Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'meagre'

English Word: meagre

Key Russian Translations:

• скудный (/ˈskudnɨj/) - [Formal]
• бедный (/ˈbʲednɨj/) - [Informal, can imply poverty]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in literary and formal contexts, but not everyday conversation).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective declensions, suitable for learners with basic grammar knowledge).

Pronunciation (Russian):

скудный: /ˈskudnɨj/

бедный: /ˈbʲednɨj/

Note on скудный: The stress is on the first syllable; the 'у' sound is a short 'u' as in "book," which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalized consonants.

Note on бедный: The initial 'б' is soft; practice the 'e' sound as in "bed" but with a Russian vowel quality.

Audio: []

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Lacking in quantity or quality (e.g., insufficient or meager resources)

Translation(s) & Context:

• скудный - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe something sparse or inadequate, such as resources or supplies.
• бедный - Informal usage for something poor in quality, often implying economic scarcity.

Usage Examples:

• В этой деревне скудные запасы воды из-за засухи.

  In this village, water supplies are meagre due to the drought.

• Его скудный рацион не обеспечивал необходимых питательных веществ.

  His meagre diet did not provide the necessary nutrients.

• Бедный урожай в этом году разочаровал фермеров.

  The meagre harvest this year disappointed the farmers.

• Из-за скудных финансовых средств проект был отложен.

  Due to meagre financial resources, the project was delayed.

• Бедный выбор товаров в магазине удивил покупателей.

  The meagre selection of goods in the store surprised the shoppers.

Meaning 2: Thin or scanty in appearance (e.g., a meagre figure)

Translation(s) & Context:

• скудный - In descriptive contexts, often for physical or visual scarcity.
• бедный - Less common here, but can be used informally for something appearing inadequate.

Usage Examples:

• Её скудная фигура свидетельствовала о долгой болезни.

  Her meagre figure indicated a long illness.

• Скудные волосы на голове старика делали его выглядящим старше.

  The meagre hair on the old man's head made him look older.

• Бедный дизайн комнаты не впечатлил гостей.

  The meagre design of the room did not impress the guests.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "скудный" and "бедный" are adjectives, which inflect for gender, number, and case in Russian. Adjectives follow the standard pattern of agreement with nouns. "Скудный" is a regular adjective, while "бедный" can have slight irregularities in some forms.

Note: These adjectives do not change in comparative forms without additional words; e.g., "more meagre" would be "более скудный."

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • скромный (skromnyy) - More neutral, implying modesty.
  • ограниченный (ogranichennyy) - Emphasizes limits or restrictions.
• Antonyms:
  • обильный (obilyy) - Abundant or plentiful.
  • богатый (bogaty) - Rich or wealthy.

Related Phrases:

• скудные ресурсы - Meagre resources; used in contexts of scarcity, e.g., in economics or survival situations.
• бедный выбор - Meagre selection; common in shopping or decision-making scenarios.
• скудная диета - Meagre diet; refers to insufficient food intake, often in health discussions.

Usage Notes:

"Скудный" is the most direct translation for "meagre" in formal contexts, closely matching the English sense of insufficiency without implying poverty, whereas "бедный" may carry connotations of economic hardship and is better for informal use. Always ensure adjective agreement with the noun in gender, number, and case. For example, use "скудные" for plural nouns. When choosing between translations, opt for "скудный" in academic or professional settings to avoid emotional undertones.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "скудный" without proper declension, e.g., saying "скудный ресурсы" instead of "скудные ресурсы" for plural.

  Correct: "Скудные ресурсы" – Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree in case and number; this mistake often occurs due to English's lack of declension.

• Error: Confusing "бедный" with "бедняк" (a noun meaning a poor person), leading to misuse in adjectival contexts.

  Correct: Use "бедный" as an adjective only; e.g., "бедный дом" (meagre house), not "бедняк дом."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "скудный" often evoke themes from literature, such as in works by Tolstoy, where they describe the hardships of rural life. This reflects Russia's historical context of scarcity, making such vocabulary poignant in discussions of endurance and resilience.

Related Concepts:

• ресурсы (resursy) - Resources
• урожай (urozhay) - Harvest
• финансы (finansy) - Finances