Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'inexpensive'

English Word: inexpensive

Key Russian Translations:

• недорогой /nʲɪˈdorəɡəj/ - [Formal, Adjective]
• дешевый /ˈdʲeʂəvɨj/ - [Informal, Adjective, Used in everyday casual contexts]

Frequency: High (Commonly used in everyday conversations, commerce, and descriptions of products in Russian-speaking contexts).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of basic adjective forms, but straightforward for learners familiar with CEFR A2 vocabulary).

Pronunciation (Russian):

недорогой: /nʲɪˈdorəɡəj/ (Stress on the third syllable; the 'й' sound is a soft palatal approximant, common in Russian.)

дешевый: /ˈdʲeʂəvɨj/ (The 'ш' is a voiceless postalveolar fricative; note the soft 'e' sound at the beginning.)

Note on недорогой: This word may vary slightly in rapid speech, with the 'о' sound potentially reducing to a schwa in informal settings.

Note on дешевый: Be cautious with the 'ш' sound, as it's a common point of difficulty for English speakers; it sounds like 'sh' in "shoe".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: Not costing a lot of money; affordable or reasonably priced, often implying good value without being extremely cheap.

Translation(s) & Context:

• недорогой - Used in formal or neutral contexts, such as describing products, services, or items in writing or professional settings (e.g., in stores or reviews).
• дешевый - Used in informal contexts, implying something is low-cost but potentially of lower quality; common in casual conversations about bargains or daily purchases.

Usage Examples:

• Эта машина недорогая, но качественная.

  This car is inexpensive but of good quality. (Demonstrates use in a product description, highlighting affordability with positive connotation.)

• Мы нашли недорогой отель в центре города.

  We found an inexpensive hotel in the city center. (Shows use in travel contexts, with the adjective modifying a noun.)

• Дешевый товар часто ломается быстро.

  Cheap goods often break quickly. (Illustrates informal usage, implying potential drawbacks of low cost.)

• В этом магазине есть недорогие фрукты.

  In this store, there are inexpensive fruits. (Example in a plural noun context, showing adjective agreement.)

• Она предпочитает дешевые, но практичные вещи.

  She prefers cheap but practical things. (Demonstrates comparative use in everyday preferences.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "недорогой" and "дешевый" are adjectives in Russian, which inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow standard patterns for hard-stem adjectives.

For "недорогой" (a hard-stem adjective):

For "дешевый" (also a hard-stem adjective, with similar patterns):

These adjectives do not have irregular forms but must agree with the noun in gender, number, and case. If the noun is in a prepositional phrase, ensure the adjective matches accordingly.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • экономичный (/ɪkɐˈnomʲɪtɕnɨj/) - More specific to being economical or cost-efficient, often used for energy or resources.
  • бюджетный (/ˈbʲudʒətnɨj/) - Refers to budget-friendly options, like in planning finances.
• Antonyms:
  • дорогой (/dɐˈroɡəj/) - Expensive or costly, directly opposite in meaning.
  • luxurious (/lʌkˈʃʊriəs/ equivalent, but in Russian: роскошный /rɐˈʂkoʂnɨj/)

Related Phrases:

• недорогой вариант - Inexpensive option (Used when suggesting alternatives in shopping or decision-making).
• дешевый способ - Cheap way (Common in contexts like DIY fixes or budget travel).
• недорогая еда - Inexpensive food (Often refers to affordable meals in restaurants or markets).

Usage Notes:

"Недорогой" is the more precise and neutral translation for "inexpensive," implying affordability without negative connotations, making it suitable for formal writing or professional contexts. In contrast, "дешевый" can sometimes suggest poor quality, so English learners should choose based on nuance—use "дешевый" for casual, everyday talk but avoid it in formal descriptions. Grammatically, always ensure the adjective agrees with the noun it modifies in gender, number, and case, as Russian requires this for sentence structure.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "дешевый" interchangeably with "недорогой" in formal contexts. Incorrect: "Это дешевый подарок для клиента." (This implies the gift is of low quality.) Correct: "Это недорогой подарок для клиента." (This maintains a positive or neutral tone.) Explanation: English speakers often overlook the subtle quality implication in "дешевый," which can offend in professional settings.

• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., using masculine forms with feminine nouns. Incorrect: "Эта недорогой машина." Correct: "Эта недорогая машина." Explanation: Russian adjectives must inflect to match the noun, unlike in English where "inexpensive" remains unchanged.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like "недорогой" reflect a practical approach to consumerism, especially in a country with varying economic conditions. For instance, during festivals or in markets, bargaining for "недорогой" items is common, emphasizing value over luxury, which stems from historical influences like Soviet-era frugality.

Related Concepts:

• экономичный
• бюджетный
• скидка (discount)