Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'ludicrous'

English Word: ludicrous

Key Russian Translations:

• нелепый /nɪˈlɛpɨj/ - [Adjective, Informal, Singular]
• абсурдный /ɐbˈsurdnɨj/ - [Adjective, Formal]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are commonly encountered in everyday Russian conversations, literature, and media, but not as ubiquitous as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective forms and contextual usage, per CEFR standards. For 'нелепый', it's B1; for 'абсурдный', it's also B1 due to its more formal connotations.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

нелепый: /nɪˈlɛpɨj/

абсурдный: /ɐbˈsurdnɨj/

Note on нелепый: The stress falls on the second syllable ('lɛp'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft 'л' sound. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Note on абсурдный: The initial 'а' is pronounced as a schwa-like sound, and the 'р' is rolled, common in Russian. Pay attention to the hard 'д' at the end.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Absurd or ridiculous in a humorous or illogical way

Translation(s) & Context:

• нелепый - Used in informal contexts to describe something silly or outlandish, often in everyday speech or casual writing.
• абсурдный - Applied in more formal or intellectual discussions, such as in philosophy or critiques, to denote logical absurdity.

Usage Examples:

• Его идея была совершенно нелепой, как будто он придумал её в шутку.

  His idea was utterly ludicrous, as if he had made it up as a joke.

• Эта ситуация абсурдна и не имеет никакого логического обоснования.

  This situation is ludicrous and has no logical justification.

• Нелепый костюм на карнавале заставил всех смеяться до слёз.

  The ludicrous costume at the carnival made everyone laugh until tears.

• Абсурдное поведение политика вызвало общественный скандал.

  The ludicrous behavior of the politician sparked a public scandal.

• В фильме нелепые сцены добавляют комедийный эффект.

  In the movie, the ludicrous scenes add a comedic effect.

Meaning 2: Exaggeratedly foolish or impractical

Translation(s) & Context:

• нелепый - Common in narrative contexts, like stories or personal anecdotes, to highlight impracticality with humor.
• абсурдный - Used in analytical contexts, such as debates, to emphasize irrationality.

Usage Examples:

• Предложение купить луну звучит нелепо, но в фантазии это возможно.

  The proposal to buy the moon sounds ludicrous, but in fantasy, it's possible.

• Абсурдная цена за простой товар отпугивает покупателей.

  The ludicrous price for a simple item scares away buyers.

• Нелепый план путешествия включал поездку на верблюде через город.

  The ludicrous travel plan included riding a camel through the city.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'нелепый' and 'абсурдный' are adjectives in Russian, which typically follow regular inflection patterns based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify.

For 'нелепый' (nelepyy):

For 'абсурдный' (absurdnyy), it follows the same pattern as a regular hard-stem adjective:

These adjectives do not have irregular forms, making them straightforward for learners once basic adjective agreement is understood.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • смешной (smeshnyy) - More humorous, less absurd connotation.
  • глупый (glupyiy) - Implies foolishness, often used interchangeably in casual contexts.
  • нелогичный (nelogichnyy) - Focuses on lack of logic, suitable for formal discussions.
• Antonyms:
  • логичный (logicnyy)
  • разумный (razumnyy)
  • серьёзный (seryoznyy)

Related Phrases:

• нелепая ситуация (nelepay situatsiya) - A ludicrous situation; refers to an absurd or comical scenario in daily life.
• абсурдная идея (absurdnaya ideya) - A ludicrous idea; used for impractical or illogical proposals, often in debates.
• полностью нелепый (polnost'yu nelepyy) - Utterly ludicrous; emphasizes extreme absurdity in emphatic speech.

Usage Notes:

'Нелепый' is the more direct and idiomatic equivalent for 'ludicrous' in informal settings, capturing the humorous aspect, while 'абсурдный' aligns with formal or philosophical contexts. English speakers should note that Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, which has no direct parallel in English. Choose 'нелепый' for everyday conversations and 'абсурдный' for written or academic use. Be cautious with tone: 'нелепый' can sound light-hearted, whereas 'абсурдный' might imply criticism.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'нелепый' without proper agreement, e.g., saying "нелепый женщина" instead of "нелепая женщина" (for feminine noun).
  Correct: Ensure the adjective matches the noun's gender and case. Explanation: Russian requires full agreement to avoid grammatical errors, which can confuse native speakers.
• Mistake: Confusing 'нелепый' with 'смешной' in serious contexts, leading to unintended humor.
  Correct: Use 'абсурдный' for logical absurdity. Explanation: 'Смешной' means funny, not necessarily ludicrous, so it dilutes the meaning.
• Mistake: Overusing 'абсурдный' in casual speech, which sounds overly formal.
  Correct: Opt for 'нелепый' in informal settings. Explanation: This mismatch can make the speaker seem pretentious.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'нелепый' often appear in literature and satire, reflecting the tradition of dark humor in works by authors like Gogol or modern comedians. 'Абсурдный' echoes influences from Western philosophy, such as absurdism in Camus' works, which has been adopted in Russian intellectual circles to critique societal norms.

Related Concepts:

• ирония (ironya)
• сатира (satira)
• парадокс (paradoks)