Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'salient'

English Word: salient

Key Russian Translations:

• заметный [zɐˈmʲetnɨj] - [Formal, used for general prominence]
• выдающийся [vɨˈdajʊʂːɪjsjə] - [Formal, often for outstanding or exceptional features]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in academic, professional, and everyday contexts, but not as frequent as basic adjectives like "big" or "small").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective declension and context-specific usage, suitable for learners with basic Russian grammar knowledge).

Pronunciation (Russian):

заметный: [zɐˈmʲetnɨj] (Stress on the second syllable; the "мʲ" indicates a palatalized 'm', which can be tricky for English speakers.)

Note on заметный: Be careful with the palatalization; it's pronounced softer than in English equivalents. Variations in fast speech may reduce the emphasis on the final vowel.

выдающийся: [vɨˈdajʊʂːɪjsjə] (Stress on the third syllable; the "ʂ" sound is a retroflex 'sh', similar to English 'sh' but more rolled.)

Note on выдающийся: This word often has a more emphatic pronunciation in formal settings, with a slight pause before the suffix for emphasis.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Most noticeable or important (e.g., in a list, argument, or features)

Translation(s) & Context:

• заметный - Used in formal or academic contexts to describe something that stands out visually or conceptually, such as key points in a discussion.
• выдающийся - Applied to exceptional or prominent elements, often with a positive connotation, like in historical or professional descriptions.

Usage Examples:

• Заметные детали в докладе помогли аудитории понять основную идею. (Zametnye detali v doklade pomogli auditorii ponyat' osnovnuyu ideyu.)

  The salient details in the report helped the audience understand the main idea. (This example shows 'заметный' in a formal presentation context, highlighting key information.)

• Выдающиеся черты его характера сделали его лидером группы. (Vydaiushchiesia cherty ego kharaktera sdelali ego liderom gruppy.)

  His salient traits made him the leader of the group. (Here, 'выдающийся' emphasizes exceptional qualities in a personal description.)

• В этой картине самые заметные элементы - цвета и свет. (V etoi kartine samye zametnye elementy - tsveta i svet.)

  In this painting, the salient elements are the colors and light. (Demonstrates 'заметный' in an artistic context, focusing on visual prominence.)

• Выдающиеся моменты истории России часто обсуждаются в школах. (Vydaiushchiesia momenty istorii Rossii chasto obsuzhdayutsya v shkolakh.)

  The salient moments of Russian history are often discussed in schools. (Illustrates 'выдающийся' in an educational or historical setting.)

• Заметный прогресс в технологиях изменил нашу повседневную жизнь. (Zametnyy progress v tekhnologiakh izmenil nashu povsednevnuyu zhizn'.)

  Salient progress in technology has changed our daily life. (Shows 'заметный' in a modern, technological context with adjective agreement.)

Meaning 2: Projecting outward (e.g., in geography or military contexts, though less common)

Translation(s) & Context:

• заметный - Rarely used; more for metaphorical projections, like in maps or strategies.

Usage Examples:

• Заметный выступ на карте указывает на стратегическую точку. (Zametnyy vystup na karte ukazyvaet na strategicheskuyu tochku.)

  The salient protrusion on the map indicates a strategic point. (This example uses 'заметный' in a geographical context, though it's not the primary usage.)

• Выдающийся бастион в обороне был ключевым элементом. (Vydaiushchiy bastion v oborone byl klyuchevym elementom.)

  The salient bastion in the defense was a key element. (Demonstrates 'выдающийся' in a military context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'заметный' and 'выдающийся' are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern for short and long forms, with 'заметный' being more regular and 'выдающийся' following typical adjective declension.

Note: These adjectives do not have irregular inflections; they follow the standard first-declension pattern. In short form (e.g., for predicates), 'заметен' or 'выдающ' can be used, but this is less common in modern usage.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • значимый (znachimyiy) - More neutral, emphasizing importance.
  • основной (osnovnoy) - Focuses on being primary or fundamental; often used interchangeably with 'заметный' in lists.
• Antonyms:
  • незначительный (neznachitel'nyiy) - Insignificant or minor.
  • скрытый (skrytyiy) - Hidden or concealed.

Related Phrases:

• заметные различия (zametnye razlichiya) - Noticeable differences; used in comparisons or analyses.
• выдающиеся достижения (vydaiushchiesia dostizheniya) - Outstanding achievements; common in resumes or historical discussions.
• самые заметные аспекты (samye zametnye aspekty) - The most salient aspects; for summarizing key points.

Usage Notes:

'Заметный' directly corresponds to the neutral sense of 'salient' in English, making it suitable for everyday and professional contexts, while 'выдающийся' implies a higher degree of excellence, similar to 'eminent' or 'prominent'. Be mindful of gender and case agreement in sentences; for example, use 'заметная' for feminine nouns. In formal writing, 'выдающийся' is preferred for positive connotations, but avoid overusing it to prevent sounding overly dramatic. When choosing between translations, opt for 'заметный' for general prominence and 'выдающийся' for exceptional cases.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'заметный' without proper declension, e.g., saying "заметный дом" when it should be "заметный дом" (correct), but forgetting to change to "заметную книгу" for accusative feminine.
  Correct: Заметную книгу я прочитал. (I read the salient book.)
  Explanation: English learners often overlook Russian's case system, leading to grammatical errors; always match the adjective to the noun's case.
• Mistake: Confusing 'выдающийся' with 'выдавать' (to issue or give out), e.g., mistakenly using it as a verb.
  Correct: Выдающийся лидер (An outstanding leader) vs. Incorrect: Выдающийся документы (Wrong verb form).
  Explanation: 'Выдающийся' is an adjective, not a verb; this mix-up can occur due to similar roots, so focus on context.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'выдающийся' are often used in contexts celebrating national heroes or achievements, such as in literature or history (e.g., referring to figures like Pushkin as выдающийся poet). This reflects a cultural emphasis on recognizing individual excellence, which can differ from more collective Western approaches.

Related Concepts:

• значительный (znachitel'nyiy)
• основной (osnovnoy)
• ключевой (klyuchevoy)