Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'incongruous'

English Word: incongruous

Key Russian Translations:

• несоответствующий [nʲɪsɐˈɕtʲstvʊjʊʂʲɪj] - [Formal, used in written or academic contexts]
• неуместный [nʲɪʊˈmʲestnɨj] - [Informal, everyday speech for social inappropriateness]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations appear regularly in literature and discussions but are not among the most common everyday terms.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective forms and contextual nuances. For 'несоответствующий', it may lean towards B2 due to its formal structure; 'неуместный' is similar but slightly easier in casual use.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

несоответствующий: [nʲɪsɐˈɕtʲstvʊjʊʂʲɪj]

Note on несоответствующий: This is a complex word with stress on the fourth syllable ('stvʊ'). Pronunciation can vary slightly in fast speech, potentially softening the 'ʂʲ' sound.

неуместный: [nʲɪʊˈmʲestnɨj]

Note on неуместный: Stress falls on the second syllable ('mʲest'). Be cautious with the 'ɨ' sound, which is a back unrounded vowel unique to Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Not in harmony or accord (e.g., physical or logical mismatch).

Translation(s) & Context:

• несоответствующий - Used in formal contexts, such as describing incompatible designs or ideas in professional or academic settings.

Usage Examples:

• Его одежда была несоответствующей к официальному мероприятию.

  His clothing was incongruous with the formal event.

• Цвета в дизайне оказались несоответствующими друг другу.

  The colors in the design turned out to be incongruous with each other.

• Эта деталь в отчете несоответствующая общему нарративу.

  This detail in the report is incongruous with the overall narrative.

• Несоответствующий размер мебели испортил всю комнату.

  The incongruous size of the furniture ruined the entire room.

Meaning 2: Socially inappropriate or out of place (e.g., in behavior or comments).

Translation(s) & Context:

• неуместный - Common in informal conversations, such as commenting on awkward social situations or humor that doesn't fit.

Usage Examples:

• Его шутка была неуместной на серьёзном собрании.

  His joke was incongruous at the serious meeting.

• Неуместный комментарий вызвал неловкость в компании.

  The incongruous comment caused awkwardness in the group.

• Её поведение было неуместным для такого мероприятия.

  Her behavior was incongruous for such an event.

• Неуместный подарок удивил всех присутствующих.

  The incongruous gift surprised everyone present.

• В этой культуре неуместный жест может оскорбить собеседника.

  In this culture, an incongruous gesture can offend the interlocutor.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'несоответствующий' and 'неуместный' are adjectives, which in Russian inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow standard adjectival declension patterns, which are regular for these words.

Note: These adjectives do not have irregular forms but must agree with the noun's gender (e.g., for feminine: несоответствующая; for neuter: несоответствующее). If the adjective is used predicatively, it may not inflect as strictly.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • несовместимый (incompatible; often used for more extreme mismatches)
  • неподходящий (unsuitable; with a connotation of not fitting practically)
• Antonyms:
  • подходящий (suitable)
  • гармоничный (harmonious)

Related Phrases:

• несоответствие стиля - Mismatch of style (refers to clashing aesthetics in design or fashion).
• неуместная шутка - Incongruous joke (an inappropriate or poorly timed humorous remark).
• несоответствующий контекст - Incongruous context (a situation that doesn't align with expectations).

Usage Notes:

'Несоответствующий' is the more precise translation for 'incongruous' in formal or technical contexts, emphasizing a lack of correspondence, while 'неуместный' is better for social or emotional inappropriateness. English speakers should note that Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify, which has no direct equivalent in English. Use 'несоответствующий' in written reports or academic discussions, and 'неуместный' in casual conversations. Be mindful of context to avoid ambiguity, as these words can imply criticism.

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'несоответствующий' with 'несовместимый': Learners might use 'несовместимый' (incompatible) when 'несоответствующий' is needed for a milder mismatch. Incorrect: "Несовместимый дизайн" (implies total incompatibility). Correct: "Несоответствующий дизайн" – This subtly conveys disharmony without extremity.
• Overusing in informal settings: English learners often apply 'неуместный' too broadly, leading to awkward phrasing. Incorrect: "Неуместный еда" (grammatical error; should be 'неуместная еда' for feminine noun). Correct: "Неуместная еда" – Always ensure adjective agreement.
• Forgetting case agreement: A common mistake is not declining the adjective, e.g., saying "в несоответствующий случае" instead of "в несоответствующем случае" (Prepositional case). This can make the sentence sound unnatural.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'неуместный' often carry a social nuance, reflecting the importance of propriety in interpersonal interactions, as seen in literature by authors like Chekhov. An 'incongruous' action might be viewed as disrupting the collective harmony valued in Russian society, potentially leading to social ostracism.

Related Concepts:

• гармония (harmony)
• нескладность (awkwardness)
• подходящий (suitable)