Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'patchy'

English Word: patchy

Key Russian Translations:

• неровный [nʲɪˈrovnɨj] - [Informal; Used for uneven surfaces or inconsistent quality]
• пятнистый [pʲɪtˈnʲistɨj] - [Informal; Used specifically for spotted or mottled appearances]
• неравномерный [nʲɪrɐˈvnəmʲɪrnɨj] - [Formal; Used in technical or scientific contexts for irregularity]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday descriptions of weather, surfaces, or quality, but not as frequent as basic adjectives).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; Learners at this level can grasp the concept with practice, though nuances require contextual understanding).

Pronunciation (Russian):

неровный: [nʲɪˈrovnɨj]

Note on неровный: The stress is on the third syllable; be careful with the soft 'н' sound, which is palatalized.

пятнистый: [pʲɪtˈnʲistɨj]

Note on пятнистый: The 'т' is softened before 'н', and the word ends with a typical Russian unstressed vowel.

неравномерный: [nʲɪrɐˈvnəmʲɪrnɨj]

Note on неравномерный: This longer word has multiple syllables; practice the rolling 'р' for authenticity.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Uneven in quality, coverage, or consistency (e.g., patchy work or weather).

Translation(s) & Context:

• неровный - Used in informal contexts to describe something inconsistent, like patchy rain.
• неравномерный - Preferred in formal or professional settings, such as scientific reports.

Usage Examples:

• Погода сегодня неровная: то дождь, то солнце.

  The weather today is patchy: sometimes rain, sometimes sun.

• Его работа была неровной, с периодами высокого и низкого качества.

  His work was patchy, with periods of high and low quality.

• Неравномерный рост экономики привел к социальным проблемам.

  The patchy growth of the economy led to social issues.

• Краска на стене вышла неровной из-за плохой подготовки.

  The paint on the wall turned out patchy due to poor preparation.

Meaning 2: Having spots, patches, or a mottled appearance (e.g., patchy skin or fabric).

Translation(s) & Context:

• пятнистый - Common for visual descriptions, like animal fur or fabrics.

Usage Examples:

• Кошка имеет пятнистый окрас, что делает ее очень красивой.

  The cat has a patchy coloration, which makes it very beautiful.

• Эта ткань пятнистая, с разноцветными узорами.

  This fabric is patchy, with multicolored patterns.

• Лес осенью становится пятнистым отchanging leaves.

  The forest becomes patchy in autumn due to changing leaves.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Below is a table for 'неровный' as an example. 'Пятнистый' follows similar patterns, while 'неравномерный' is less common but inflects identically.

Note: These adjectives follow the standard first-declension pattern and do not have irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • неоднородный (neodnorodnyy) - Similar to patchy but more formal, emphasizing lack of uniformity.
  • разнородный (raznorodnyy) - Used for diverse or mixed elements.
• Antonyms:
  • ровный (rovnyy) - Even, smooth.
  • однородный (odnorodnyy) - Uniform, consistent.

Related Phrases:

• Неровная поверхность - A patchy surface; used to describe uneven terrain.
• Пятнистый узор - Patchy pattern; common in fashion or design contexts.
• Неравномерное распределение - Patchy distribution; often in scientific or economic discussions.

Usage Notes:

'Patchy' in English often implies inconsistency or irregularity, which aligns closely with 'неровный' in Russian for general use. Choose 'пятнистый' for visual or physical patchiness, and 'неравномерный' for formal contexts. Be mindful of gender and case agreements in sentences, as Russian adjectives must match the nouns they describe. For example, it's common in spoken Russian to use these words in weather reports or critiques.

• Avoid direct word-for-word translation; context dictates the best fit.
• In informal speech, 'неровный' can be shortened or used metaphorically.

Common Errors:

One common mistake is confusing 'неровный' with 'неряшливый' (messy or sloppy), as both relate to imperfection. For example, learners might say "неряшливый день" (meaning a messy day) instead of "неровный день" for a patchy day. Correct usage: Use "неровный" for inconsistency and provide the proper inflected form, e.g., "неровный день" vs. incorrect "неряшливый день," which implies untidiness rather than patchiness.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'неровный' often appear in descriptions of rural landscapes or historical contexts, reflecting the country's vast and varied geography. For instance, patchy fields in Russian literature symbolize the challenges of agriculture in unpredictable climates, evoking themes of resilience and adaptation.

Related Concepts:

• ровный
• однородный
• неоднородность