Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'rugged'

English Word: rugged

Key Russian Translations:

• неровный /nʲɪˈrovnɨj/ - [Informal, Descriptive of terrain]
• крепкий /ˈkrʲepkʲij/ - [Formal, Emphasizing durability]
• скалистый /skaˈlʲistɨj/ - [Neutral, Specific to rocky features]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday descriptions of landscapes or objects, but not as frequent as basic adjectives like "big" or "small").

Difficulty: B1 Intermediate (requires understanding of adjective inflections; 'неровный' and 'скалистый' follow standard patterns, while 'крепкий' may vary slightly in context).

Pronunciation (Russian):

неровный: /nʲɪˈrovnɨj/

крепкий: /ˈkrʲepkʲij/

скалистый: /skaˈlʲistɨj/

Note on неровный: The stress falls on the second syllable; be cautious with the palatalized 'н' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers. Variations in regional accents may soften the vowels.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Describing uneven or rough terrain (e.g., mountainous or irregular landscapes)

Translation(s) & Context:

• неровный - Used in informal contexts like travel descriptions or casual conversations about nature.
• скалистый - Applied in neutral or technical contexts, such as geography or hiking.

Usage Examples:

• Эта дорога очень неровная, поэтому будьте осторожны. (This road is very rugged, so be careful.)

  Translation: This road is very rugged, so be careful. (Shows 'неровный' in a warning context about physical irregularity.)

• В горах мы увидели скалистые пейзажи, полные приключений. (In the mountains, we saw rugged landscapes full of adventures.)

  Translation: In the mountains, we saw rugged landscapes full of adventures. (Illustrates 'скалистый' in a descriptive, exploratory setting.)

• Путешествие по неровным тропам требует хорошей обуви. (Traveling on rugged paths requires good footwear.)

  Translation: Traveling on rugged paths requires good footwear. (Demonstrates 'неровный' in a practical, outdoor context.)

• Скалистые берега привлекают любителей скалолазания. (The rugged shores attract rock climbing enthusiasts.)

  Translation: The rugged shores attract rock climbing enthusiasts. (Highlights 'скалистый' in a recreational context.)

Meaning 2: Describing something strong, durable, or robust (e.g., a person's build or an object's resilience)

Translation(s) & Context:

• крепкий - Often used in formal or everyday contexts to emphasize strength, like in descriptions of people or materials.
• неровный - Less common here, but can imply a rough, tough quality in informal speech.

Usage Examples:

• Его крепкое телосложение помогло ему выжить в суровых условиях. (His rugged build helped him survive in harsh conditions.)

  Translation: His rugged build helped him survive in harsh conditions. (Uses 'крепкий' to describe physical endurance.)

• Эта крепкая ткань выдержит любые погодные испытания. (This rugged fabric will withstand any weather tests.)

  Translation: This rugged fabric will withstand any weather tests. (Shows 'крепкий' in a material context.)

• Неровный, но крепкий забор устоял против ветра. (The rugged, yet sturdy fence withstood the wind.)

  Translation: The rugged, yet sturdy fence withstood the wind. (Combines 'неровный' and 'крепкий' for nuanced description.)

• Крепкие люди часто выбирают неровные тропы для тренировок. (Rugged people often choose uneven paths for training.)

  Translation: Rugged people often choose uneven paths for training. (Illustrates 'крепкий' in a metaphorical sense.)

• Ее крепкий характер проявился в неровных жизненных ситуациях. (Her rugged character showed in uneven life situations.)

  Translation: Her rugged character showed in uneven life situations. (Extends to abstract usage.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These adjectives follow standard Russian inflection patterns for gender, number, and case. They are not irregular but require attention to agreement with nouns.

Note: These adjectives do not change in predicative positions (e.g., after "быть" - to be), remaining in their base form.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • неровный: бугристый (bugristyy) - Similar for bumpy surfaces, but more specific to raised irregularities.
  • крепкий: выносливый (vynoslivyy) - Implies endurance, often in physical contexts.
  • скалистый: каменистый (kamenistyy) - Focuses on stoniness, with a slight emphasis on pebbles.
• Antonyms:
  • неровный: ровный (rovnyy) - Smooth or even.
  • крепкий: хрупкий (khrupkiy) - Fragile or delicate.
  • скалистый: плоский (ploskiy) - Flat or level.

Related Phrases:

• Неровная дорога (Nerovnaya doroga) - Uneven road; used for describing challenging travel routes.
• Крепкий как скала (Krepkiy kak skala) - Strong as a rock; a common idiom for resilience.
• Скалистые горы (Skalistye gory) - Rugged mountains; often refers to mountainous regions like the Urals.

Usage Notes:

• Russian translations of 'rugged' depend on context: use 'неровный' for physical unevenness, 'крепкий' for strength, and 'скалистый' for rocky features. English speakers should note that Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify.
• In formal writing, 'крепкий' is preferred for abstract qualities like character, while 'неровный' is more casual in spoken language.
• Avoid direct word-for-word translation; for example, 'rugged terrain' might be better as 'неровный ландшафт' in descriptive texts.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'неровный' without proper inflection, e.g., saying "неровный горы" instead of "неровная гора" for feminine nouns. Correct: Always match gender and case, as in "неровная гора". Explanation: This stems from English's lack of inflection, leading to agreement errors.
• Error: Confusing 'крепкий' with 'сильный' (strong), which is broader; 'крепкий' implies durability. Correct: Use 'крепкий' for ruggedness, e.g., "крепкий человек" vs. incorrect "сильный человек" in contexts of endurance. Explanation: Overgeneralization can dilute meaning.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'крепкий' often evoke images of resilience in harsh environments, such as the Siberian wilderness. This reflects historical themes of survival and strength in Russian literature, like in Tolstoy's works, where rugged landscapes symbolize human endurance.

Related Concepts:

• Горный (Gornyy) - Mountainous
• Суровый (Surovyy) - Harsh or severe
• Прочный (Prochnyy) - Durable