Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'extremely'

English Word: extremely

Key Russian Translations:

• крайне [ˈkrajnʲe] - [Formal, used for emphasizing extremity]
• чрезвычайно [t͡ɕrʲɪzˈvʲat͡ɕnə] - [Formal, implies exceptional degree]
• исключительно [ɪsklʲʊˈʧʲɪtʲnə] - [Formal, often in contexts of exclusivity or rarity]

Frequency: High (commonly used in both everyday conversations and formal writing, especially in descriptive language)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of adverbs and contextual nuances. For 'крайне', it's straightforward; for 'чрезвычайно', it may be slightly more advanced due to its formal tone.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

крайне: [ˈkrajnʲe]

чрезвычайно: [t͡ɕrʲɪzˈvʲat͡ɕnə]

исключительно: [ɪsklʲʊˈʧʲɪtʲnə]

Note on крайне: The stress falls on the first syllable; be careful with the soft 'н' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers.

Note on чрезвычайно: Pronounce the initial 'ч' as a voiceless palatal fricative, similar to 'ch' in 'loch' in Scottish English.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: To a very great or extreme degree (e.g., intensifying adjectives or descriptions)

Translation(s) & Context:

• крайне - Used in formal contexts to emphasize something as highly significant or intense, such as in professional or academic settings.
• чрезвычайно - Applied in situations requiring exceptional emphasis, like emergencies or extraordinary circumstances.
• исключительно - Often used for unique or outstanding qualities, in contexts like evaluations or critiques.

Usage Examples:

• Это крайне важно для успеха проекта.

  This is extremely important for the project's success. (Demonstrates use in a formal business context.)

• Погода была чрезвычайно холодной прошлой зимой.

  The weather was extremely cold last winter. (Shows intensification of an adjective in a descriptive scenario.)

• Его речь была исключительно убедительной.

  His speech was extremely convincing. (Illustrates use in evaluative or persuasive contexts.)

• Крайне редко встречаются такие таланты в молодом возрасте.

  Such talents are extremely rare at a young age. (Highlights rarity and formal emphasis.)

• Чрезвычайно трудно освоить русский язык без практики.

  It is extremely difficult to master the Russian language without practice. (Emphasizes challenge in an educational context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are adverbs, which in Russian typically do not inflect for gender, number, or case. They remain unchanged across contexts:

• крайне: Invariable; always used as is, regardless of the word it modifies.
• чрезвычайно: Also invariable; no changes for tense, person, or agreement.
• исключительно: Unchanging; functions independently as an adverb without morphological variations.

For completeness, here's a simple table outlining their behavior (though they don't inflect):

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • очень (very; more general and less intense than крайне)
  • сильно (strongly; used for physical or emotional intensity)
  • высоко (highly; in contexts of quality or degree)
• Antonyms:
  • немного (a little; implies minimal degree)
  • слегка (slightly; for subtle modifications)
  • вовсе не (not at all; complete negation)

Related Phrases:

• крайне важно - extremely important; a common phrase in professional or decision-making contexts to highlight urgency.
• чрезвычайно интересно - extremely interesting; used in educational or conversational settings to express fascination.
• исключительно качественный - extremely high-quality; often appears in product reviews or evaluations to denote superiority.

Usage Notes:

These translations correspond closely to 'extremely' in English, but 'крайне' is preferred for formal emphasis, while 'чрезвычайно' suits emergency or exceptional scenarios. Be mindful of context: in everyday Russian, 'очень' might suffice for less intense situations. Grammatically, these adverbs precede the adjective or verb they modify, e.g., 'крайне интересный' (extremely interesting). When choosing among translations, opt for 'крайне' in standard formal writing and 'исключительно' for uniqueness. Avoid overuse to prevent sounding overly dramatic.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Confusing 'крайне' with 'очень' and using them interchangeably. For example, learners might say 'Это очень важно' when 'крайне важно' is needed for greater emphasis.

  Correct: Это крайне важно (This is extremely important). Explanation: 'Очень' implies 'very' without the same level of extremity, so it dilutes the meaning in formal contexts.

• Mistake: Misplacing the adverb in a sentence, such as putting it after the adjective (e.g., 'важно крайне').

  Correct: Крайне важно. Explanation: In Russian, adverbs like these typically precede the word they modify for natural flow.

• Mistake: Overusing 'чрезвычайно' in non-emergency contexts, making speech sound exaggerated.

  Correct: Use 'крайне' for general extremity. Explanation: 'Чрезвычайно' is reserved for truly exceptional cases to maintain appropriateness.

Cultural Notes:

These adverbs don't carry strong cultural connotations in Russian, but they reflect the language's precision in expressing degrees of intensity, which is common in Russian literature and formal discourse. For instance, Russian communication often employs such words to convey emotional depth or intellectual rigor, influenced by the language's historical roots in Slavic traditions.

Related Concepts:

• очень
• сильно
• высоко
• немного