Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'spiny'

English Word: spiny

Key Russian Translations:

• Колючий (/kɐˈlu.t͡ɕɪj/) - [Adjective, Informal]
• Шипастый (/ʂɨˈpas.tɨj/) - [Adjective, Formal, Used in botanical or descriptive contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in descriptive language, such as nature or everyday objects, but not in casual conversation).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjectives and their inflections, though basic forms are straightforward).

Pronunciation (Russian):

Колючий: /kɐˈlu.t͡ɕɪj/

Note on Колючий: The "ч" sound is a palatalized "ch" as in "church," which can be tricky for English speakers. Stress is on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Шипастый: /ʂɨˈpas.tɨj/

Note on Шипастый: The initial "ш" is a voiceless postalveolar fricative, similar to "sh" in "she," but ensure the stress on the second syllable for natural pronunciation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Having spines or thorns, often describing plants or animals.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Колючий - Used in informal contexts, such as everyday descriptions of nature or objects.
• Шипастый - Preferred in formal or scientific contexts, like botany.

Usage Examples:

• Русский пример: "Этот куст колючий, так что будь осторожен." (This bush is spiny, so be careful.)

  English Translation: "This bush is spiny, so be careful."

• Русский пример: "В пустыне растут шипастые кактусы, которые защищают себя от животных." (In the desert, spiny cacti grow that protect themselves from animals.)

  English Translation: "In the desert, spiny cacti grow that protect themselves from animals."

• Русский пример: "Его руки были покрыты колючими царапинами от розового куста." (His hands were covered in spiny scratches from the rose bush.)

  English Translation: "His hands were covered in spiny scratches from the rose bush."

• Русский пример: "Шипастый забор не позволяет животным перелезть." (The spiny fence doesn't allow animals to climb over.)

  English Translation: "The spiny fence doesn't allow animals to climb over."

• Русский пример: "Колючий еж свернулся в клубок для защиты." (The spiny hedgehog curled up into a ball for protection.)

  English Translation: "The spiny hedgehog curled up into a ball for protection."

Meaning 2: Figuratively spiny, meaning prickly or difficult in character (e.g., a person with a sharp personality).

Translation(s) & Context:

• Колючий - Informal, used metaphorically in conversations about people or situations.

Usage Examples:

• Русский пример: "Её колючий характер отпугивает друзей." (Her spiny character scares away friends.)

  English Translation: "Her spiny character scares away friends."

• Русский пример: "Этот вопрос оказался колючим в обсуждении." (This question turned out to be spiny in the discussion.)

  English Translation: "This question turned out to be spiny in the discussion."

• Русский пример: "Он имеет колючий юмор, который не всем нравится." (He has a spiny sense of humor that not everyone likes.)

  English Translation: "He has a spiny sense of humor that not everyone likes."

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "Колючий" and "Шипастый" are adjectives in Russian, which inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow regular patterns for most cases.

Note: These adjectives follow the standard first-declension pattern, with no irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Острый (sharp, pointed) - Often used for edges rather than spines, but interchangeable in some contexts.
  • Игольчатый (needle-like) - More specific to fine spines.
• Antonyms:
  • Гладкий (smooth) - Implies no spines or roughness.
  • Мягкий (soft) - Contrasts with the prickly texture.

Related Phrases:

• Колючий как еж (Spiny like a hedgehog) - A phrase used metaphorically for someone defensive; English explanation: Describes a person who is prickly in personality.
• Шипастый забор (Spiny fence) - Common in security contexts; English explanation: Refers to a fence with barbs for protection.
• Колючие проволоки (Barbed wire) - Often in military or boundary contexts; English explanation: Used for fencing that deters intrusion.

Usage Notes:

"Spiny" translates most directly to "колючий" in informal settings and "шипастый" in formal ones. Choose based on context: use "колючий" for everyday speech and "шипастый" for scientific or written descriptions. Be mindful of adjective agreement with nouns in gender, number, and case. In figurative uses, "колючий" can imply emotional sharpness, similar to "prickly" in English.

• Grammar tip: Always inflect the adjective to match the noun it describes.
• Context guide: In nature-related topics, these words are neutral; in interpersonal contexts, they carry a negative connotation.

Common Errors:

One common mistake is failing to inflect the adjective correctly, e.g., saying "колючий роза" instead of "колючая роза" for a feminine noun. Correct usage: "Колючая роза" (The spiny rose). Another error is confusing it with "острый," which means sharp-edged rather than spiny, leading to misuse in descriptions.

• Incorrect: "Колючий кактус" for a feminine noun (if the noun is feminine, it should be adjusted).
• Correct: Adjust based on gender, e.g., "Колючая кактусовка" if needed, but typically "кактус" is masculine.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "колючий" often evoke images of the harsh Russian landscape, such as thorny plants in Siberia, symbolizing resilience and defense. This can metaphorically extend to personal traits, reflecting the cultural value of stoicism in the face of adversity.

Related Concepts:

• Еж (hedgehog)
• Колючка (thorn)
• Шип (spine)