Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'drunken'

English Word: drunken

Key Russian Translations:

• пьяный [ˈpʲjanɨj] - [Informal, Common everyday usage]
• опьяненный [ɐˈpʲjanʲɪnɨj] - [Formal, Literary or descriptive contexts]

Frequency: Medium (The word is commonly used in casual conversations about alcohol consumption but not as ubiquitous as basic everyday terms.)

Difficulty: Intermediate (B1-B2 on CEFR scale; involves understanding adjective inflections and contextual nuances. For 'пьяный', it's straightforward; for 'опьяненный', it may be slightly harder due to its formal nature.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

пьяный: [ˈpʲjanɨj]

опьяненный: [ɐˈpʲjanʲɪnɨj]

Note on пьяный: The initial 'пь' sound is a soft palatalized 'p' followed by 'ya', which can be challenging for English speakers due to the Russian soft consonants; practice the 'й' glide for accuracy.

Note on опьяненный: This word has a stressed 'a' in the second syllable, and the ending '-енный' often softens in speech; listen for variations in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Intoxicated by alcohol (Describes a state of being drunk or under the influence)

Translation(s) & Context:

• пьяный - Used in informal, everyday situations, such as describing someone at a party or in social settings.
• опьяненный - Applied in more formal or narrative contexts, like literature or official reports, to emphasize a deeper state of intoxication.

Usage Examples:

• Он был пьяный после долгого праздника и едва стоял на ногах.

  He was drunken after the long holiday and could barely stand on his feet.

• Пьяный водитель вызвал аварию на оживленной улице.

  The drunken driver caused an accident on the busy street.

• Опьяненный вином, он начал петь песни из детства.

  Drunken with wine, he started singing songs from his childhood.

• В баре все были пьяные, но атмосфера оставалась веселой.

  In the bar, everyone was drunken, but the atmosphere remained cheerful.

• Опьяненный успехом, он забыл о своих обещаниях.

  Drunken with success, he forgot about his promises. (Note: This extends metaphorically to non-alcohol contexts.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'пьяный' and 'опьяненный' are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. 'Пьяный' is a short-form adjective in some contexts but typically long-form; 'опьяненный' follows standard adjective patterns with potential irregularities in participles.

Note: These adjectives do not change in short form for 'пьяный' in some predicative uses (e.g., "Он пьян"), which is invariant.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • захмелевший - Similar to 'пьяный' but implies a lighter, tipsy state; often used for early stages of intoxication.
  • навеселе - Informal synonym for mildly drunken, with a connotation of cheerfulness.
• Antonyms:
  • трезвый - Directly opposite, meaning sober or clear-headed.
  • вменяемый - Implies being mentally sound and not intoxicated.

Related Phrases:

• пьяный в стельку - Literally "drunken to the sole," meaning extremely drunk; used in informal contexts to describe heavy intoxication.
• опьяненный властью - "Drunken with power," a metaphorical phrase for being overwhelmed by authority or success.
• пьяный угар - "Drunken frenzy," referring to wild, alcohol-fueled excitement in social settings.

Usage Notes:

'Пьяный' is the most direct and common translation for 'drunken' in everyday English-Russian contexts, especially for describing alcohol-induced states, but it carries an informal tone and should be avoided in formal writing where 'опьяненный' is preferred for its neutrality. In Russian, these adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, which differs from English's invariant adjectives. For example, use 'пьяный' in casual conversations but consider cultural sensitivities around alcohol in Russia. When choosing between translations, opt for 'пьяный' for literal drunkenness and 'опьяненный' for metaphorical uses like being 'drunken with joy'.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'пьяный' without proper inflection, e.g., saying "пьяный женщина" instead of "пьяная женщина" (for feminine noun).

  Correct: пьяная женщина (drunken woman). Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender; this mistake often occurs due to English influence where adjectives don't change.

• Error: Confusing 'пьяный' with 'пьян' (short form), e.g., using it incorrectly in sentences like "Он пьян" but then over-extending it.

  Correct: Use 'пьян' only in predicative positions (e.g., "Он пьян"), not as a modifier. Explanation: Learners might misuse short forms, leading to grammatical errors in complex sentences.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'пьяный' are tied to the historical prevalence of alcohol consumption, often linked to social gatherings, holidays, or even literature (e.g., in works by Dostoevsky). However, due to rising awareness of alcohol-related issues, using such terms can carry negative connotations in modern contexts, emphasizing the need for sensitivity in discussions about intoxication.

Related Concepts:

• алкоголь (alcohol)
• трезвость (sobriety)
• веселая компания (merry company, often implying social drinking)