Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'rarity'

English Word: rarity

Key Russian Translations:

• редкость [rʲɪdˈkostʲ] - [Formal, used in general contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature, scientific discussions, and everyday conversations about uniqueness)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; requires understanding of noun declensions and basic vocabulary)

Pronunciation (Russian):

редкость: [rʲɪdˈkostʲ]

Note on редкость: The initial 'р' is palatalized, which can be tricky for English speakers; stress falls on the second syllable. Practice with native audio for accurate intonation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The state or quality of being rare, uncommon, or scarce.

Translation(s) & Context:

• редкость - Used in formal or academic contexts to describe something that is not frequently found, such as a rare artifact or event.

Usage Examples:

• Эта редкость встречается только в отдаленных регионах Сибири.

  This rarity is found only in remote regions of Siberia.

• Коллекционеры ценят такую редкость за ее историческую значимость.

  Collectors value such a rarity for its historical significance.

• В современном мире настоящая редкость — это искренние дружеские отношения.

  In the modern world, genuine friendships are a true rarity.

• Редкость этого минерала делает его очень дорогим на рынке.

  The rarity of this mineral makes it very expensive on the market.

• Для ученых эта редкость представляет огромный интерес для исследований.

  For scientists, this rarity holds great interest for research purposes.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Редкость" is a feminine noun in the third declension. It follows standard Russian noun declension patterns with changes based on case and number. Below is a table outlining its inflections:

Note: This word does not have irregular forms, making it relatively straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • уникальность (uniqueness; emphasizes one-of-a-kind aspects)
  • необычность (unusualness; used for something slightly less rare but still uncommon)
• Antonyms:
  • распространенность (commonness; implies something is widely available)
  • обыденность (ordinariness; suggests everyday occurrence)

Related Phrases:

• редкая птица - A rare bird (refers to an exceptional or unusual person; used idiomatically in casual conversations).
• редкий случай - A rare case (describes an uncommon event or situation in formal contexts).
• сокровище редкости - Treasure of rarity (implies something extremely valuable due to its scarcity, often in literary or poetic usage).

Usage Notes:

• Редкость directly corresponds to the English "rarity" in terms of meaning, but it's often used in more formal or written contexts. English speakers should note that Russian nouns like this must agree in case, number, and gender with other words in the sentence.
• When choosing between synonyms like уникальность, opt for редкость if the focus is on scarcity rather than absolute uniqueness.
• In spoken Russian, it's common in scenarios like discussing collectibles or natural phenomena, but avoid overusing it in casual chit-chat to prevent sounding overly formal.
• Grammatically, always decline it according to the sentence structure; for example, use the genitive case after prepositions like "из" (from).

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse "редкость" with "редкий" (the adjective form meaning "rare"). Error: Using "редкость" as an adjective, e.g., "редкость вещь" instead of "редкая вещь." Correct: "Эта вещь — редкость" (This thing is a rarity). Explanation: "Редкость" is a noun, so it can't modify another noun directly without proper syntax.
• Another common mistake is incorrect declension, e.g., saying "в редкость" (wrong genitive) instead of "в редкости" (in rarity). Correct: "В редкости этого события нет сомнений" (There is no doubt in the rarity of this event). Explanation: Proper case agreement is essential in Russian to convey precise meaning.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of "редкость" often ties into the appreciation of nature and history, such as rare Siberian gems or artifacts from the Soviet era. It reflects a cultural value placed on uniqueness amid vast landscapes, but it doesn't carry strong idiomatic connotations beyond standard usage.

Related Concepts:

• редкий (rare, as an adjective)
• уникальный (unique)
• необычный (unusual)