Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'mediocre'

English Word: mediocre

Key Russian Translations:

• посредственный [pɐˈsʲrʲɪdnɨj] - [Formal, Adjective, Used in written or academic contexts to describe something of average quality]
• средний [ˈsʲrʲednʲɪj] - [Informal, Adjective, Often used interchangeably but less precise for 'mediocre'; implies 'average' in everyday speech]
• невыдающийся [nʲɪvɨˈdaːjʊʂːɪj] - [Formal, Adjective, Used for unremarkable or undistinguished items, particularly in professional evaluations]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations appear regularly in literature, reviews, and discussions but are not as common as basic everyday vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective inflections and nuanced vocabulary, based on CEFR standards. For 'средний', it may be easier at A2 level.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

посредственный: [pɐˈsʲrʲɪdnɨj]

средний: [ˈsʲrʲednʲɪj]

невыдающийся: [nʲɪvɨˈdaːjʊʂːɪj]

Note on посредственный: The stress is on the third syllable; be careful with the soft 's' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers due to the palatalization.

Note on средний: This is a common word with straightforward pronunciation, but the soft 'r' may vary slightly in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: Of only average quality; not very good (This is the primary sense, often implying something that fails to excel.)

Translation(s) & Context:

• посредственный - Used in formal critiques or evaluations, such as book reviews, to denote mediocrity without being overly negative.
• средний - Applied in everyday informal contexts, like casual conversations about products, but may not fully capture the negative connotation of 'mediocre'.
• невыдающийся - Employed in professional or academic settings to describe unremarkable achievements or works.

Usage Examples:

• Эта книга посредственная, но всё же интересная. (Eta kniga posredstvennaya, no vsyo zhe interesnaya.)

  This book is mediocre, but still interesting. (Shows use in a literary context with a concessive clause.)

• Фильм получил посредственные отзывы от критиков. (Film poluchil posredstvennyye otzyvy ot kritikov.)

  The film received mediocre reviews from critics. (Illustrates plural form in a media discussion.)

• Его работа была средней, но не хуже других. (Yego rabota byla sredney, no ne khuzhe drugikh.)

  His work was mediocre, but not worse than others. (Demonstrates informal usage in a comparative sentence.)

• Этот ресторан невыдающийся, но удобный. (Etot restoran nevydaiushchiysya, no udobnyy.)

  This restaurant is mediocre, but convenient. (Highlights use in service industry evaluations.)

• Студент показал посредственный результат на экзамене. (Student pokazal posredstvennyy rezultat na ekzamene.)

  The student showed a mediocre result on the exam. (Exemplifies academic context with a direct object.)

Meaning: Neither good nor bad; average in performance (A secondary sense, often neutral.)

Translation(s) & Context:

• средний - Common in neutral descriptions, such as statistics or ratings, where no strong judgment is implied.
• посредственный - Less common here, as it can carry a slight negative tone.

Usage Examples:

• Его навыки на среднем уровне. (Yego navyki na srednem urovne.)

  His skills are at a mediocre level. (Shows use in skill assessment.)

• Погода была посредственной в течение дня. (Pogoda byla posredstvennoy v techeniye dnya.)

  The weather was mediocre throughout the day. (Illustrates temporal context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. They follow standard adjective patterns with some irregularities in certain forms.

Note: These adjectives are regular in most cases but may vary in poetic or archaic usage. 'средний' is invariant in some fixed phrases.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • средний (similar to 'average', but more neutral)
  • невыдающийся (emphasizes lack of distinction, often in formal contexts)
  • заурядный (ordinary, with a subtle negative connotation)
• Antonyms:
  • отличный (excellent, used for high quality)
  • превосходный (superior, more formal)
  • выдающийся (outstanding, highlighting exceptionalism)

Related Phrases:

• посредственный уровень - A mediocre level (Refers to average performance in education or skills.)
• средний результат - An average result (Used in statistics or evaluations, implying neutrality.)
• невыдающаяся работа - Unremarkable work (Common in professional critiques, suggesting lack of innovation.)

Usage Notes:

• Choose 'посредственный' for precise matches to 'mediocre' in formal writing, as it conveys a slight disappointment without being harsh.
• 'средний' is more versatile in informal speech but may not fully capture the negative undertone; use it cautiously in contexts requiring judgment.
• Always inflect adjectives according to the noun's gender, number, and case—e.g., 'посредственный' becomes 'посредственная' for feminine nouns.
• In Russian, these words are often used in comparisons, so pair them with structures like 'но не хуже' (but not worse) for nuanced expression.

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse 'средний' with 'посредственный', using 'средний' in negative contexts where 'посредственный' is more appropriate. Error: "Эта еда средняя." (This food is average.) Correct: "Эта еда посредственная." (This food is mediocre.) Explanation: 'средний' implies neutrality, while 'посредственный' adds a judgmental tone.
• Misinflecting adjectives, e.g., using 'посредственный' for a feminine noun like "книга" (book). Error: "Книга посредственный." Correct: "Книга посредственная." Explanation: Adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case.
• Overusing in informal settings; 'невыдающийся' sounds overly formal in casual talk. Error: "Мой день невыдающийся." Correct: Avoid it; use 'посредственный' instead. Explanation: Match the register to the context for natural speech.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like 'посредственный' often reflect a value for excellence in arts and education, stemming from historical emphasis on achievement during the Soviet era. However, they are used neutrally in everyday life, avoiding the harsh criticism common in some Western contexts, to maintain social harmony.

Related Concepts:

• качество (quality)
• уровень (level)
• результат (result)
• оценка (evaluation)