Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'eccentricity'

English Word: eccentricity

Key Russian Translations:

• эксцентричность [ɛks.t͡sɛnˈtrʲit͡ɕ.nəsʲtʲ] - [Formal]
• странность [ˈstrannəsʲtʲ] - [Informal, used in everyday conversation]

Frequency: Medium (This word is not extremely common but appears in literary, psychological, or descriptive contexts.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate level, as it involves understanding abstract concepts and nominal inflections; 'эксцентричность' may be slightly harder for beginners due to its length and borrowed roots.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

эксцентричность: [ɛks.t͡sɛnˈtrʲit͡ɕ.nəsʲtʲ]

странность: [ˈstrannəsʲtʲ]

Note on эксцентричность: This word has stress on the third syllable ('trʲit͡ɕ'), which can be tricky for learners; it derives from English and is pronounced with a soft 'т'. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. The quality of being unconventional, peculiar, or slightly strange in behavior or ideas.

Translation(s) & Context:

• эксцентричность - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe personality traits, often in psychology or art criticism.
• странность - Applied in informal settings for everyday oddities, such as quirky habits.

Usage Examples:

• Его эксцентричность проявляется в необычных нарядах и привычках.

  His eccentricity is evident in his unusual outfits and habits.

• Странность её характера часто отпугивает новых знакомых.

  The strangeness of her character often scares off new acquaintances.

• В этом городе ценят эксцентричность, особенно среди художников.

  In this city, eccentricity is valued, especially among artists.

• Его странность в еде — есть только синие продукты — стала легендой.

  His strangeness with food—eating only blue items—has become legendary.

• Эксцентричность великих писателей часто вдохновляет молодое поколение.

  The eccentricity of great writers often inspires the younger generation.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are feminine nouns. 'Эксцентричность' belongs to the first declension (first conjugation for nominal forms), while 'странность' follows standard patterns. They exhibit regular inflections based on Russian grammar rules for nouns.

These nouns do not have irregular forms but change endings based on case and number, which is standard for Russian feminine nouns ending in -ость.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: странность (more casual), оригинальность (emphasizing creativity)
• Antonyms: нормальность (normality, implying conformity), обыденность (ordinariness, used for everyday routine)

Related Phrases:

• Выказывать эксцентричность - To exhibit eccentricity; used when describing overt behavior in social settings.
• Странность характера - Peculiarity of character; a common phrase in psychological or biographical contexts.
• Эксцентричность в искусстве - Eccentricity in art; often refers to innovative or unconventional artistic expressions.

Usage Notes:

'Эксцентричность' directly corresponds to the English 'eccentricity' in formal contexts, such as literature or psychology, and is preferred for abstract discussions. 'Странность' is a looser equivalent, better suited for informal or everyday use. Be mindful of context: in Russian, these words often carry a neutral or positive connotation in creative fields but can imply criticism in professional settings. Grammatically, they are invariable in gender but inflect by case, so always adjust based on sentence structure (e.g., use genitive for possession). When choosing between translations, opt for 'эксцентричность' if the English word implies intellectual or artistic quirkiness.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'эксцентриситет' (a non-existent word) instead of 'эксцентричность'. Correct: 'эксцентричность' is the proper form. Explanation: Learners often borrow directly from English spelling, but Russian adapts it with the suffix '-ость' for abstract nouns.

• Mistake: Failing to inflect properly, e.g., saying 'Его эксцентричность' in dative case as 'Его эксцентричность' instead of 'Его эксцентричности'. Correct: Adjust to 'эксцентричности' for dative. Explanation: This error stems from treating Russian nouns as uninflected like English ones, leading to grammatical inconsistencies.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, eccentricity (эксцентричность) is often celebrated in literature and art, as seen in the works of authors like Mikhail Bulgakov or poets of the Silver Age. It can symbolize intellectual freedom but may also highlight social nonconformity, reflecting historical tensions between tradition and innovation in Russian society.

Related Concepts:

• оригинальность
• ненормальность
• характерные черты