Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'extraordinary'

English Word: extraordinary

Key Russian Translations:

• необычный [nʲɪɐˈobɨt͡ɕnɨj] - [Adjective, Formal/Informal, used to describe something unusual or remarkable in everyday contexts]
• исключительный [ɪsklʲʊˈt͡ɕɪtʲɪlʲnɨj] - [Adjective, Formal, often used for something outstanding or exceptional, especially in professional or academic settings]

Frequency: Medium (The word and its translations are commonly encountered in literature, media, and conversation, but not as basic as everyday adjectives like "good").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of adjective forms and nuances, though for 'необычный' it might be A2 for beginners, while 'исключительный' could lean towards B2 due to its formal connotations).

Pronunciation (Russian):

необычный: [nʲɪɐˈobɨt͡ɕnɨj]

Note on необычный: The stress falls on the third syllable ("ob"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to Russian's vowel reductions in unstressed positions. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

исключительный: [ɪsklʲʊˈt͡ɕɪtʲɪlʲnɨj]

Note on исключительный: Pay attention to the soft sign (ь) affecting the preceding consonant, making it palatalized; this is a common feature in Russian adjectives.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Unusual or remarkable (adjective)

Translation(s) & Context:

• необычный - Typically used in informal or neutral contexts to describe something that stands out as different or surprising, such as in daily conversations or descriptions.
• исключительный - Applied in more formal contexts, like legal, academic, or professional discussions, to emphasize rarity or excellence.

Usage Examples:

• Это необычный фильм, полный неожиданных поворотов. (Eto neobychnyy fil'm, polnyy neozhidannyh povorotov.)

  This is an extraordinary film, full of unexpected twists.

• Его необычный талант сделал его знаменитым. (Yego neobychnyy talant sdelal yego znamenitym.)

  His extraordinary talent made him famous.

• В этом ресторане подают исключительные блюда из местных продуктов. (V etom restorane podavayut isklyuchitel'nyye blyuda iz mestnyh produktov.)

  This restaurant serves extraordinary dishes made from local ingredients.

• Необычный дизайн дома привлек много внимания. (Neobychnyy dizayn doma privlek mnogo vnimaniya.)

  The extraordinary design of the house attracted a lot of attention.

• Её исключительная смелость в трудных ситуациях заслуживает уважения. (Yeyo isklyuchitel'naya smelost' v trudnyh situatsiyah zasluzhivaet uvazheniya.)

  Her extraordinary bravery in difficult situations deserves respect.

Exceptional or outstanding (adjective, more formal)

Translation(s) & Context:

• исключительный - Used when emphasizing uniqueness or superiority, often in written or official language.
• необычный - Can overlap but is less formal, suitable for casual emphasis on peculiarity.

Usage Examples:

• Исключительный случай потребовал немедленного вмешательства. (Isklyuchitel'nyy sluchay potreboval nemedlennogo vmeshatel'stva.)

  The extraordinary case required immediate intervention.

• Этот исключительный подарок тронул меня до слёз. (Etot isklyuchitel'nyy podarok tronul menya do slyoz.)

  This extraordinary gift moved me to tears.

• Необычный подход к проблеме принёс неожиданный успех. (Neobychnyy podhod k probleme prinyos neozhidannyy uspekh.)

  The extraordinary approach to the problem brought unexpected success.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'необычный' and 'исключительный' are adjectives, which in Russian inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow standard patterns for most cases.

These adjectives follow regular patterns without irregularities, but always ensure agreement with the noun in gender, number, and case.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • странный (strannyy) - Similar to 'unusual', but with a connotation of oddity; used for something peculiar.
  • редкий (redkiy) - Implies rarity, often interchangeable with 'extraordinary' in contexts of scarcity.
  • удивительный (udivitel'nyy) - Emphasizes amazement, slightly more emotional than 'необычный'.
• Antonyms:
  • обычный (obychnyy) - Means 'ordinary' or 'normal', directly opposite to 'extraordinary'.
  • стандартный (standartnyy) - Refers to something standard or typical.

Related Phrases:

• необычный случай (neobychnyy sluchay) - An extraordinary case; used in narratives or legal contexts to describe rare events.
• исключительное право (isklyuchitel'noye pravo) - Exclusive right; common in business or intellectual property discussions.
• необычный опыт (neobychnyy opyt) - Extraordinary experience; often in travel or personal stories to highlight uniqueness.

Usage Notes:

Choose 'необычный' for everyday, neutral descriptions of something unusual, as it aligns closely with the informal English use of 'extraordinary'. 'Исключительный' is better for formal or emphatic contexts, similar to 'exceptional' in English, and may carry a sense of superiority. Be mindful of adjective agreement in Russian sentences, ensuring the form matches the noun's gender, number, and case. In spoken Russian, 'необычный' is versatile across registers, while 'исключительный' is more common in written or professional language.

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse 'необычный' with 'странный', using 'странный' to mean 'extraordinary' when it actually implies 'weird'. Correct: Use 'необычный' for positive or neutral extraordinariness, e.g., "Это необычный дом" instead of "Это странный дом" (This is an extraordinary house, not This is a strange house).

• Misapplying case: Forgetting to change the adjective form, e.g., saying "Я видел необычный" in genitive context instead of "Я видел необычного". Correct: Always inflect based on the noun, as in "Я видел необычного человека" (I saw an extraordinary person).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'необычный' often reflect a appreciation for the unconventional, as seen in literature (e.g., in works by Tolstoy or Chekhov, where extraordinary events highlight human resilience). However, 'исключительный' may carry a Soviet-era connotation of elite status, reminding users of historical contexts where exclusivity denoted privilege.

Related Concepts:

• удивительный (udivitel'nyy)
• замечательный (zamechatel'nyy)
• редкий (redkiy)