Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'inclement'

English Word: inclement

Key Russian Translations:

• суровый [ˈsu.rə.vɨj] - [Adjective, Formal, used for severe or harsh conditions, especially weather]
• непогода [nʲɪ.pɐ.ɡɐ.də] - [Noun, Informal, specifically for bad or stormy weather]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in weather-related discussions but not in everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, as it involves basic adjective and noun forms; for суровый, understanding Russian adjective declensions may add slight complexity)

Pronunciation (Russian):

суровый: [ˈsu.rə.vɨj]

Note on суровый: The stress falls on the first syllable; the "ы" sound can be challenging for English speakers, similar to a short "i" in "bit".

Audio: Listen to pronunciation

непогода: [nʲɪ.pɐ.ɡɐ.də]

Note on непогода: The "погода" root means "weather," and the prefix "не-" adds a negative connotation; pay attention to the soft "нʲ" sound.

Audio: Listen to pronunciation

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Severe or harsh weather conditions

Translation(s) & Context:

• суровый - Used in formal contexts to describe harsh environmental conditions, such as extreme cold or storms.
• непогода - Applied in everyday or informal settings for unpredictable bad weather that disrupts plans.

Usage Examples:

• Суровая погода в Сибири часто приводит к отмене рейсов.

  The inclement weather in Siberia often leads to flight cancellations.

• Из-за непогоды мы решили остаться дома и не выходить на улицу.

  Due to the inclement weather, we decided to stay home and not go outside.

• Суровый климат Арктики требует специальной одежды для выживания.

  The inclement climate of the Arctic requires special clothing for survival.

• Непогода не помешала фестивалю, но многие мероприятия были перенесены.

  The inclement weather didn't cancel the festival, but many events were rescheduled.

Meaning 2: Harsh or unforgiving in a broader sense (e.g., inclement conditions or attitudes)

Translation(s) & Context:

• суровый - Used metaphorically for strict or severe situations, such as in descriptions of laws or personalities.

Usage Examples:

• Суровый учитель не терпит опозданий на уроки.

  The inclement teacher does not tolerate tardiness in classes.

• В суровых условиях войны люди проявляют невероятную стойкость.

  In inclement conditions of war, people show incredible resilience.

• Суровый закон оштрафовал компанию за экологические нарушения.

  The inclement law fined the company for environmental violations.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For суровый (adjective), it follows standard Russian adjective declension patterns, which vary by gender, number, and case. It is a hard-stem adjective.

For непогода (feminine noun, first declension), it has regular noun inflections:

• Nominative: непогода
• Genitive: непогоды
• Dative: непогоде
• Accusative: непогоду
• Instrumental: непогодой
• Prepositional: непогоде

Plural form is rare but possible: непогоды (e.g., in poetic or metaphorical use).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: жестокий (cruel, with a connotation of severity), неблагоприятный (unfavorable, more neutral)
• Antonyms: мягкий (mild, gentle, especially for weather), благоприятный (favorable)

Note: жестокий implies a harsher, more emotional tone than суровый, which is often used for objective descriptions.

Related Phrases:

• суровая зима - A harsh winter (refers to extremely cold and difficult winter conditions).
• непогода на море - Bad weather at sea (commonly used in nautical or travel contexts).
• суровые условия - Inclement conditions (general phrase for tough environments, like in survival situations).

Usage Notes:

суровый directly corresponds to "inclement" in weather contexts but can extend to metaphorical uses, such as describing strict rules or personalities. Use it in formal writing or speech for precision. непогода is more idiomatic for everyday bad weather and is less formal. When choosing between translations, opt for суровый in descriptive narratives and непогода in conversational settings. Be mindful of Russian case requirements; for example, суровый must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using суровый without proper declension, e.g., saying "суровый погода" instead of "суровая погода" (feminine noun).
  Correct: суровая погода. Explanation: Adjectives in Russian must agree with the nouns they describe in gender, number, and case.
• Error: Confusing непогода with погода, leading to understatement, e.g., using just "погода" for bad weather.
  Correct: Specify непогода to convey negativity. Explanation: погода means neutral "weather," while непогода emphasizes adversity.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like суровый and непогода often evoke the harsh realities of Russia's climate, such as long, severe winters. This ties into national identity, with literature (e.g., Tolstoy's works) frequently using such terms to symbolize resilience and endurance against nature's challenges.

Related Concepts:

• погода (weather)
• климат (climate)
• метеорология (meteorology)