Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'lonely'

English Word: lonely

Key Russian Translations:

• одинокий /ɐdʲɪˈnokʲɪj/ - [Adjective, Informal/Formal]
• одиночество /ɐdʲɪnɐˈtɕestvə/ - [Noun, Formal, Used in emotional or philosophical contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday conversations, literature, and media discussing emotions).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective and noun inflections, but basic forms are straightforward for learners beyond beginner level).

Pronunciation (Russian):

одинокий: /ɐdʲɪˈnokʲɪj/ (The stress is on the third syllable; note the soft 'k' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalization.)

одиночество: /ɐdʲɪnɐˈtɕestvə/ (Stress on the fourth syllable; the 'ч' sound is similar to the 'ch' in 'church', but softer.)

Note on одинокий: Be cautious with the palatalized 'k' (as in /kʲ/), which affects the vowel sound before it. Variations in regional accents may soften this further.

Note on одиночество: This noun often appears in more introspective contexts; pronunciation can vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Feeling of being isolated or alone emotionally.

Translation(s) & Context:

• одинокий - Used in personal descriptions, e.g., in conversations about relationships or mental health.
• одиночество - Used in more abstract or literary contexts, such as discussing life's solitude.

Usage Examples:

• Я часто чувствую себя одиноким в большом городе.

  I often feel lonely in the big city. (This example shows the adjective in a real-life urban context, highlighting emotional isolation.)

• Его одиночество стало очевидным после переезда в новую страну.

  His loneliness became obvious after moving to a new country. (Here, the noun is used to describe a state, common in narrative writing.)

• Несмотря на друзей, она иногда ощущает одиночество в душе.

  Despite having friends, she sometimes feels loneliness in her soul. (Demonstrates the noun in an introspective, emotional sentence.)

• Он старается не показывать, что одинокий, но это видно по его глазам.

  He tries not to show that he's lonely, but it's visible in his eyes. (Illustrates the adjective in a descriptive, psychological context.)

• Одиночество может быть полезным для размышлений, но не для всех.

  Loneliness can be useful for reflection, but not for everyone. (Shows the noun in a philosophical discussion, varying grammar structure.)

Meaning 2: Physically alone or isolated (less common, but applicable in specific contexts).

Translation(s) & Context:

• одинокий - Used when describing physical separation, e.g., in travel or wilderness scenarios.

Usage Examples:

• В горах он чувствовал себя одиноким, далеко от цивилизации.

  In the mountains, he felt lonely, far from civilization. (This example contrasts emotional and physical isolation.)

• Одинокий дом стоял на краю деревни.

  The lonely house stood on the edge of the village. (Demonstrates the adjective in a literal, descriptive setting.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

одинокий is an adjective and follows standard Russian adjective inflections, which vary by gender, number, and case. It is a first-declension adjective with regular patterns. одиночество is a neuter noun of the second declension and has its own inflections.

Note: одиночество does not change as irregularly as some nouns, making it relatively straightforward.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • изолированный (izolirovannyy) - More formal, emphasizing separation.
  • заброшенный (zabroshennyy) - Often used for physical abandonment, with a nuance of neglect.
• Antonyms:
  • счастливый (schastlivyy) - Happy, contrasting emotional states.
  • окружённый (okruzhennyy) - Surrounded, implying social connection.

Related Phrases:

• чувствовать одиночество - Feel loneliness; used in emotional self-reflection.
• быть одиноким в толпе - Be lonely in a crowd; highlights social isolation despite surroundings.
• одиночество сердца - Loneliness of the heart; a poetic phrase for deep emotional solitude.

Usage Notes:

одинокий directly corresponds to the emotional sense of "lonely" in English, but it's versatile for both feelings and physical states. Use одиночество for a more abstract noun form, especially in formal or literary contexts. Be mindful of Russian's grammatical cases; for example, одинокий must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies. When choosing between translations, opt for одинокий in everyday speech and одиночество in discussions or writing about psychology or philosophy.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using одинокий without proper inflection, e.g., saying "Я одинокий дом" instead of "Я в одиноком доме" (I am in a lonely house).
  Correct: Ensure agreement, as in "Я в одиноком доме." Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's case, so beginners often forget this, leading to grammatical errors.
• Error: Confusing одиночество with одинокий in sentences, e.g., "Я одиночество" instead of "Я чувствую одиночество."
  Correct: Use одиночество as a noun with verbs like "чувствовать." Explanation: Learners might treat it like an adjective, but it's a state, requiring appropriate syntax.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, themes of loneliness (одиночество) are prevalent in literature and art, as seen in works by authors like Chekhov and Tolstoy. It often symbolizes existential isolation in a vast country, reflecting historical experiences like the Soviet era's emphasis on individualism versus collectivism. This adds depth to words like одинокий, making them resonate with themes of introspection and melancholy in Russian society.

Related Concepts:

• грусть (grust') - Sadness
• меланхолия (melancholiya) - Melancholy
• изolation (izolyatsiya) - Isolation