Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'plentiful'

English Word: plentiful

Key Russian Translations:

• обильный /ɐˈbʲilʲnɨj/ - [Formal, Adjective]
• изобильный /ɪzɐˈbʲilʲnɨj/ - [Formal, Slightly poetic or literary context]

Frequency: Medium (This word is commonly used in written and spoken Russian, especially in descriptive contexts, but not as everyday as basic adjectives like "большой".)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; Learners at this level can understand and use these adjectives with some practice, though the inflections may pose challenges for beginners.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

обильный: /ɐˈbʲilʲnɨj/ (The stress is on the second syllable; the "бʲ" represents a palatalized 'b' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers.)

изобильный: /ɪzɐˈbʲilʲnɨj/ (Similar to the above, with emphasis on the third syllable; note the initial "и" as a short vowel.)

Note on обильный: Be cautious with the palatalization in "бʲ"; it's softer than in English, and mispronouncing it might make the word sound less natural. Variations in regional accents may alter vowel length.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: Abundant or plentiful in quantity, often describing resources, supplies, or natural phenomena.

Translation(s) & Context:

• обильный - Used in formal or descriptive contexts, such as in literature or scientific discussions, to indicate a large, sufficient amount (e.g., plentiful resources in nature).
• изобильный - Applied in more poetic or emphatic contexts, implying not just abundance but a sense of richness or overflow (e.g., in historical or cultural descriptions).

Usage Examples:

• В саду было обилие цветов, и они создавали яркую картину. (In the garden, there was an abundance of flowers, and they created a vibrant picture.)

  In the garden, there was an abundance of flowers, and they created a vibrant picture. (This example shows 'обильный' in a descriptive, everyday context.)

• Эта река всегда обильна рыбой, особенно в сезон нереста. (This river is always plentiful with fish, especially during spawning season.)

  This river is always plentiful with fish, especially during spawning season. (Demonstrates 'обильный' with natural phenomena and seasonal variations.)

• Изобильный урожай фруктов в этом году порадовал фермеров. (The plentiful harvest of fruits this year delighted the farmers.)

  The plentiful harvest of fruits this year delighted the farmers. (Here, 'изобильный' emphasizes richness in an agricultural setting.)

• Обильный дождь в мае сделал поля зелёными и плодородными. (The plentiful rain in May made the fields green and fertile.)

  The plentiful rain in May made the fields green and fertile. (Illustrates 'обильный' in weather-related contexts with adjectival agreement.)

• Изобильные ресурсы нефти в регионе привлекли множество инвесторов. (The plentiful resources of oil in the region attracted many investors.)

  The plentiful resources of oil in the region attracted many investors. (Shows 'изобильный' in economic or formal discussions.)

Meaning: Plentiful in a metaphorical sense, such as opportunities or ideas.

Translation(s) & Context:

• обильный - In metaphorical uses, like describing ideas or opportunities in casual or professional speech.

Usage Examples:

• У него обильные идеи для нового проекта, но ему нужно их реализовать. (He has plentiful ideas for the new project, but he needs to implement them.)

  He has plentiful ideas for the new project, but he needs to implement them. (This highlights metaphorical usage in creative contexts.)

• Изобильные возможности для путешествий открываются летом. (Plentiful opportunities for travel open up in the summer.)

  Plentiful opportunities for travel open up in the summer. (Demonstrates 'изобильный' in leisure or planning scenarios.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'обильный' and 'изобильный' are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a regular pattern for most cases, but they must agree with the nouns they modify. Here is a breakdown:

For 'изобильный', the inflections follow the same pattern: e.g., изобильная (feminine), изобильное (neuter). These adjectives are regular, so no irregularities to note. If the adjective is used predicatively, it may not inflect as strictly.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • богатый (rich, abundant; often used for wealth or resources, with a connotation of value)
  • изобильный (as above, but more emphatic for overflow)
• Antonyms:
  • скудный (scarce, meager; implies lack or insufficiency)
  • бедный (poor, lacking; used for resources or quality)

Related Phrases:

• в обилии - In abundance (e.g., used to describe something present in large quantities; context: economic or natural descriptions).
• обильный урожай - Plentiful harvest (a common phrase in agricultural contexts, implying a successful yield).
• изобильная трапеза - Plentiful feast (often in cultural or festive settings, emphasizing generosity).

Usage Notes:

Plentiful corresponds closely to 'обильный' in Russian, but choose 'изобильный' for more poetic or emphatic expressions. These adjectives are typically used in formal writing or speech; in casual conversation, simpler words like 'много' (many) might suffice. Always ensure gender, number, and case agreement with the noun (e.g., 'обильный' for masculine singular). For English learners, note that Russian adjectives don't have comparative forms like English 'more plentiful'—use adverbs or other structures instead, such as 'более обильный'.

• Context tip: In business or scientific Russian, 'обильный' is preferred for objectivity.
• Multiple translations: Use 'обильный' for straightforward abundance and 'изобильный' when implying excess or richness.

Common Errors:

English learners often forget to inflect adjectives correctly. For example, a common mistake is saying "обильный дом" (nominative) when the context requires genitive, like "в обильном доме" (in a plentiful house). Correct usage: Error - "Я видел обильный река" (incorrect, as it should agree in gender and case); Correct - "Я видел обильную реку" (feminine accusative). This error stems from English's lack of gender agreement, so always check the noun's properties first.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'обильный' often evoke themes of generosity and abundance, rooted in historical agricultural traditions. For instance, during festivals like Maslenitsa, a 'обильный' feast symbolizes prosperity and community, reflecting Russia's vast natural resources and the importance of hospitality in Slavic customs.

Related Concepts:

• богатство (wealth)
• урожай (harvest)
• ресурсы (resources)