Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'hysterical'

English Word: hysterical

Key Russian Translations:

• истерический [ˌɪs.tʲɪˈrʲɪ.t͡ɕɪ.skʲɪj] - [Formal, Adjective; Used in contexts of extreme emotion or uncontrolled behavior]
• смешной до истерики [ˈsmʲeʂ.nɨj ˈdo ɪs.tʲɪˈrʲɪ.kʲɪ] - [Informal; Used specifically for something hilariously funny, often in casual conversation]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literary, psychological, and everyday humorous contexts, but not as frequent as basic adjectives like "смешной").

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate for "истерический" due to its association with psychological terms; A2 for "смешной" in humorous contexts, as it's more straightforward).

Pronunciation (Russian):

истерический: [ˌɪs.tʲɪˈrʲɪ.t͡ɕɪ.skʲɪj] (Stress on the fourth syllable; the 'ч' sound is a palatalized affricate, which can be challenging for English speakers.)

смешной до истерики: [ˈsmʲeʂ.nɨj ˈdo ɪs.tʲɪˈrʲɪ.kʲɪ] (The 'ш' in 'смешной' is a soft fricative; practice the vowel reductions in unstressed syllables.)

Note on истерический: This word often involves a soft 'т' sound, which may sound like 't'y' to English ears; be mindful of regional variations in Russia.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Meaning: Uncontrollably emotional or frantic (e.g., due to hysteria or extreme distress).

Translation(s) & Context:

• истерический - Used in formal or medical contexts, such as describing a panic attack or emotional outburst.

Usage Examples:

• Она была в истерическом состоянии после новости о аварии.

  She was in a hysterical state after hearing the news about the accident.

• Его истерический смех эхом разнесся по комнате.

  His hysterical laughter echoed through the room.

• В фильме главная героиня демонстрирует истерическое поведение под стрессом.

  In the movie, the main character exhibits hysterical behavior under stress.

• Истерический крик ребенка разбудил всю семью.

  The hysterical cry of the child woke up the entire family.

2. Meaning: Extremely funny or laugh-out-loud amusing.

Translation(s) & Context:

• смешной до истерики - Used in informal, everyday contexts, like describing a comedy show or a joke.

Usage Examples:

• Этот комик делает шутки, смешные до истерики, и публика не может остановиться.

  This comedian tells jokes that are funny to the point of hysteria, and the audience can't stop laughing.

• Фильм был смешным до истерики, особенно сцена с котом.

  The movie was hysterical, especially the scene with the cat.

• Её рассказ был смешным до истерики, что заставило всех хохотать.

  Her story was so funny it was hysterical, making everyone burst into laughter.

• В этой серии сериала юмор смешной до истерики, но с ноткой сатиры.

  In this episode of the series, the humor is hysterical but with a touch of satire.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"истерический" is an adjective, so it follows standard Russian adjective declension patterns, which are regular but require attention to gender, number, and case. It does not have irregular forms.

"смешной до истерики" is a phrase rather than a single inflected word, so it remains invariant in most contexts, though "смешной" itself follows standard adjective inflections if used alone.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • эмоциональный (emotsional'nyy) - More neutral, used for general strong emotions.
  • неистовый (neistovyy) - Implies wild or unrestrained, with a slight nuance of frenzy.
• Antonyms:
  • спокойный (spokoynyy) - Calm and composed.
  • серьёзный (seryoznyy) - Serious, lacking humor or emotion.

Related Phrases:

• истерический смех (hysterical laughter) - A phrase for uncontrollable laughing fits, often in comedic situations.
• до истерики забавный (funny to the point of hysteria) - Describes something hilariously entertaining, with an emphasis on exaggeration.
• истерика на пустом месте (hysteria over nothing) - Used for overreactions to minor issues, implying unnecessary drama.

Usage Notes:

"истерический" directly corresponds to the emotional sense of "hysterical" in English, but it's more formal and often linked to psychological contexts in Russian. Avoid using it in casual humor unless emphasizing extremity. For the funny sense, "смешной до истерики" is preferable in informal settings. Be cautious with gender agreement when inflecting, as Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender, number, and case. When choosing between translations, opt for "истерический" in medical or dramatic scenarios and "смешной до истерики" for light-hearted ones.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "истерический" without proper inflection, e.g., saying "истерический женщина" instead of "истерическая женщина".
  Correct: Ensure agreement, as in "истерическая женщина". Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree with the nouns they modify, which English learners often overlook.
• Mistake: Confusing it with "истерика" (a noun meaning hysteria), leading to phrases like "я истерический" instead of "я в истерике".
  Correct: Use "истерический" as an adjective only, e.g., "истерическое состояние". Explanation: "истерический" describes something, while "истерика" is the state itself, so context is key to avoid misuse.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "истерический" can carry a historical connotation from Freudian psychology, often linked to stereotypes of emotional women in literature (e.g., in 19th-century Russian novels). This may imply gender biases, so use it carefully in modern contexts to avoid reinforcing outdated tropes.

Related Concepts:

• эмоциональный
• сатира
• психология