Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'seldom'

English Word: seldom

Key Russian Translations:

• редко (IPA: ˈrʲedkə) - [Adverb, used in everyday contexts for infrequency]

Frequency: High (commonly used in both spoken and written Russian)

Difficulty: A1 (beginner level, as it is a basic adverb with straightforward usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

редко: ˈrʲedkə

Note on редко: The stress is on the first syllable, and the 'р' is rolled. Pay attention to the soft 'д' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: Not often or infrequently

Translation(s) & Context:

• редко - Used in general contexts to describe events that happen rarely, such as in daily conversations or narratives.

Usage Examples:

• Он редко ходит в кино. (On redko khodit v kino.)

  He seldom goes to the cinema. (This example shows the adverb in a simple present tense sentence describing habitual actions.)

• В этом городе редко идёт дождь летом. (V etom gorode redko idyot dozh' letom.)

  In this city, it seldom rains in the summer. (Illustrates usage with weather-related contexts and prepositional phrases.)

• Она редко встречается с друзьями по выходным. (Ona redko vstrechaetsya s druz'yami po vykhodnym.)

  She seldom meets with friends on weekends. (Demonstrates the word in social contexts, emphasizing routine infrequency.)

• Редко кто-то звонит мне так поздно. (Redko kto-to zvonit mne tak pozdno.)

  Seldom does anyone call me so late. (Shows inversion for emphasis, common in Russian for rhetorical effect.)

• В нашей семье мы редко путешествуем за границу. (V nashey sem'ye my redko puteshestvuyem za granitsu.)

  In our family, we seldom travel abroad. (Highlights usage in familial or personal narratives with verbs of motion.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Редко" is an adverb in Russian and does not undergo inflection for gender, number, case, or tense. It remains unchanged in all contexts, making it straightforward for learners. For example:

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • нечасто (nechasto) - Similar to "редко" but often implies a bit more irregularity; used in formal contexts.
  • изредка (izredka) - Means "occasionally" with a slight nuance of surprise or rarity.
• Antonyms:
  • часто (chasto) - Frequently or often.
  • всегда (vsegda) - Always.

Related Phrases:

• Редко когда (Redko kogda) - Meaning: Seldom when; used to express that something happens very rarely under certain conditions. (E.g., in phrases like unexpected events.)
• Редко бывает (Redko bivaet) - Meaning: It seldom happens; a common expression for improbable occurrences in everyday talk.
• Редко встречается (Redko vstrechaetsya) - Meaning: Seldom encountered; often used in descriptions of rare objects or phenomena.

Usage Notes:

"Редко" directly corresponds to "seldom" in English as an adverb of frequency. It is versatile and can be placed at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence for emphasis, but it's most natural in the middle (e.g., "Он редко ходит"). Be mindful of word order in Russian, as it can affect nuance—placing it at the start adds emphasis. This word is neutral in terms of formality, suitable for both casual and formal settings, but avoid overusing it in highly literary contexts where synonyms like "нечасто" might be preferred for variety.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "редко" as if it were a noun or adjective, e.g., saying "редкий человек" when meaning "a seldom person" (incorrect, as "редкий" is the adjective form).

  Correct: Use "редко" only as an adverb, e.g., "Человек редко приходит" (The person seldom comes). Explanation: "Редко" modifies verbs, not nouns; confuse it with "редкий" (rare) for adjectives.

• Error: Overlooking sentence structure, e.g., directly translating "Seldom I go" as "Редко я иду" without proper context.

  Correct: In Russian, it's more idiomatic as "Я редко иду." Explanation: Russian word order is flexible but typically follows subject-verb-object, so place "редко" near the verb for clarity.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "редко" often appear in expressions of modesty or understatement, reflecting a cultural tendency to downplay frequency in personal stories. For instance, Russians might say "Я редко бываю в театре" to humbly describe their habits, even if it's not entirely accurate, emphasizing a value for privacy and restraint in conversation.

Related Concepts:

• часто (chasto)
• никогда (nikogda)
• иногда (inogda)