Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'intelligent'

English Word: intelligent

Key Russian Translations:

• Умный [ˈumnɨj] - [Informal, commonly used in everyday contexts]
• Интеллектуальный [ˌɪntəlɛkˈtuəlnɨj] - [Formal, academic or professional settings]
• Разумный [ˈrazumnɨj] - [Semi-formal, often implies practical wisdom]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations appear regularly in Russian literature, conversations, and media, but not as ubiquitous as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; learners at this level should grasp basic usage, but mastering nuances and inflections requires practice. For 'Интеллектуальный', it might lean towards B2-C1 due to its formal connotations.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Умный: [ˈumnɨj]

Интеллектуальный: [ˌɪntəlɛkˈtuəlnɨj]

Разумный: [ˈrazumnɨj]

Note on Умный: The stress is on the first syllable; be cautious with the soft 'н' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. Variations in casual speech might soften the vowels.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Having a high mental capacity or being quick to understand.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Умный - Used in informal contexts like describing a person's quick thinking or intelligence in daily life.
• Интеллектуальный - Applied in formal or educational contexts, such as intellectual pursuits or academic discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Он очень умный и всегда решает сложные задачи быстро.

  He is very intelligent and always solves complex tasks quickly.

• Эта книга предназначена для интеллектуального читателя, интересующегося философией.

  This book is intended for an intelligent reader interested in philosophy.

• Умный ребенок быстро учится новому языку.

  The intelligent child learns a new language quickly.

• Интеллектуальный подход к проблеме помог избежать ошибок.

  The intelligent approach to the problem helped avoid mistakes.

Meaning 2: Showing intelligence or cleverness in behavior or design.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Разумный - Often used to describe practical, sensible intelligence, such as in decision-making.
• Умный - In contexts involving clever inventions or strategies.

Usage Examples:

• Разумный выбор автомобиля сэкономит вам деньги в долгосрочной перспективе.

  The intelligent choice of a car will save you money in the long run.

• Умный дизайн этого гаджета делает его очень удобным в использовании.

  The intelligent design of this gadget makes it very user-friendly.

• Разумный план помог им преодолеть трудности.

  The intelligent plan helped them overcome difficulties.

• Умный ответ на вопрос impressed всех в аудитории.

  The intelligent answer to the question impressed everyone in the audience.

• Интеллектуальный дизайн интерьера отразил вкус хозяина.

  The intelligent interior design reflected the owner's taste.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily adjectives, which in Russian inflect based on gender, number, and case. They follow standard adjective declension patterns, which are regular but require attention to endings.

Note: These adjectives do not have irregular forms, making them straightforward for learners, but always agree with the noun they modify in gender, number, and case.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Мудрый (mudryj) - Wise, often implies experience-based intelligence.
  Остроумный (ostroumnyj) - Witty, for quick and clever thinking.
• Antonyms:
  • Глупый (glupyj) - Stupid, lacking intelligence.
  • Неразумный (nerazumnyj) - Unreasonable, imprudent.

Related Phrases:

• Умный человек - A smart person; used to describe someone with high intelligence.
• Интеллектуальный уровень - Intellectual level; refers to the depth of knowledge in a field.
• Разумный подход - A sensible approach; implies a logical and intelligent method.
• Быть умным в жизни - To be intelligent in life; a common phrase for practical wisdom.

Usage Notes:

• While "intelligent" in English can be neutral, Russian equivalents like "Умный" often carry a positive connotation in informal speech. Choose "Интеллектуальный" for formal contexts to match precise English usage.
• These words must agree grammatically with the nouns they describe, which is a key difference from English. For example, use "Умная идея" for a feminine noun like "idea".
• In professional or academic settings, "Интеллектуальный" is preferred over "Умный" to avoid sounding too casual.
• When translating, consider the context: "Разумный" emphasizes practicality, making it ideal for decision-making scenarios.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "Умный" in formal writing without inflection, e.g., saying "Умный человек" incorrectly in a different case.
  Correct: Ensure proper case agreement, like "Умного человека" in genitive.
  Explanation: Russian adjectives must inflect, unlike English adjectives, leading to grammatical errors for beginners.
• Error: Confusing "Интеллектуальный" with "Умный" in everyday speech, making it sound overly formal.
  Correct: Opt for "Умный" in casual contexts to sound natural.
  Explanation: Over-formalizing can make speech awkward; context dictates the best choice.
• Error: Mispronouncing the stress in "Умный" by placing it on the wrong syllable.
  Correct: Always stress the first syllable [ˈumnɨj].
  Explanation: Incorrect stress can alter perceived meaning or make the word harder to understand.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "Интеллектуальный" often evoke the historical "intelligentsia," a class of educated thinkers from the 19th and 20th centuries who played key roles in social and political discourse. This adds a layer of cultural depth, where intelligence is not just personal but tied to societal contributions.

Related Concepts:

• Мудрость (mudrost) - Wisdom
• Талант (talant) - Talent
• Образование (obrazovanie) - Education