Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'risible'

English Word: risible

Key Russian Translations:

• смешной [ˈsmʲeʂnɨj] - [Informal, Everyday usage]
• абсурдный [ɐpˈsurdnɨj] - [Formal, Emphasizing absurdity]
• нелепый [nʲɪˈlʲepɨj] - [Informal, Highlighting ridiculousness]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are moderately common in literary or conversational contexts, but not everyday staples.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for 'смешной' and 'нелепый'; C1 (Advanced) for 'абсурдный' due to its nuanced connotations.

Pronunciation (Russian):

смешной: [ˈsmʲeʂnɨj]

абсурдный: [ɐpˈsurdnɨj]

нелепый: [nʲɪˈlʲepɨj]

Note on смешной: The 'ш' sound ([ʂ]) can be challenging for English speakers; it's similar to the 'sh' in "shoe" but more guttural. Variations may occur in dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Causing laughter or ridicule (e.g., something absurdly funny or worthy of mockery)

Translation(s) & Context:

• смешной - Used in casual, everyday situations to describe something humorous or silly.
• абсурдный - Applied in formal or intellectual contexts, such as debates, to highlight illogical absurdity.
• нелепый - Common in informal storytelling, emphasizing ridiculousness in a light-hearted way.

Usage Examples:

• Его идея была смешной, но мы все посмеялись. (His idea was risible, but we all laughed.)

  His idea was funny, but we all laughed.

• Эта ситуация абсурдная и заслуживает критики. (This situation is risible and deserves criticism.)

  This situation is absurd and deserves criticism.

• Нелепый костюм на вечеринке сделал его центром внимания. (The risible costume at the party made him the center of attention.)

  The ridiculous costume at the party made him the center of attention.

• Смешной анекдот помог разрядить напряжение в комнате. (The risible anecdote helped ease the tension in the room.)

  The funny anecdote helped ease the tension in the room.

• Абсурдный план проекта привел к полному провалу. (The risible plan for the project led to complete failure.)

  The absurd plan for the project led to complete failure.

Meaning 2: Deserving of laughter due to absurdity (e.g., in a more mocking sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• нелепый - Often used in narrative contexts to mock something overly ridiculous.
• смешной - Can be ironic in this context, implying derision rather than pure humor.

Usage Examples:

• Нелепый аргумент оппонента был легко опровергнут. (The risible argument from the opponent was easily refuted.)

  The ridiculous argument from the opponent was easily refuted.

• Смешной вид политика в СМИ вызвал волну насмешек. (The risible appearance of the politician in the media sparked a wave of mockery.)

  The funny appearance of the politician in the media sparked a wave of mockery.

• Абсурдный закон из прошлого века все еще действует. (The risible law from the last century is still in effect.)

  The absurd law from the last century is still in effect.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations are adjectives, which inflect for gender, number, and case in Russian. Below is a table for 'смешной' as an example; similar patterns apply to 'абсурдный' and 'нелепый' with slight variations.

For 'абсурдный', it follows a similar adjectival pattern but is less variable in informal speech. 'Нелепый' is regular and unchanging in most contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • забавный (more playful, often for light-hearted fun)
  • юмористический (formal, emphasizing humor in writing or media)
• Antonyms:
  • серьёзный (serious)
  • трагический (tragic)

Related Phrases:

• смешная ситуация - A funny or risible situation; used to describe comical scenarios in everyday life.
• абсурдный юмор - Absurd humor; refers to risible elements in comedy that border on the ridiculous.
• нелепый поступок - A ridiculous act; highlights behaviors that are laughably unwise.

Usage Notes:

'Рisible' often corresponds best to 'смешной' in informal English-Russian translation, but choose 'абсурдный' for contexts involving intellectual critique. Be mindful of gender agreement in Russian sentences, as adjectives must match the noun's gender, number, and case. For example, use 'смешная' with feminine nouns. In formal writing, 'абсурдный' might be preferred to convey a more sophisticated tone, while 'нелепый' suits narrative or spoken language.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'смешной' in a purely mocking context without irony, which can come across as overly casual. Correct: Opt for 'абсурдный' in serious discussions. Example of error: "Его план смешной" (implying light fun when ridicule is intended). Correct: "Его план абсурдный" (better for emphasizing flaws).

• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "смешной книга" instead of "смешная книга" for a feminine noun. Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree with the noun; always check the noun's gender.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'смешной' often tie into the tradition of satire and humor in literature (e.g., Gogol's works), where the risible is used to critique society. This reflects a broader cultural appreciation for irony, which might not directly translate to English contexts.

Related Concepts:

• юмор (humor)
• сатира (satire)
• абсурд (absurd)