Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'impossible'

English Word: impossible

Key Russian Translations:

• невозможный [nʲɪvɐˈmoʒnɨj] - [Formal, Adjective]
• невозможно [nʲɪvɐˈmoʒnə] - [Informal, Adverbial form, Used in statements or to express impossibility]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday and formal contexts, but not as frequent as basic adjectives like "good" or "bad")

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; involves understanding adjective and adverb forms, with irregular stress patterns that may challenge learners)

Pronunciation (Russian):

невозможный: [nʲɪvɐˈmoʒnɨj]

Note on невозможный: The stress falls on the third syllable ("mo"), which is a common challenge for English speakers due to Russian's complex stress rules. Be mindful of the palatalized 'n' sound.

невозможно: [nʲɪvɐˈmoʒnə]

Note on невозможно: This is an adverb and remains relatively invariant, but the final vowel can soften in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Not possible; unable to occur, be done, or exist.

Translation(s) & Context:

• невозможный - Used as an adjective to describe something that cannot happen, often in formal or descriptive contexts, such as scientific or philosophical discussions.
• невозможно - Used as an adverb or impersonal form to state that something cannot be achieved, common in everyday conversations or exclamations.

Usage Examples:

• Это невозможно сделать за один день.

  This is impossible to do in one day. (Shows adverbial use in a practical, time-constrained context.)

• Невозможный сценарий привел к катастрофе в фильме.

  The impossible scenario led to a catastrophe in the movie. (Demonstrates adjectival use in narrative or fictional settings.)

• Для него невозможно жить без музыки.

  For him, it's impossible to live without music. (Illustrates personal or emotional contexts with the adverbial form.)

• Невозможные задачи часто вдохновляют на творчество.

  Impossible tasks often inspire creativity. (Highlights motivational or abstract usage of the adjective.)

• Это невозможно, но давай попробуем.

  This is impossible, but let's try anyway. (Shows informal, conversational tone with a hint of irony.)

Meaning 2: Something that is not feasible or practical in reality.

Translation(s) & Context:

• невозможно - Often used in hypothetical or advisory contexts, such as giving warnings or expressing limitations.

Usage Examples:

• Невозможно пересечь океан пешком.

  It's impossible to cross the ocean on foot. (Emphasizes physical impossibility in educational or explanatory contexts.)

• Это невозможно в текущих условиях.

  This is impossible under the current conditions. (Demonstrates use in professional or situational analysis.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

невозможный is an adjective and follows standard Russian adjective declension patterns, which are regular but depend on gender, number, and case. невозможно is an adverb and does not inflect.

For невозможно, it remains unchanged across contexts as it is an invariant adverb.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • невыполнимый (nevypolnimyy) - Similar but often implies tasks that cannot be completed due to practical reasons.
  • недоступный (nedostupnyy) - Used for things that are unreachable or inaccessible.
• Antonyms:
  • возможный (vozmozhnyy)
  • осуществимый (osushchestvimyy)

Related Phrases:

• невозможно представить (nevozmozhno predstavit') - Meaning: Impossible to imagine; often used in expressions of surprise or disbelief.
• невозможная миссия (nevozmoznaya missiya) - Meaning: An impossible mission; refers to tasks that are extremely difficult, like in movies or real-life challenges.
• сделать невозможное (sdelat' nevozmozhnoe) - Meaning: To achieve the impossible; a motivational phrase for overcoming odds.

Usage Notes:

невозможный directly corresponds to the adjectival form of "impossible" in English, making it suitable for descriptive sentences. Use невозможно for impersonal statements, similar to English constructions like "It's impossible to...". Be aware of formal contexts where невозможный is preferred, and note that Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify. When choosing between translations, opt for невозможно in spoken language for simplicity, but use невозможный in written or analytical texts.

Common Errors:

• English learners often misuse the adjective form by not declining it properly, e.g., saying "Это невозможный задача" instead of "Это невозможная задача" (for feminine nouns). Correct usage: Ensure agreement, as in "невозможная задача".

• Confusing with similar words like "невероятный" (incredible), leading to errors such as translating "impossible" as "невероятный" in contexts of feasibility. Explanation: "Невероятный" means astonishing but not necessarily impossible; use "невозможный" for true impossibility.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases involving "impossible" like "сделать невозможное" often draw from literary and historical contexts, such as in Soviet-era propaganda or modern motivational stories, emphasizing resilience. This reflects a cultural value of perseverance against odds, as seen in works by authors like Tolstoy.

Related Concepts:

• возможный (possible)
• реальный (real)
• идеальный (ideal)