dismal moonlight, the park looked even more dreary than during the day.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "мрачный" and "унылый" are adjectives in Russian, which inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow standard patterns for hard-stem adjectives.

For мрачный (a hard-stem adjective):

For унылый (similar pattern):

These inflections are regular for most adjectives, but pay attention to the accusative case, which depends on animacy.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: грустный (grustnyy - more about sadness than gloom); печальный (pechalnyy - emphasizes sorrow, with a slight emotional nuance)
• Antonyms: весёлый (veselyy - cheerful and lively)

Related Phrases:

• Мрачные перспективы - Refers to gloomy prospects or future outlooks, often in professional or economic contexts.
• Унылый пейзаж - Describes a dismal landscape, commonly used in literature or travel descriptions.
• Мрачный день - Means a dismal day, typically for weather-related expressions.

Usage Notes:

"Мрачный" is the closest direct translation for "dismal" in formal contexts, such as describing weather or serious situations, while "унылый" suits informal or everyday use for something monotonous. English speakers should note that Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, unlike in English. Choose "мрачный" for a more intense, dark connotation and "унылый" for a milder, tedious feel. Be cautious with context: in Russian, these words can carry poetic undertones, especially in literature.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "мрачный" interchangeably with "грустный" without considering nuance. Incorrect: "Он грустный день" (should be "мрачный" for dismal weather). Correct: "Он мрачный день". Explanation: "Грустный" means simply sad, not necessarily gloomy or depressing.
• Mistake: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "мрачный женщина" instead of "мрачная женщина". Correct: Always inflect based on the noun's gender. Explanation: This is a common error for English learners due to English's lack of agreement rules.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "мрачный" often evoke the harshness of the Russian winter or the introspective nature of Russian literature (e.g., in works by Chekhov or Dostoevsky), where dismal settings symbolize deeper emotional or existential struggles. This reflects a cultural tendency to appreciate melancholy as a path to reflection, unlike in some Western contexts where positivity is emphasized.

Related Concepts:

• Депрессия (depressiya - depression)
• Меланхолия (melancholiya - melancholy)
• Тоска (toska - a deep, spiritual longing or gloom, often untranslatable directly)