Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'lengthy'

English Word: lengthy

Key Russian Translations:

• длительный [dɫʲɪˈtʲitʲɪvɨj] - [Formal, Adjective]
• затянувшийся [zətʲɪˈnuvʂɨj] - [Informal, Past Participle, Used in narrative contexts]
• многословный [mɐˈnɐslovnɨj] - [Neutral, Often implies verbosity]

Frequency: Medium (Common in written and formal speech, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, as it involves understanding nuances of adjectives and participles; for 'длительный', it's B1, while 'затянувшийся' might be B2 due to aspectual variations)

Pronunciation (Russian):

длительный: [dɫʲɪˈtʲitʲɪvɨj]

Note on длительный: Stress falls on the third syllable; the 'л' is palatalized, which can be tricky for English speakers. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

затянувшийся: [zətʲɪˈnuvʂɨj]

Note on затянувшийся: The 'щ' sound is a soft, hissing 'sh' with a following 'ch' quality; practice with native audio for accuracy.

многословный: [mɐˈnɐslovnɨj]

Note on многословный: The word has a rolling rhythm; the 'г' is pronounced as a soft 'g' in some dialects.

Audio: Listen to 'длительный' | Listen to 'затянувшийся' | Listen to 'многословный'

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Extending over a long period, often implying tedium or excessive duration (e.g., in time or speech).

Translation(s) & Context:

• длительный - Used in formal contexts like business reports or legal documents to describe prolonged processes.
• затянувшийся - Applied in informal or narrative settings, such as storytelling, to indicate something that dragged on unexpectedly.
• многословный - Common in discussions about communication, emphasizing wordiness in speech or writing.

Usage Examples:

• Это было длительным совещанием, которое утомило всех участников.

  This was a lengthy meeting that tired out all the participants.

• Фильм оказался затянувшимся и не оправдал ожиданий.

  The film turned out to be lengthy and didn't live up to expectations.

• Его речь была многословной, но не содержательной.

  His speech was lengthy but lacked substance.

• Длительный процесс оформления документов занял несколько недель.

  The lengthy process of document processing took several weeks.

• Затянувшаяся поездка по пробкам сделала день утомительным.

  The lengthy trip due to traffic jams made the day exhausting.

Meaning 2: Excessively detailed or verbose in expression.

Translation(s) & Context:

• многословный - Best for contexts involving writing or speaking, such as essays or debates.
• длительный - Less common here, but can be used metaphorically for extended descriptions.

Usage Examples:

• Её эссе было многословным, но интересным.

  Her essay was lengthy but engaging.

• Длительный отчёт включал ненужные детали.

  The lengthy report included unnecessary details.

• Затянувшийся монолог лектора усыпил аудиторию.

  The lengthy monologue from the lecturer put the audience to sleep.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily adjectives or participles, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. 'Длительный' is a regular adjective, while 'затянувшийся' is a past passive participle that agrees with the noun it modifies.

Note: These forms are regular for adjectives. 'Затянувшийся' does not change for tense but must agree with the subject in gender and number.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: затяжной (more about dragging processes), продолжительный (emphasizing continuation)
• Antonyms: краткий (brief), короткий (short) - 'Краткий' is often used for concise writing, while 'короткий' is for physical or temporal brevity.

Related Phrases:

• длительный период - A lengthy period; used in historical or scientific contexts to describe extended time frames.
• затянувшаяся история - A lengthy story; implies a narrative that goes on too long, common in literature discussions.
• многословный разговор - A lengthy conversation; refers to verbose exchanges in social or professional settings.

Usage Notes:

'Lengthy' corresponds most closely to 'длительный' in formal English-Russian translation, especially for time-based contexts, but choose 'затянувшийся' for informal or aspectual emphasis on something that has dragged on. Be mindful of Russian's grammatical gender and case agreements, which English lacks. In spoken Russian, these words often appear in neutral or formal registers; avoid 'затянувшийся' in professional writing as it can sound casual. When multiple translations apply, select based on context: use 'многословный' for verbosity in speech.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'длинный' (meaning physically long) instead of 'длительный' for time-based contexts. Correct: Say 'длительный процесс' for a lengthy process, not 'длинный процесс'. Explanation: 'Длинный' refers to physical length, leading to confusion in abstract uses.

• Error: Forgetting to inflect for gender, e.g., saying 'затянувшийся женщина' instead of 'затянувшаяся женщина'. Correct: Always match the participle to the noun's gender and case. Explanation: Russian requires agreement, which English learners often overlook, resulting in grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'затянувшийся' often carry a subtle connotation of inefficiency or frustration, reflecting historical contexts like long bureaucratic processes in Soviet times. This can add emotional weight in everyday language, making it important for English speakers to gauge context for appropriate usage.

Related Concepts:

• продолжительный
• затяжной
• многословность