Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sleepless'

English Word: sleepless

Key Russian Translations:

• бессонный [bʲɪˈsonnɨj] - [Adjective, Common usage in everyday and literary contexts]

Frequency: Medium (This word is commonly encountered in discussions about health, daily life, or literature, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; involves understanding adjective inflections, which may challenge beginners.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

бессонный: [bʲɪˈsonnɨj]

Note on бессонный: The stress is on the second syllable ("son"), and the 'ы' sound is a distinct Russian vowel, often challenging for English speakers. Pronounce it with a soft 'b' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Lacking sleep or unable to sleep

Translation(s) & Context:

• бессонный - Used to describe a state of wakefulness due to insomnia, stress, or excitement, often in personal narratives or medical discussions.

Usage Examples:

• У меня была бессонная ночь из-за шума за окном.

  I had a sleepless night because of the noise outside the window.

• После стресса на работе он чувствовал себя бессонным.

  After work stress, he felt sleepless.

• Бессонные ночи часто приводят к усталости.

  Sleepless nights often lead to fatigue.

• В детстве у меня бывали бессонные вечера перед праздниками.

  In my childhood, I had sleepless evenings before holidays.

• Эта бессонная неделя сказалась на её здоровье.

  This sleepless week affected her health.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Бессонный is an adjective in Russian, which means it changes based on gender, number, and case. It follows the standard first-declension adjective pattern. Below is a table of its inflections:

Note: This adjective does not have irregular forms, making it relatively straightforward once the basic patterns are learned.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • без сна (bez sna) - Literally "without sleep," used in informal contexts.
  • не спящий (ne spayushchiy) - Emphasizes the state of not sleeping, with subtle differences in poetic or descriptive use.
• Antonyms:
  • спящий (spyashchiy) - Sleeping.
  • сонный (sonnyy) - Drowsy or sleepy.

Related Phrases:

• бессонница - Insomnia (a noun related to the state of being sleepless); often used in medical contexts to describe a condition.
• бессонные ночи - Sleepless nights; a common phrase for periods of insomnia or restlessness.
• страдать от бессонницы - To suffer from insomnia; implies ongoing struggle with sleep issues.

Usage Notes:

Бессонный directly corresponds to the English adjective "sleepless," typically describing a temporary state rather than a chronic condition. It is versatile and can be used in both formal (e.g., medical reports) and informal settings (e.g., casual conversations). Always inflect it according to the noun it modifies, as Russian adjectives agree in gender, number, and case. For example, choose between learners might confuse it with the noun "бессонница," so clarify based on context. When translating "sleepless," prioritize бессонный for adjectives and бессонница for nouns.

• In formal writing, pair it with time-related nouns like "night" (ночь) for precision.
• In spoken Russian, it's common in self-reflection or complaints about fatigue.

Common Errors:

English learners often forget to inflect бессонный correctly. For instance, they might say "бессонный ночь" instead of "бессонная ночь" (feminine noun). Correct usage: Use the proper form, e.g., "бессонная ночь" is right, while "бессонный ночь" is incorrect because it doesn't match the noun's gender.

• Error: Using it as an invariant word, e.g., "Я бессонный" for a feminine speaker (should be "Я бессонная").
• Correct: Match the adjective to the subject's gender and case, and explain that Russian requires this agreement for natural speech.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, бессонные ночи are often romanticized in literature, such as in works by Pushkin or Dostoevsky, where they symbolize deep thought, creativity, or inner turmoil. However, in modern contexts, they are commonly associated with urban stress and health issues, reflecting the fast-paced life in cities like Moscow.

Related Concepts:

• сон (son) - Sleep
• усталость (ustalost') - Fatigue
• стресс (stress) - Stress