Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'drowsy'

English Word: drowsy

Key Russian Translations:

• сонный /ˈson.nɨj/ - [Informal, Everyday use]

Frequency: Medium (Common in daily conversations about fatigue, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "to be")

Difficulty: A2 (Elementary; straightforward adjective for beginners, as it follows standard Russian adjectival patterns)

Pronunciation (Russian):

сонный: /ˈson.nɨj/

Note on сонный: The stress is on the first syllable (/ˈson/), and the vowel in the second syllable can vary slightly in casual speech, sounding more like /ɨ/ in standard Russian. Pay attention to the soft 'н' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: Feeling sleepy, tired, or half-asleep, often due to fatigue or lack of rest.

Translation(s) & Context:

• сонный - Used in informal or everyday contexts to describe a state of drowsiness, such as after a meal or a long day. It can apply to people, animals, or even situations (e.g., a drowsy atmosphere).

Usage Examples:

• Я чувствую себя сонным после обеда.

  I feel drowsy after lunch. (This example shows the adjective in a personal, everyday context, highlighting physical fatigue.)

• Дети выглядят сонными во время длинного урока.

  The children look drowsy during a long lesson. (Illustrates use with plural subjects and in an educational setting.)

• Его сонный взгляд беспокоил меня.

  His drowsy gaze worried me. (Demonstrates the adjective modifying a noun in a more descriptive, emotional context.)

• После бессонной ночи она стала сонной и рассеянной.

  After a sleepless night, she became drowsy and distracted. (Shows combination with other states, emphasizing cause and effect.)

• В теплой комнате все становятся сонными.

  In the warm room, everyone becomes drowsy. (Exemplifies use in a general, environmental context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Сонный is an adjective in Russian, which means it inflects based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives generally follow a regular pattern for hard-stem adjectives. Below is a table showing its basic forms in the nominative case; it changes in other cases (e.g., genitive, accusative) according to standard rules.

Note: In other cases, it follows the hard adjective declension (e.g., genitive singular: сонного for masculine). This is a regular pattern, so learners should practice with standard adjective paradigms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • утомленный - Similar to "tired," but implies more physical exhaustion; often used in formal contexts.
  • вялый - Conveys a sense of lethargy or weakness, with a slight nuance of lack of energy.
• Antonyms:
  • бодрый - Meaning "alert" or "energetic," used for the opposite state of wakefulness.
  • энергичный - Implies high energy, contrasting with the passivity of "drowsy."

Related Phrases:

• сонный после еды - Drowsy after eating; often refers to post-meal fatigue, a common experience.
• сонный вид - Drowsy appearance; used to describe someone's tired facial expression in casual descriptions.
• стать сонным - To become drowsy; a phrase for describing the onset of sleepiness in narratives.

Usage Notes:

Сонный directly corresponds to "drowsy" in English as an adjective describing a state of sleepiness. It must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies, which is a key grammatical feature in Russian. For example, use it informally in daily conversations, but avoid in very formal writing where more precise terms like "утомленный" might be preferred. When choosing between translations, opt for "сонный" for general sleepiness, but consider context: it's ideal for physical tiredness rather than emotional states. Learners should note that Russian adjectives like this can be used predicatively (e.g., "Я сонный") or attributively (e.g., "сонный ребенок").

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "сонный" without proper agreement, e.g., saying "сонный женщина" instead of "сонная женщина" (for feminine noun).

  Correct: Сонная женщина (The drowsy woman). Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender; this mistake often stems from English habits where adjectives don't inflect.

• Error: Confusing "сонный" with "спящий" (sleeping), leading to misuse like "Он сонный" when meaning "He is asleep."

  Correct: Он сонный (He is drowsy) vs. Он спящий (He is sleeping). Explanation: "Сонный" implies a state of near-sleep, not actual sleep, so context is crucial to avoid overlap.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, feeling "drowsy" (сонный) is often linked to the tradition of afternoon rests or "siestas," especially in rural areas or during hot summers. This reflects a broader cultural acceptance of fatigue as a natural response to daily life, unlike in some fast-paced Western cultures. Words like "сонный" can evoke a cozy, introspective connotation, tied to literature and folklore where drowsiness symbolizes reflection or laziness.

Related Concepts:

• усталый (tired)
• бессонница (insomnia)
• сон (sleep)