Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'identical'

English Word: identical

Key Russian Translations:

• идентичный /i.dʲɪˈtʲen.tʲnɨj/ - [Formal; used in technical or precise contexts]
• одинаковый /ɐ.dʲɪˈna.kə.vɨj/ - [Informal; general everyday use]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in formal writing, technical discussions, and everyday comparisons, but not as frequent as basic adjectives)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective agreement and formal vocabulary; for 'идентичный', it's more advanced due to its technical connotation, while 'одинаковый' is closer to B1)

Pronunciation (Russian):

идентичный: /i.dʲɪˈtʲen.tʲnɨj/ (Stress on the third syllable; the 'тʲ' indicates a palatalized 't', which can be challenging for English speakers.)

одинаковый: /ɐ.dʲɪˈna.kə.vɨj/ (Stress on the second syllable; note the soft 'дʲ' sound, common in Russian adjectives.)

Note on идентичный: This word often has a slight emphasis on the 'en' sound, which can vary in fast speech; beginners may confuse it with similar-sounding words like 'идентифицировать'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Exactly the same in every detail

Translation(s) & Context:

• идентичный - Used in formal, scientific, or legal contexts where precision is key, such as describing identical objects or data.
• одинаковый - Applied in informal or everyday situations to mean similar or alike, but less precise than 'идентичный'.

Usage Examples:

• Эти два документа идентичны во всех деталях.

  These two documents are identical in every detail.

• Близнецы имеют одинаковые черты лица, но их характеры могут отличаться.

  Twins have identical facial features, but their personalities may differ.

• В лаборатории мы проверили, идентичны ли образцы по химическому составу.

  In the lab, we checked if the samples were identical in chemical composition.

• Эти яблоки одинаковые по размеру, но разный вкус.

  These apples are identical in size, but have different tastes.

• Программы должны быть идентичны, чтобы избежать ошибок в системе.

  The programs must be identical to avoid errors in the system.

Meaning 2: Indistinguishable or matching perfectly

Translation(s) & Context:

• идентичный - In contexts involving duplicates, copies, or replicas, emphasizing exactness.
• одинаковый - In casual comparisons, like clothing or items that look the same.

Usage Examples:

• Ключи к сейфу идентичны, так что любой из них подойдет.

  The keys to the safe are identical, so any of them will work.

• У них одинаковые сумки, но цвета слегка отличаются.

  They have identical bags, but the colors are slightly different.

• Эти фото идентичны оригиналу.

  These photos are identical to the original.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'идентичный' and 'одинаковый' are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow standard patterns for hard-stem adjectives.

For 'идентичный' (a hard-stem adjective):

For 'одинаковый' (also a hard-stem adjective), the inflections are identical in pattern:

These adjectives do not have irregular forms, but always agree with the noun they modify in gender, number, and case.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • однородный (odnorodnyy) - Similar, but implies uniformity in composition.
  • такой же (takoy zhe) - Exactly the same, more colloquial.
• Antonyms:
  • разный (raznyy) - Different, varying.
  • отличный (otlichnyy) - Distinct, not the same.

Related Phrases:

• идентичные близнецы - Identical twins; used in discussions about genetics or family.
• одинаковые условия - Identical conditions; common in legal or scientific contexts, meaning equal circumstances.
• быть идентичным оригиналу - To be identical to the original; refers to copies or replicas in art or manufacturing.

Usage Notes:

Choose 'идентичный' for precise, formal contexts where exact similarity is emphasized, such as in science or law, as it directly mirrors the English 'identical' in connotation. 'одинаковый' is better for everyday situations where things are similar but not necessarily exact. Be mindful of adjective agreement: always match gender, number, and case with the noun (e.g., 'идентичный дом' for a masculine noun). In spoken Russian, 'одинаковый' might sound more natural in casual conversations, while 'идентичный' could come across as overly technical.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'идентичный' in informal settings without agreement, e.g., saying "идентичный книги" instead of "идентичная книга" (for a feminine noun).
  Correct: "идентичная книга" – Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree in gender; this error often stems from English speakers treating adjectives as invariable.
• Mistake: Confusing 'идентичный' with 'идентифицировать' (to identify), leading to misuse like "Я идентичный это" instead of "Это идентично".
  Correct: "Это идентично тому" – Explanation: 'Идентичный' is an adjective, not a verb; ensure proper part of speech usage.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of 'identical' often ties into themes of conformity and collectivism, as seen in historical contexts like Soviet-era standardization. For instance, 'идентичные' might evoke ideas of uniformity in education or manufacturing, reflecting cultural values of equality, though modern usage leans more toward precision in technology and science.

Related Concepts:

• аналогичный (analogichnyy)
• похожий (pokhozhiy)
• оригинальный (original'nyy)