Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'slow'

English Word: slow

Key Russian Translations:

• медленный [mʲɪdˈlʲenːɨj] - [Adjective, Formal/Informal]
• медленно [mʲɪdˈlʲenːə] - [Adverb, Informal]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday conversations, literature, and media, but not as ubiquitous as basic verbs like "to be").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective and adverb forms, declensions, and basic sentence structures in Russian, per CEFR standards).

Pronunciation (Russian):

медленный: [mʲɪdˈlʲenːɨj] (The stress is on the second syllable; the "лʲ" is a palatalized L, which may be challenging for English speakers.)

медленно: [mʲɪdˈlʲenːə] (Similar to above, with a soft ending; note the reduction of vowels in unstressed positions, common in Russian.)

Note on медленный: Be careful with the palatalization of "л" – it sounds softer than in English. In fast speech, the ending may vary slightly by dialect.

Note on медленно: This adverb often has a flowing pronunciation; practice with native speakers to master the rhythm.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Not fast in speed or movement (adjective form).

Translation(s) & Context:

• медленный - Used in contexts describing physical speed, such as vehicles or processes (e.g., in formal descriptions or narratives).

Usage Examples:

• Русский пример: Автомобиль ехал медленным темпом по городу. (The car was moving at a slow pace through the city.)

  English Translation: The car was moving at a slow pace through the city.

• Русский пример: Медленный рост экономики беспокоит экспертов. (The slow growth of the economy worries experts.)

  English Translation: The slow growth of the economy worries experts.

• Русский пример: В старом фильме показаны медленные сцены природы. (The old film shows slow scenes of nature.)

  English Translation: The old film shows slow scenes of nature.

• Русский пример: Он предпочитает медленный стиль жизни в деревне. (He prefers a slow lifestyle in the village.)

  English Translation: He prefers a slow lifestyle in the village.

Meaning 2: Taking a long time or not progressing quickly (adverb form).

Translation(s) & Context:

• медленно - Applied to actions or processes, often in informal or descriptive contexts, such as instructions or storytelling.

Usage Examples:

• Русский пример: Она шла медленно по улице, наслаждаясь вечером. (She walked slowly down the street, enjoying the evening.)

  English Translation: She walked slowly down the street, enjoying the evening.

• Русский пример: Процесс обучения проходит медленно, но steadily. (The learning process is going slowly but steadily.)

  English Translation: The learning process is going slowly but steadily.

• Русский пример: Медленно открывая дверь, он заглянул внутрь. (Slowly opening the door, he peeked inside.)

  English Translation: Slowly opening the door, he peeked inside.

• Русский пример: Время проходит медленно в ожидании новостей. (Time passes slowly while waiting for news.)

  English Translation: Time passes slowly while waiting for news.

• Русский пример: Он говорил медленно, чтобы все поняли. (He spoke slowly so that everyone would understand.)

  English Translation: He spoke slowly so that everyone would understand.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'медленный' (adjective), it follows the standard pattern for first-declension adjectives in Russian, which means it changes based on gender, number, and case. It is an irregular adjective in terms of stress patterns but regular in endings.

For 'медленно' (adverb), it does not inflect and remains unchanged in all contexts, which is typical for many Russian adverbs.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • замедленный (used for slowed-down processes, with a connotation of intentional reduction).
  • непоспешный (more formal, implying unhurried but not necessarily slow).
• Antonyms:
  • быстрый (fast, direct opposite in speed contexts).
  • скорый (quick, often used for events or transportation).

Related Phrases:

• Медленный темп - A slow pace (used in music, work, or life, implying a relaxed rhythm).
• Идти медленно - To walk slowly (common in daily descriptions of movement).
• Медленный прогресс - Slow progress (often in contexts like learning or development, with a neutral or negative connotation).

Usage Notes:

'Медленный' directly corresponds to the English adjective 'slow' in most contexts, but remember that Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify. For example, use 'медленная' for feminine nouns. 'Медленно' as an adverb is more flexible and can modify verbs without changes. In formal writing, prefer 'медленный' for descriptions, while in spoken language, 'медленно' is common for actions. When choosing between translations, opt for 'медленный' if describing a state and 'медленно' for manner of action.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'медленный' without proper declension, e.g., saying "медленный машина" instead of "медленная машина" for a feminine noun like "машина" (car).

  Correct: Медленная машина. (Explanation: Adjectives in Russian must match the noun's gender; this mistake often stems from English word order and lack of declension practice.)

• Error: Confusing 'медленный' (adjective) with 'медленно' (adverb) in sentences, e.g., "Я иду медленный" instead of "Я иду медленно".

  Correct: Я иду медленно. (Explanation: 'Медленный' cannot directly modify a verb; use the adverb form to describe how an action is performed.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of 'slow' (e.g., 'медленный') often ties to the appreciation of life's unhurried moments, as seen in traditional rural lifestyles or in literature like Chekhov's works, where slow pacing reflects introspection. However, in modern urban contexts, it can carry a negative connotation of inefficiency, highlighting cultural shifts toward faster living.

Related Concepts:

• быстрый (fast)
• темп (pace)
• скорость (speed)