Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'dizzy'

English Word: dizzy

Key Russian Translations:

• Кружиться [ˈkruʐɨt͡sə] - [Informal, Verb, Used to describe a spinning sensation or feeling unsteady]
• Головокружение [ɡələvəkrʊˈʐenʲje] - [Formal, Noun, Used in medical or descriptive contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday conversations about health or sensations, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "быть")

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate for "Кружиться"; learners at this level can grasp basic verb conjugations; for "Головокружение", it might be B2 due to its noun form and medical connotations)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Кружиться: [ˈkruʐɨt͡sə]

Note on Кружиться: The stress is on the first syllable; the 'ж' sound is a voiced palatal fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers. Common in spoken language.

Audio: []

Головокружение: [ɡələvəkrʊˈʐenʲje]

Note on Головокружение: The word has a rolling 'р' and stress on the third syllable; regional variations might soften the vowels in casual speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Feeling of unsteadiness, vertigo, or light-headedness.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Кружиться - Often used in informal, everyday contexts to express a temporary spinning sensation, such as after spinning or due to illness.
• Головокружение - Applied in more formal or medical settings to describe a persistent or diagnosable condition.

Usage Examples:

• Я чувствую, как кружится голова после быстрой езды на аттракционе.

  I feel dizzy after the fast ride on the attraction.

• После болезни у меня часто кружится, и я вынужден садиться.

  After being sick, I often feel dizzy and have to sit down.

• Врачи диагностировали у него головокружение из-за дефицита витаминов.

  Doctors diagnosed him with dizziness due to a vitamin deficiency.

• Когда я встаю слишком быстро, у меня начинается головокружение.

  When I stand up too quickly, I get dizzy.

• Дети любят кружиться на карусели, но иногда это приводит к лёгкому головокружению.

  Children love spinning on the carousel, but it sometimes leads to slight dizziness.

2. Figurative sense: Overwhelmed or excited to the point of disorientation (e.g., "dizzy with success").

Translation(s) & Context:

• Головокружение - Used metaphorically in literary or formal contexts to indicate overwhelming success or emotion.

Usage Examples:

• Его головокружение от успеха сделало его слишком самоуверенным.

  His dizziness from success made him overly confident.

• После выигрыша лотереи она почувствовала головокружение, но быстро вернулась к реальности.

  After winning the lottery, she felt dizzy with excitement but quickly returned to reality.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "Кружиться" (infinitive verb, imperfective aspect):

This is an imperfective verb that conjugates based on person, number, and tense. It follows the first conjugation pattern with reflexive ending (-ся).

For "Головокружение" (neuter noun, second declension):

This noun declines regularly by case and number. It is invariant in gender but changes in plural forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: Вертеть (vertet' - to spin); Шатать (shatat' - to sway or rock); these are often used interchangeably in casual speech for similar sensations.
• Antonyms: Устойчивый (ustoichivyy - stable); it implies a lack of unsteadiness, contrasting with the disoriented state.

Related Phrases:

• Кружится голова - Literally "head is spinning"; used to express dizziness in everyday situations; English equivalent: "I'm feeling dizzy."
• Головокружение от успеха - "Dizziness from success"; a common idiom for being overwhelmed by achievements; English: "Dizzy with success."
• Легкое головокружение - "Slight dizziness"; often in medical contexts for minor symptoms; English: "Mild dizziness."

Usage Notes:

"Dizzy" in English corresponds most closely to "кружится" in informal Russian contexts, especially in phrases like "кружится голова," which is idiomatic and natural. "Головокружение" is preferred for formal or medical discussions. Be mindful of context: use "кружится" for temporary feelings and "головокружение" for conditions. Grammatically, "кружится" requires subject-verb agreement, and it's often paired with "голова" for clarity. When choosing between translations, opt for "кружится" in spoken language and "головокружение" in writing to match the appropriate register.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "диззи" as a direct loanword from English, e.g., saying "Я диззи" instead of "У меня кружится голова." Correct: Stick to native Russian expressions to sound natural. Explanation: Russian avoids direct borrowings for common sensations; using "кружится" prevents confusion and ensures fluency.
• Error: Incorrectly conjugating "кружиться," e.g., saying "Я кружить" instead of "Я кружусь." Correct: Always add the reflexive ending "-ся" for this verb. Explanation: Forgetting the reflexive particle changes the meaning entirely, making it non-reflexive and potentially nonsensical.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressions like "кружится голова" are often linked to folklore or literature, such as in stories where dizziness symbolizes disorientation in love or adventure. Historically, it might relate to traditional remedies for motion sickness, like herbal teas, reflecting a cultural emphasis on natural health solutions.

Related Concepts:

• Тошнота (tosnota - nausea)
• Шаткость (shatkost' - instability)
• Баланс (balans - balance)