Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sparsely'

English Word: sparsely

Key Russian Translations:

• редко [rʲɪdˈko] - [Adverb, Formal, Used in descriptive contexts]
• разрозненно [rəzrɐˈzənnə] - [Adverb, Informal, Used when emphasizing scattered distribution]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday language, especially in descriptions of space or density)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires basic understanding of adverbs and context, but straightforward for learners at this level)

Pronunciation (Russian):

редко: [rʲɪdˈko]

разрозненно: [rəzrɐˈzənnə]

Note on редко: The stress is on the first syllable; pronounce the 'р' softly with a palatalized 'r' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers.

Note on разрозненно: This word has a rolling 'r' and multiple syllables; focus on the stressed 'zənnə' for natural flow.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: In a sparse manner, indicating something is not dense or closely packed.

Translation(s) & Context:

• редко - Used in contexts describing low density, such as population or distribution, e.g., in geographical or everyday descriptions.
• разрозненно - Applied in informal settings for scattered or irregular arrangements, often in narratives or casual speech.

Usage Examples:

• В этой деревне дома стоят редко, из-за гористой местности.

  In this village, houses stand sparsely due to the mountainous terrain.

• Деревья в лесу растут разрозненно после пожара.

  The trees in the forest grow sparsely after the fire.

• Гости на вечеринке были разбросаны редко по залу.

  The guests at the party were sparsely scattered throughout the hall.

• В городе редко встречаются такие старые здания.

  In the city, such old buildings are sparsely found.

• Её коллекция книг размещена разрозненно на полках.

  Her book collection is arranged sparsely on the shelves.

Meaning 2: Rarely or infrequently, implying infrequency in occurrence.

Translation(s) & Context:

• редко - Used when something happens seldom, overlapping with 'rarely' in English contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Он редко посещает город, предпочитая тихую жизнь.

  He sparsely visits the city, preferring a quiet life.

• В этой стране редко бывают такие снежные зимы.

  In this country, such snowy winters occur sparsely.

• Редко кто из туристов заходит в этот отдалённый район.

  Few tourists sparsely venture into this remote area.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "редко" and "разрозненно" are adverbs in Russian and typically do not inflect based on gender, number, or case, as adverbs generally remain unchanged. However, their usage can vary slightly in context:

• For "редко": It is invariant and can be used in various sentences without alteration, e.g., with verbs or adjectives.
• For "разрозненно": Also invariant, but it may appear in compound phrases where the overall sentence structure dictates agreement.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • редко - Similar to "слабо" (weakly, but less common)
  • разрозненно - Synonymous with "рассеянно" (scattered), often used interchangeably in informal speech
• Antonyms:
  • густо (densely, frequently)
  • плотно (tightly, compactly)

Related Phrases:

• Редко встречается - Rarely encountered; used for things that are uncommon in a specific area.
• Разрозненно расположены - Scatteredly located; common in descriptions of objects or people.
• Редко бывать - To visit sparsely; implies infrequent visits in personal contexts.

Usage Notes:

"Редко" directly corresponds to "sparsely" when describing spatial or density-related concepts, but it can also mean "rarely" in temporal contexts, so choose based on the English word's nuance. "Разрозненно" is more specific for irregular distributions and is often informal, making it suitable for casual conversations. Be mindful of sentence structure in Russian, as adverbs like these typically follow the verb they modify. For learners, start with "редко" for formal writing and progress to "разрозненно" for everyday speech.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Confusing "редко" (adverb) with "редкий" (adjective, meaning "rare" or "sparse"). For example, learners might say "редкий дома" instead of "редко дома" (correct: homes are sparse).
• Correct Usage: Use "редко" as an adverb: "Дома стоят редко." Explanation: "Редкий" would mean "a rare house," changing the meaning entirely.
• Mistake: Overusing "разрозненно" in formal contexts where "редко" is more appropriate, e.g., saying "разрозненно населённый" in official reports when "редко населённый" fits better.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "редко" often appear in descriptions of vast landscapes, such as the Siberian wilderness, where sparse populations reflect historical settlement patterns. This can evoke a sense of isolation or vastness, common in Russian literature by authors like Chekhov, emphasizing the country's expansive geography.

Related Concepts:

• Редкий (rare, as an adjective)
• Рассеянный (scattered)
• Густой (dense)