Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'peculiar'

English Word: peculiar

Key Russian Translations:

• странный [ˈstrannɨj] - [Informal, commonly used in everyday speech to describe something odd or unusual]
• необычный [nʲɪɐˈbɨt͡ɕnɨj] - [Formal, used in more polished or written contexts to emphasize uniqueness]
• свойственный [svɐɪˈʂtʲvʲɪnɨj] - [Formal, specifically for something characteristic or inherent]

Frequency: Medium (The word and its translations appear regularly in modern Russian media and conversation but are not as common as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate level; learners should understand basic adjective inflections, but nuances in usage may require practice. For 'странный', it's B1; for 'необычный', it's also B1; for 'свойственный', it could be B2 due to more abstract contexts.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

странный: [ˈstrannɨj]

необычный: [nʲɪɐˈbɨt͡ɕnɨj]

свойственный: [svɐɪˈʂtʲvʲɪnɨj]

Note on странный: The stress falls on the first syllable; be careful with the soft 'н' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. A common variant in fast speech might soften the vowels.

Note on необычный: The 'й' at the end is palatalized; practice with native audio to master the flowing pronunciation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Strange or unusual (Referring to something odd or out of the ordinary)

Translation(s) & Context:

• странный - Often used in informal settings, like describing quirky behavior or events.
• необычный - Preferred in formal writing or discussions, such as in literature or scientific contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Этот дом выглядит странно. (Etot dom vyglyadit stranno.)

  This house looks peculiar.

• Его поведение было необычным для такой ситуации. (Yego povedeniye bylo neobychnym dlya takoy situatsii.)

  His behavior was peculiar for such a situation.

• В этом городе есть странные традиции. (V etom gorode yest' strannye traditsii.)

  There are peculiar traditions in this city.

• Необычный вкус еды удивил всех. (Neobychnyy vkus yedy udivil vsekh.)

  The peculiar taste of the food surprised everyone.

• Странный шум разбудил меня ночью. (Strannyy shum razbudil menya noch'yu.)

  The peculiar noise woke me up at night.

Meaning 2: Characteristic or peculiar to something (Referring to a quality that is specific or inherent)

Translation(s) & Context:

• свойственный - Used in academic or descriptive contexts, such as in psychology or biology.

Usage Examples:

• Это свойственно для детей его возраста. (Eto svoystvenno dlya detey yego vozrasta.)

  This is peculiar to children of his age.

• Свойственный аромат цветов наполнил воздух. (Svoystvennyy aromat tsvetov napolnil vozdukh.)

  The peculiar aroma of flowers filled the air.

• Такая свойственная черта делает его уникальным. (Takaya svoystvennaya cherta delayet yego unikal'nym.)

  That peculiar trait makes him unique.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Adjectives like 'странный' and 'необычный' follow standard first-conjugation patterns, while 'свойственный' is also regular but more formal.

Note: These adjectives do not change irregularly, making them straightforward for learners, but always agree with the noun they modify.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • необычный (similar to 'strange' but with a neutral connotation)
  • странный (direct equivalent, but can imply more negativity)
  • экстраординарный (used for something exceptionally peculiar, in formal contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • обычный (ordinary, everyday)
  • нормальный (normal, without any oddity)

Related Phrases:

• странно, но факт - (Strangely, but a fact; used to introduce something unexpected in conversation)
• необычный поворот событий - (A peculiar turn of events; refers to surprising developments in a story)
• свойственная черта характера - (A peculiar character trait; describes inherent personality features)

Usage Notes:

When translating 'peculiar' to Russian, choose 'странный' for informal, everyday contexts where something feels odd or quirky. 'Необычный' is better for neutral or positive descriptions, such as in art or culture. 'Свойственный' is ideal for academic or scientific uses, emphasizing inherent qualities. Be mindful of adjective agreement with nouns in gender, number, and case. In spoken Russian, 'странный' might carry a slightly negative tone, so context matters to avoid misunderstandings.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'странный' interchangeably with 'необычный' without considering tone. For example, learners might say "необычный дом" when "странный дом" is more appropriate for something truly odd, leading to a mismatch in connotation.

  Correct: Это странный дом (This is a peculiar house). Explanation: 'Странный' conveys strangeness, while 'необычный' might just mean unique.

• Error: Forgetting adjective inflections, e.g., saying "странный книга" instead of "странная книга" for a feminine noun. Correct: Странная книга (The peculiar book). Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree with the noun's gender.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'странный' often appear in literature and folklore to describe the mysterious or supernatural, as seen in works by authors like Gogol. This reflects a cultural fascination with the peculiar and the unknown, which can add depth to everyday language and help foreigners appreciate Russian storytelling traditions.

Related Concepts:

• экзотический (exotic)
• загадочный (mysterious)
• оригинальный (original)