Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'nervy'

English Word: nervy

Key Russian Translations:

• нервный [ˈnʲɛr.vnɨj] - [Informal, commonly used for describing someone who is nervous or edgy]
• нахальный [nɐˈxalʲ.nɨj] - [Informal, used for the meaning of bold, cheeky, or impudent]

Frequency: Medium (The word 'nervy' is moderately common in everyday English, with corresponding Russian translations appearing in casual conversations and literature.)

Difficulty: B1 Intermediate (For 'нервный' - suitable for intermediate learners; for 'нахальный' - also B1, as it involves understanding nuanced social contexts.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

нервный: [ˈnʲɛr.vnɨj]

Note on нервный: The stress falls on the first syllable; be mindful of the palatalized 'н' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. Variations may occur in dialects, but standard Russian uses this form.

нахальный: [nɐˈxalʲ.nɨj]

Note on нахальный: The 'х' is a guttural sound like the Scottish 'ch' in 'loch'; stress is on the second syllable. This word often carries a negative connotation in speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Nervous, edgy, or easily agitated

Translation(s) & Context:

• нервный - Used in everyday contexts to describe someone who is anxious or high-strung, such as in personal or professional settings.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда нервный перед важными встречами.

  He is always nervy before important meetings.

• Её нервный смех выдал её волнение.

  Her nervy laugh revealed her anxiety.

• В этом городе люди становятся нервными из-за пробок.

  In this city, people get nervy because of the traffic jams.

• Нервный ребенок не мог сидеть на месте во время урока.

  The nervy child couldn't sit still during the lesson.

• После кофе она чувствует себя ещё более нервной.

  After coffee, she feels even more nervy.

Meaning 2: Bold, cheeky, or impudent

Translation(s) & Context:

• нахальный - Applied in social situations to describe someone who is overly forward or disrespectful, often in informal or humorous contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Его нахальный вопрос шокировал всех на собрании.

  His nervy question shocked everyone at the meeting.

• Девушка с нахальной улыбкой вошла в комнату.

  The girl with a nervy smile entered the room.

• Нахальный прохожий взял мой зонтик без спроса.

  The nervy passerby took my umbrella without asking.

• В этой комедии персонаж известен своим нахальным поведением.

  In this comedy, the character is known for his nervy behavior.

• Её нахальный ответ разрядил напряжение.

  Her nervy response eased the tension.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'нервный' and 'нахальный' are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow standard patterns for agreement with nouns.

For 'нервный' (adjective, meaning nervous):

For 'нахальный' (adjective, meaning bold):

These adjectives follow regular patterns, but always ensure agreement with the noun they modify.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms for нервный: встревоженный (vstrevozhennyy) - more intense anxiety; напряженный (napryazhennyy) - meaning tense or strained.
• Synonyms for нахальный: дерзкий (derzkiy) - bold or audacious; бесцеремонный (bestsereomonnyy) - rude or unceremonious.
• Antonyms for нервный: спокойный (spokoynyy) - calm or relaxed.
• Antonyms for нахальный: скромный (skromnyy) - modest or humble; вежливый (vezhlivyy) - polite.

Related Phrases:

• Нервный срыв - A nervous breakdown; used in contexts of extreme stress or mental health.
• Нахальный взгляд - A nervy or bold stare; implies an intrusive or challenging look in social interactions.
• Быть нервным типом - To be a nervy type; describes someone with a habitually anxious personality.

Usage Notes:

'Нервный' directly corresponds to the nervous aspect of 'nervy' and is best used in informal settings to describe emotional states, but avoid it in formal writing where 'возбужденный' (excited or agitated) might be more appropriate. 'Нахальный' matches the bold meaning and carries a negative connotation, so use it cautiously in social contexts. When choosing between translations, consider the context: if 'nervy' means anxiety, opt for 'нервный'; if it means impudence, use 'нахальный'. Grammatically, both adjectives must agree with the noun in gender, number, and case.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'нервный' interchangeably with 'нервозный' (nervoznyy), which implies a more chronic condition. Correct: Stick to 'нервный' for temporary edginess. Example of error: *Он нервозный сегодня* (implying a long-term issue); Correct: Он нервный сегодня (for a short-term state).

• Error: Misinflecting 'нахальный' in sentences, e.g., using the masculine form with a feminine noun. Correct: Ensure agreement, as in *нахальная женщина* instead of *нахальный женщина*.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'нервный' often reflect the high-stakes environment of daily life in urban areas, influenced by historical events like the Soviet era's emphasis on emotional restraint. 'Нахальный' can evoke a sense of pushy behavior in crowded cities like Moscow, where personal space is limited, highlighting cultural norms around politeness and social hierarchy.

Related Concepts:

• стрессовый (stressful)
• эмоциональный (emotional)
• дерзость (audacity)