Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sleepy'

English Word: sleepy

Key Russian Translations:

• сонный [ˈsonnɨj] - [Informal, Common in everyday speech]

Frequency: Medium (This word is commonly used in daily conversations but not as ubiquitous as basic adjectives like "big" or "small").

Difficulty: A2 (According to CEFR, suitable for elementary learners as it involves basic adjective forms and common vocabulary).

Pronunciation (Russian):

сонный: [ˈsonnɨj]

Note on сонный: The stress is on the first syllable ("son-"), and the "ы" sound is a soft, back vowel typical in Russian. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech, where it softens to [ˈsonnɪj].

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: Feeling tired and ready to sleep, often describing a state of drowsiness.

Translation(s) & Context:

• сонный - Used in informal settings to describe physical tiredness, such as after a long day or lack of sleep; common in casual conversations.

Usage Examples:

• Он сонный после долгого рабочего дня. (He is sleepy after a long workday.)

  He is sleepy after a long workday. (This example shows the adjective in a simple declarative sentence, describing a person's state.)

• Дети всегда сонные по утрам в школе. (Children are always sleepy in the mornings at school.)

  Children are always sleepy in the mornings at school. (Illustrates plural agreement and routine contexts.)

• Она выглядела сонной во время встречи. (She looked sleepy during the meeting.)

  She looked sleepy during the meeting. (Demonstrates use in observational descriptions, often with linking verbs.)

• Из-за позднего фильма он был сонным весь следующий день. (Because of the late movie, he was sleepy all the next day.)

  Because of the late movie, he was sleepy all the next day. (Shows cause-and-effect structures in narrative contexts.)

• Сонный водитель может вызвать аварию. (A sleepy driver can cause an accident.)

  A sleepy driver can cause an accident. (Highlights potential consequences in warning or advisory contexts.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Сонный" is an adjective in Russian, which follows standard adjectival inflections based on gender, number, and case. It is a regular adjective, declining according to Russian grammatical rules. Below is a table outlining its key forms:

Note: This adjective does not have irregular forms, making it straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • утомленный [ʊtɐmˈlʲenːɨj] - More formal, implies exhaustion from effort.
  • дремлющий [ˈdrʲemlʲʊʂɨj] - Literary, suggests dozing or half-asleep state.
• Antonyms:
  • бодрый [ˈbodrɨj] - Energetic and alert.
  • веселый [ˈvʲesʲɪlɨj] - Cheerful and lively, often in social contexts.

Related Phrases:

• Сонный вид - A sleepy look; refers to an appearance of drowsiness, often used in descriptions of fatigue.
• Сонный район - A sleepy neighborhood; implies a quiet, inactive area, like a suburban or rural setting.
• Быть сонным как медведь - To be as sleepy as a bear; a colloquial phrase comparing deep tiredness to a hibernating animal, emphasizing seasonal or winter fatigue.

Usage Notes:

"Сонный" directly corresponds to the English "sleepy" in most contexts, but it's primarily used for physical drowsiness rather than metaphorical ones (e.g., a "sleepy town" might be translated as "сонный район" for a quiet area). It's informal and versatile, fitting into various sentence structures, but avoid using it in highly formal writing where "утомленный" might be preferred. When choosing between translations, opt for "сонный" in everyday scenarios and ensure adjective agreement with nouns in gender, number, and case for grammatical accuracy.

Common Errors:

• Error: Forgetting to decline the adjective, e.g., saying "он сонный" in a genitive context instead of "он сонного". Correct: Use the proper form like "у сонного ребенка" (of the sleepy child). Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree with the nouns they modify, which is a common pitfall for English speakers used to invariable adjectives.

• Error: Confusing with similar words like "сонный" and "спящий" (sleeping). Incorrect: Using "сонный" to mean actively sleeping. Correct: "Спящий" for someone who is asleep; "сонный" for someone who feels sleepy but is awake. Explanation: "Сонный" describes a state of being, not an action, so context is key to avoid misuse.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressions of sleepiness like "сонный" often tie into the value placed on rest and seasonal changes, such as the long winters. For instance, the phrase "спать как медведь" (sleep like a bear) reflects hibernation motifs in folklore, emphasizing how sleepiness is normalized during colder months, helping English speakers understand the cultural nuance of fatigue in everyday life.

Related Concepts:

• сон (sleep)
• усталость (fatigue)
• бодрость (alertness)