Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'irony'

English Word: irony

Key Russian Translations:

• ирония [ɪˈronʲɪjə] - [Formal, Literary]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literature, discussions, and everyday language, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary).

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of abstract concepts and cultural nuances, per CEFR standards).

Pronunciation (Russian):

ирония: [ɪˈronʲɪjə]

Note on ирония: The stress is on the second syllable. The "й" sound (palatalized "n") can be challenging for English speakers; it's similar to the "ny" in "canyon." Pronounce it with a soft, flowing rhythm to mimic native Russian intonation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Situational Irony (A situation that is the opposite of what was expected)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ирония - Used in contexts involving unexpected outcomes, such as in literature or casual conversations about life's ironies (e.g., in formal writing or discussions).

Usage Examples:

• В жизни часто случается ирония: ты стараешься избежать ошибки, а в итоге совершаешь её.

  In life, irony often happens: you try to avoid a mistake, and end up making it.

• Эта ирония судьбы заставила его пересмотреть свои взгляды на успех.

  This irony of fate made him reconsider his views on success.

• Ирония в том, что новый закон, призванный защитить природу, на самом деле ухудшил ситуацию.

  The irony is that the new law, intended to protect nature, actually worsened the situation.

• Без лёгкой иронии невозможно понять юмор классической русской литературы.

  Without a touch of irony, it's impossible to understand the humor in classical Russian literature.

Verbal Irony (Saying the opposite of what is meant, often for sarcasm)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ирония - Applied in sarcastic or humorous speech, often in informal or literary settings to convey mockery.

Usage Examples:

• О, да, это просто замечательно! – сказала она с иронией, когда планы рухнули.

  Oh, yes, this is just wonderful! – she said with irony, when the plans fell through.

• Его ирония была очевидна: он похвалил еду, но всем было ясно, что она ужасная.

  His irony was obvious: he praised the food, but everyone knew it was terrible.

• Ирония в его словах прозвучала как предупреждение: "Ты такой умный, не ошибешься".

  The irony in his words sounded like a warning: "You're so smart, you won't make a mistake."

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"ирония" is a feminine noun (feminine gender, first declension in Russian). It follows regular noun declension patterns, with changes based on case and number. Below is a table of its inflections:

Note: The word is invariant in terms of stress across forms, making it relatively straightforward compared to irregular nouns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • сарказм (sarcasm; more biting and direct than ирония, often used in heated arguments)
  • юмор (humor; broader term, but can overlap when irony is light-hearted)
• Antonyms:
  • прямота (directness; straightforwardness without any twist)

Related Phrases:

• ирония судьбы – Irony of fate; used to describe life's unexpected twists (e.g., in storytelling or personal anecdotes).
• с иронией в голосе – With irony in one's voice; indicates sarcastic tone in speech.
• горькая ирония – Bitter irony; refers to a painful or tragic form of irony in literature or real-life situations.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "ирония" closely mirrors the English "irony" but is often more tied to literary or philosophical contexts. Use it for situational irony in formal writing or verbal irony in conversations, but be cautious of cultural nuances—Russians may employ it more in reflective or humorous ways than in everyday chit-chat. If multiple translations exist, choose "ирония" for general purposes, but opt for "сарказм" if the intent is more mocking. Grammatically, it functions as a noun and requires appropriate case agreement with verbs or adjectives.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "ирония" with "сарказм": English learners might overuse "ирония" for all ironic situations. Incorrect: "Он сказал с сарказмом, но я подумал, что это ирония." (He said it with sarcasm, but I thought it was irony.) Correct: "Он сказал с иронией, но это было сарказмом." Explanation: "Сарказм" implies intentional mockery, while "ирония" is subtler.

• Misplacing stress or pronunciation: Learners often stress the first syllable, saying [ˈɪronʲɪjə] instead of [ɪˈronʲɪjə]. This can make the word sound unnatural. Correct pronunciation practice is key.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, irony (ирония) is deeply embedded in literature and humor, as seen in works by authors like Chekhov or Gogol. It often reflects the absurdity of life under historical contexts like the Soviet era, where indirect expression was a way to critique society without overt confrontation. Understanding this can help English speakers appreciate the understated wit in Russian media and conversations.

Related Concepts:

• сатира (satire)
• пародия (parody)
• абсурд (absurdity)