Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'prickly'

English Word: prickly

Key Russian Translations:

• колючий /kɐˈlʲutɕɪj/ - [Adjective, Informal, used for physical or metaphorical prickles]
• раздражительный /rɐzdrɐˈʐitʲɪlʲnɨj/ - [Adjective, Formal, used primarily for emotional irritability]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday language, especially in descriptive contexts like nature or personality descriptions)

Difficulty: B1 Intermediate (for "колючий" as it involves basic adjective inflections; B2 Upper-Intermediate for "раздражительный" due to nuanced emotional connotations)

Pronunciation (Russian):

колючий: /kɐˈlʲutɕɪj/ (The "ч" sound is soft, like "ch" in "church", with stress on the second syllable)

Note on колючий: Pay attention to the soft "л" sound, which can be challenging for English speakers; it softens before the "ю". Variations in regional dialects may slightly alter vowel length.

раздражительный: /rɐzdrɐˈʐitʲɪlʲnɨj/ (Stress on the fourth syllable; the "ж" is pronounced like "zh" in "measure")

Note on раздражительный: The ending "-ый" can vary in speed based on speech rate, potentially sounding like "-iy" in casual conversation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Having sharp points, thorns, or a rough texture (e.g., referring to plants or objects).

Translation(s) & Context:

• колючий - Used in physical descriptions, such as plants or fabrics, in everyday informal contexts like gardening or outdoor activities.

Usage Examples:

• Колючая роза уколола меня в палец.

  The prickly rose thorn pricked my finger. (This example shows the adjective in a simple descriptive sentence about a plant.)

• Этот колючий куст трудно обрезать без перчаток.

  This prickly bush is hard to trim without gloves. (Illustrates use in a practical, everyday context with an object.)

• В саду растут колючие растения, которые отпугивают животных.

  In the garden, prickly plants grow that scare away animals. (Demonstrates plural usage and a protective function.)

• Колючая проволока вокруг забора выглядит устрашающе.

  The prickly barbed wire around the fence looks intimidating. (Shows metaphorical extension to man-made objects.)

• Её колючий свитер царапает кожу.

  Her prickly sweater irritates the skin. (Applies to textures in clothing, varying the grammatical structure.)

Meaning 2: Irritable, touchy, or difficult to deal with (e.g., describing a person's temperament).

Translation(s) & Context:

• раздражительный - Used in formal or psychological contexts, such as describing personality traits in conversations or literature.
• колючий - Occasionally used metaphorically in informal speech for emotional prickliness.

Usage Examples:

• Его раздражительный характер делает общение сложным.

  His prickly nature makes communication difficult. (Highlights personality in a interpersonal context.)

• Она становится колючей, когда устаёт от работы.

  She becomes prickly when she's tired from work. (Shows temporary emotional state in everyday scenarios.)

• Раздражительный коллега всегда реагирует на критику.

  The prickly colleague always reacts to criticism. (Used in professional settings with emotional nuance.)

• В этой книге описан колючий герой, который скрывает свои чувства.

  In this book, the prickly character hides his emotions. (Applies to literary descriptions.)

• Её раздражительный тон в разговоре отпугивает друзей.

  Her prickly tone in conversation scares away friends. (Focuses on speech patterns and social dynamics.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "колючий" and "раздражительный" are adjectives in Russian, which inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow standard patterns for hard-stem adjectives.

For "колючий" (a hard-stem adjective):

For "раздражительный" (similar pattern):

These adjectives do not change in short form but must agree with the noun in all attributes. No irregular inflections here.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: острый (sharp, for physical sense), грубый (rough or harsh), нервный (nervous, for emotional sense) - "грубый" is more general and less specific to prickliness.
• Antonyms: мягкий (soft), спокойный (calm) - "спокойный" is ideal for contrasting emotional irritability.

Related Phrases:

• Колючая проволока - Barbed wire; a common phrase for security fencing in military or industrial contexts.
• Раздражительный характер - Irritable temperament; used in psychological or interpersonal discussions.
• Колючая личность - Prickly personality; an idiomatic expression for someone who is defensive or hard to approach.

Usage Notes:

"Prickly" translates most directly to "колючий" for physical descriptions, but "раздражительный" is better for emotional contexts to capture nuances like sensitivity or moodiness. In Russian, adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, so always check the noun's form. "Колючий" is more informal and vivid, often used in spoken language, while "раздражительный" suits formal writing or professional settings. When choosing between translations, consider the context: physical vs. emotional. Avoid direct word-for-word translation; instead, adapt based on cultural idioms.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "колючий" for purely emotional contexts, e.g., saying "Он колючий" to mean "He is irritable" without context. Correct: Use "раздражительный" for emotional states to avoid confusion. Example of error: "Он колючий сегодня" (implying physical prickliness). Correct: "Он раздражительный сегодня" – This maintains the intended meaning and prevents literal misinterpretation.

• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "колючий женщина" instead of "колючая женщина". Correct: Always inflect the adjective, as in "колючая женщина" for feminine nouns. Explanation: Russian grammar requires agreement, which English speakers often overlook, leading to ungrammatical sentences.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "колючий" can evoke imagery from folklore, such as thorny forests in fairy tales (e.g., Baba Yaga stories), symbolizing danger or protection. "Раздражительный" might reflect the cultural emphasis on emotional restraint, where displaying irritability is often seen as a flaw in social interactions, influenced by historical collectivist values.

Related Concepts:

• Острый (sharp)
• Грубый (rough)
• Нервный (nervous)