Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'eccentric'

English Word: eccentric

Key Russian Translations:

• экцентричный [ɛktsɛnˈtrʲitɕnɨj] - [Formal, used in descriptive contexts for people or behaviors]
• странный [ˈstrannɨj] - [Informal, often implies oddity in a lighter tone]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in literature, media, and everyday conversations about personality traits, but not as frequent as basic adjectives).

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective inflections and nuanced vocabulary; for 'экцентричный', it's B2, while 'странный' is A2-B1).

Pronunciation (Russian):

экцентричный: [ɛktsɛnˈtrʲitɕnɨj] (Stress on the third syllable; the 'ч' sound is a soft palatal fricative, similar to 'ch' in 'church').

странный: [ˈstrannɨj] (Stress on the first syllable; the 'р' is a trilled 'r', common in Russian pronunciation).

Note on экцентричный: This word may have slight variations in fast speech, where the 'ц' sound blends with surrounding consonants; practice with native speakers for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Unconventional or quirky, often describing a person or behavior that deviates from the norm.

Translation(s) & Context:

• экцентричный - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe someone with unusual habits, e.g., in biographies or psychological discussions.
• странный - Applied in informal everyday situations, implying something mildly peculiar without strong negativity.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда был экцентричным художником, который носил яркие костюмы и экспериментировал с необычными материалами.

  He was always an eccentric artist who wore bright costumes and experimented with unusual materials.

• Её экцентричные идеи часто шокировали коллег, но в итоге приводили к инновациям.

  Her eccentric ideas often shocked her colleagues but ultimately led to innovations.

• Этот странный сосед любит разговаривать с растениями, как будто они живые.

  This eccentric neighbor likes to talk to plants as if they were alive.

• В детстве мой дядя был очень странным, собирая редкие насекомых в своём саду.

  In childhood, my uncle was very eccentric, collecting rare insects in his garden.

• Экцентричный стиль этой писательницы сделал её книги бестселлерами по всему миру.

  The eccentric style of this writer made her books bestsellers worldwide.

Meaning 2: Not placed at the center (e.g., in mechanics or geometry, though less common in everyday language).

Translation(s) & Context:

• экцентричный - Used in technical or scientific contexts, such as engineering or physics.

Usage Examples:

• В этой машине экцентричный вал обеспечивает правильное движение шестерёнок.

  In this machine, the eccentric shaft ensures the proper movement of the gears.

• Экцентричный дизайн колеса делает его более устойчивым к вибрациям.

  The eccentric design of the wheel makes it more resistant to vibrations.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'экцентричный' and 'странный' are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Adjectives follow standard patterns, but 'экцентричный' is less common and may feel more formal.

Note: These adjectives do not have irregular inflections; they follow the standard first-declension pattern for hard-stem adjectives.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • необычный (neobychnyy) - Similar but often implies novelty rather than quirkiness.
  • оригинальный (original'nyy) - Emphasizes uniqueness, with a positive connotation.
• Antonyms:
  • обычный (obychnyy) - Standard or normal, used in everyday contexts.
  • нормальный (normal'nyy) - Implies conformity, often in a psychological sense.

Related Phrases:

• Экцентричный человек (Ekstsentricheskiy chelovek) - An eccentric person; refers to someone with unusual personality traits.
• Странные привычки (Strannye privychki) - Eccentric habits; used to describe odd routines in daily life.
• Быть эксцентричным в искусстве (Byt' ekstsentricheskim v iskusstve) - To be eccentric in art; common in creative fields.

Usage Notes:

• While 'eccentric' in English is neutral or positive, 'экцентричный' in Russian can sometimes carry a slightly negative undertone, implying unpredictability; prefer 'странный' for lighter contexts.
• Use 'экцентричный' in formal writing or when discussing historical figures, as it aligns closely with the English term's connotations.
• Be mindful of gender agreement: always inflect the adjective to match the noun it's describing (e.g., экцентричный мужчина for a male, экцентричная женщина for a female).
• When choosing between translations, opt for 'экцентричный' if the context is sophisticated; 'странный' works better in casual conversations.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'экцентричный' without proper inflection, e.g., saying "экцентричный женщина" instead of "экцентричная женщина".
  Correct: Ensure adjective agrees in gender, number, and case.
  Explanation: Russian adjectives must match their nouns; this is a common mistake for English learners due to English's lack of such agreements.
• Error: Confusing 'экцентричный' with 'эксцентрический' (a less common variant), leading to misuse in technical contexts.
  Correct: Stick to 'экцентричный' for general use; in mechanics, verify the exact term.
  Explanation: Overgeneralizing from English can cause word choice errors; always check context.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like 'экцентричный' are often associated with famous artists or intellectuals, such as the poet Vladimir Mayakovsky, who embodied eccentricity in Soviet-era literature. This reflects a cultural appreciation for individuality, though it can also highlight social nonconformity in a society that values collectivism.

Related Concepts:

• оригинальность (original'nost')
• необычность (neobychnost')
• индивидуальность (individual'nost')