Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'droll'

English Word: droll

Key Russian Translations:

• забавный [zəˈbavnɨj] - [Informal, Adjective, Used in everyday humorous contexts]
• курьезный [kʊˈrʲeznɨj] - [Formal, Adjective, Used for quirky or eccentric situations]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literature and casual conversations but not everyday basics)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjectives and their inflections)

Pronunciation (Russian):

забавный: [zəˈbavnɨj]

курьезный: [kʊˈrʲeznɨj]

Note on забавный: The stress is on the second syllable; be careful with the soft 'b' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: Amusing in a quirky, odd, or whimsical way

Translation(s) & Context:

• забавный - Used in informal settings to describe something humorously eccentric, such as a person's behavior.
• курьезный - Applied in more formal or narrative contexts, like in stories or reports, for bizarre events.

Usage Examples:

• Его забавные истории всегда поднимают настроение на вечеринках.

  His droll stories always lift the mood at parties.

• Эта забавная ситуация с котом стала вирусной в интернете.

  This droll situation with the cat went viral on the internet.

• Курьезный инцидент на конференции заставил всех посмеяться.

  The droll incident at the conference made everyone laugh.

• Её забавный акцент делает разговоры ещё интереснее.

  Her droll accent makes conversations even more interesting.

• В этом курьезном фильме главный герой попадает в абсурдные ситуации.

  In this droll film, the main character gets into absurd situations.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "забавный" and "курьезный" are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a regular pattern for most cases, agreeing with the nouns they modify.

Note: These are regular adjective inflections; there are no irregular forms for these words.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • смешной (smeshnyy) - More general humor, often lighter than забавный.
  • веселый (veselyy) - Applies to cheerful or fun contexts, with a positive connotation.
• Antonyms:
  • серьезный (seryoznyy) - Used for serious or grave matters, contrasting the light-hearted nature.
  • скучный (skuchnyy) - Indicates boredom, opposite to the entertaining aspect.

Related Phrases:

• забавная история - A droll story; often used in casual storytelling to describe amusing anecdotes.
• курьезный случай - A droll incident; typically in formal or journalistic contexts for odd events.
• забавный юмор - Droll humor; refers to quirky comedy styles in entertainment.

Usage Notes:

"Droll" corresponds most closely to "забавный" in informal English-Russian exchanges, but "курьезный" is better for more eccentric or unexpected scenarios. Be mindful of context: "забавный" is versatile in everyday speech, while "курьезный" suits written or formal language. Grammatically, always ensure the adjective agrees with the noun in gender, number, and case. When choosing between translations, opt for "забавный" for light-hearted fun and "курьезный" for bizarre twists.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "забавный" in formal writing without proper inflection. For example, saying "забавный история" instead of "забавная история" (feminine noun).

  Correct: забавная история. Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree with the noun's gender; here, "история" is feminine.

• Error: Confusing it with "смешной" and overusing it for any humor. For instance, translating "a droll joke" as "смешной шутка" when "забавная шутка" fits better for quirky humor.

  Correct: забавная шутка. Explanation: "Смешной" implies straightforward fun, while "забавный" captures the odd, whimsical element.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "забавный" often appear in folklore and literature, such as in the works of Chekhov, where everyday eccentricities are highlighted for humor. This reflects a broader appreciation for subtle, ironic humor in Russian society, differing from more slapstick styles in other cultures.

Related Concepts:

• юмор (humor)
• анекдот (anecdote)
• ирония (irony)