Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'gloomy'

English Word: gloomy

Key Russian Translations:

• мрачный [ˈmraʧnɨj] - [Formal, Adjective]
• унылый [ˈunɨlɨj] - [Informal, Adjective]

Frequency: Medium (Commonly used in literature, weather descriptions, and emotional contexts, but not as everyday as basic adjectives like "хороший").

Difficulty: B1 Intermediate (Requires understanding of Russian adjective declensions; "мрачный" is standard, while "унылый" may vary slightly in nuance and is accessible to intermediate learners).

Pronunciation (Russian):

мрачный: [ˈmraʧnɨj]

Note on мрачный: The 'ч' sound is a palatal fricative, similar to 'ch' in English "church." Stress falls on the first syllable, and the ending 'ый' softens the pronunciation.

унылый: [ˈunɨlɨj]

Note on унылый: The 'ы' vowel is a central unrounded sound, distinct from 'и'; it's common in informal speech and can vary regionally.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Describing a dark, depressing atmosphere or mood (e.g., weather, environment, or emotions)

Translation(s) & Context:

• мрачный - Used in formal contexts for describing gloomy weather, landscapes, or moods, often in literature or serious discussions.
• унылый - Applied in informal settings for everyday expressions of boredom or emotional gloom, such as in casual conversations.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: Сегодняшний день был мрачный, с тучами на небе.

  English: Today's day was gloomy, with clouds in the sky.

• Русский: После разрыва она чувствовала себя унылой и подавленной.

  English: After the breakup, she felt gloomy and depressed.

• Русский: Этот мрачный лес всегда вызывал у меня странные ощущения.

  English: This gloomy forest always gave me strange feelings.

• Русский: В унылый вечер мы решили пойти в кино, чтобы развеяться.

  English: On a gloomy evening, we decided to go to the movies to cheer up.

• Русский: Мрачный вид города под дождем усиливал мое одиночество.

  English: The gloomy sight of the city in the rain intensified my loneliness.

Meaning 2: Figurative use for something dull or disheartening (e.g., prospects or situations)

Translation(s) & Context:

• унылый - Common in informal narratives for describing uninteresting or gloomy situations, like daily routines.
• мрачный - Used formally for more serious contexts, such as economic forecasts or emotional states.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: Перспективы на будущее кажутся унылыми без изменений.

  English: The prospects for the future seem gloomy without changes.

• Русский: Его мрачный взгляд на жизнь отпугивает друзей.

  English: His gloomy view on life scares away friends.

• Русский: Унылый рабочий день наконец закончился.

  English: The gloomy workday finally ended.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "мрачный" and "унылый" are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Russian adjectives follow a regular pattern for most cases, but they must agree with the nouns they modify.

Form	мрачный (e.g., masculine)	унылый (e.g., masculine)
Masculine Singular Nominative	мрачный	унылый
Feminine Singular Nominative	мрачная	унылая
Neuter Singular Nominative	мрачное	унылое
Plural Nominative	мрачные	унылые
Genitive (e.g., of the gloomy)	мрачного (masc.), мрачной (fem.), мрачного (neut.), мрачных (plur.)	унылого (masc.), унылой (fem.), унылого (neut.), унылых (plur.)

Note: These are regular first-declension adjectives. They do not have irregular forms, but always agree with the noun in gender, number, and case.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: темный (dark, with a focus on literal darkness), грустный (sad, more emotional)
• Antonyms: веселый (cheerful, opposite in mood), яркий (bright, opposite in atmosphere)

Related Phrases:

• мрачный пейзаж - A gloomy landscape; used to describe desolate or foreboding scenes in art or nature.
• унылый вечер - A gloomy evening; often refers to a dull, uneventful end to the day in casual talk.
• мрачный прогноз - A gloomy forecast; common in news for pessimistic predictions, like weather or economics.

Usage Notes:

"Глооми" corresponds closely to "мрачный" in formal contexts and "унылый" in informal ones. Choose "мрачный" for literary or professional settings, as it conveys a deeper, more intense gloom, while "унылый" suits everyday conversations for a lighter, more mundane sadness. Be mindful of adjective agreement in Russian sentences; for example, it must match the noun's case, like "в мрачном лесу" (in the gloomy forest). Avoid direct word-for-word translations, as Russian often emphasizes emotional depth through context.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "мрачный" without proper declension, e.g., saying "в мрачный дом" instead of "в мрачный дом" (correct, but learners might forget in other cases like genitive: "of the gloomy house" should be "мрачного дома"). Correct: Ensure agreement, e.g., "в мрачном доме" for locative. Explanation: Russian requires adjectives to inflect, unlike English, which can lead to grammatical errors.
• Error: Confusing "мрачный" with "темный," using it for literal darkness. Correct: Use "мрачный" for emotional gloom, not just physical darkness. Explanation: "Темный" means physically dark, while "мрачный" implies a mood, so misuse can alter the intended meaning.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "мрачный" often evoke the vast, introspective landscapes of Russian literature (e.g., in works by Tolstoy or Chekhov), where gloomy settings symbolize deeper existential themes. "Унылый" might reflect the melancholic undertones in Russian folk songs or daily life during long winters, highlighting a cultural appreciation for sorrow as a path to reflection rather than avoidance.

Related Concepts:

• грустный
• меланхоличный
• тоскливый