Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'motley'

English Word: motley

Key Russian Translations:

• пёстрый [IPA: ˈpʲestrɨj] - [Formal, used in descriptive contexts for patterns or mixtures]
• разноцветный [IPA: rɐznɐˈt͡svʲetnɨj] - [Informal, everyday language for multicolored items]
• смешанный [IPA: smʲɪˈʂanːɨj] - [Neutral, often for mixed groups or abstract mixtures, e.g., Plural forms in contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in literature, descriptions, and everyday speech, but not as ubiquitous as basic adjectives)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjective declensions and contextual nuances for accurate use)

Pronunciation (Russian):

пёстрый: ˈpʲestrɨj

разноцветный: rɐznɐˈt͡svʲetnɨj

смешанный: smʲɪˈʂanːɨj

Note on пёстрый: The initial "пё" sound involves a soft "й" glide, which can be challenging for English speakers; it's pronounced with a palatalized "p" as in "pyes-". Variations may occur in dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Variegated or multicolored (referring to patterns or mixtures in appearance)

Translation(s) & Context:

• пёстрый - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe visually diverse items, such as clothing or nature.
• разноцветный - Applied in informal settings for everyday objects with multiple colors.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: В саду растут пёстрые цветы, которые радуют глаз.

  English: In the garden, motley flowers grow that delight the eye.

• Русский: Она надела разноцветный шарф, чтобы выделиться в толпе.

  English: She wore a motley scarf to stand out in the crowd.

• Русский: Эта смешанная группа людей пришла на фестиваль.

  English: This motley group of people came to the festival.

• Русский: Пёстрый узор на ковре придаёт комнате уют.

  English: The motley pattern on the carpet adds coziness to the room.

• Русский: Разноцветные ткани используются в народных костюмах.

  English: Motley fabrics are used in folk costumes.

Meaning 2: Mixed or diverse (referring to groups, collections, or abstract mixtures)

Translation(s) & Context:

• смешанный - Common in neutral contexts for heterogeneous groups, such as in social or abstract descriptions.
• пёстрый - Less common here, but used metaphorically in formal writing.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: Смешанная аудитория на конференции включала экспертов и новичков.

  English: The motley audience at the conference included experts and beginners.

• Русский: Пёстрый набор инструментов пригодился в ремонте.

  English: The motley set of tools came in handy for the repair.

• Русский: В этом смешанном коллективе есть люди из разных стран.

  English: In this motley group, there are people from different countries.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily adjectives, which in Russian undergo declension based on gender, number, and case. For example, "пёстрый" is irregular in some forms due to its root. Below is a table for "пёстрый" as a representative:

For "разноцветный" and "смешанный", they follow regular adjective patterns with no irregularities. If the word is used as a predicate, it remains unchanged in short form (e.g., пёстр).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • разнообразный (raznoobraznyj) - More general for diversity, often interchangeable in abstract contexts.
  • многоцветный (mnogocvetnyj) - Specifically for multiple colors, with a subtle emphasis on quantity.
• Antonyms:
  • одноцветный (odnotvetnyj) - Used for single-color items, highlighting uniformity.
  • монотонный (monotonyj) - Implies dullness or lack of variety.

Related Phrases:

• Пёстрый ковер (pestryj kover) - A motley carpet; refers to a rug with varied patterns, often in home decor.
• Смешанная компания (smeshannaya kompaniya) - A motley company; describes a diverse group of people in social settings.
• Разноцветный букет (raznotvetnyj buket) - A motley bouquet; used for floral arrangements with multiple colors.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "пёстрый" is more poetic and formal, aligning closely with the English "motley" in artistic or descriptive contexts, while "разноцветный" is straightforward for visual descriptions. Choose based on tone: use "смешанный" for abstract mixtures like groups. Be mindful of gender agreement in sentences, as Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender, number, and case. For example, it's common in everyday speech to pair these with nouns in nominative case.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "пёстрый" without proper declension, e.g., saying "пёстрый женщина" instead of "пёстрая женщина". Correct: Ensure agreement, as in "пёстрая женщина" (motley woman). Explanation: Russian adjectives must inflect, unlike English, which can lead to confusion for beginners.

• Error: Confusing "пёстрый" with "разноцветный" in formal writing, using the latter where a more literary tone is needed. Correct: Opt for "пёстрый" in descriptive prose. Explanation: "Разноцветный" is too literal and may sound mundane in poetic contexts.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "пёстрый" often evoke folk art and traditional patterns, such as those in matryoshka dolls or embroidered fabrics, symbolizing diversity and vibrancy. This reflects Russia's rich heritage of colorful crafts, where "motley" elements represent unity in diversity, especially in festivals or historical narratives.

Related Concepts:

• Цветной (tsvetnoj) - Colored
• Мозаичный (mozaichnyj) - Mosaic-like
• Гармоничный (garmonichnyj) - Harmonious