Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'stormy'

English Word: stormy

Key Russian Translations:

• бурный [ˈbʊrnɨj] - [Informal, commonly used in everyday and literary contexts]
• штормовой [ʂtɐrˈmo.vəj] - [Formal, specifically for weather or maritime contexts]

Frequency: Medium (The word and its translations appear regularly in literature, weather reports, and descriptive language, but not as common in casual conversation.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; involves understanding adjective inflections, which can be challenging for learners due to Russian's complex case system. For 'бурный', it's B1; for 'штормовой', it might be slightly easier at A2 due to its more straightforward usage.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

бурный: [ˈbʊrnɨj]

Note on бурный: The stress is on the first syllable; the 'ы' sound can be tricky for English speakers, similar to a short 'i' in 'bit', but softer.

штормовой: [ʂtɐrˈmo.vəj]

Note on штормовой: The initial 'ш' is a voiceless postalveolar fricative, like 'sh' in 'she', and the word has a secondary stress on the third syllable. Pronunciation may vary slightly in regional dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Describing weather or conditions involving storms (e.g., turbulent or tempestuous weather)

Translation(s) & Context:

• штормовой - Used in formal or technical contexts, such as meteorology or sailing, to describe storm-like conditions.
• бурный - Applied more broadly in informal or literary settings to convey intensity or turbulence.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: Вчера в море был штормовой ветер, который перевернул лодку.

  English: Yesterday, there was a stormy wind at sea that capsized the boat.

• Русский: Бурный шторм над озером длился всю ночь.

  English: The stormy storm over the lake lasted all night.

• Русский: Мы наслаждались прогулкой, несмотря на бурный дождь.

  English: We enjoyed the walk despite the stormy rain.

• Русский: Штормовой сезон в этом регионе начинается в сентябре.

  English: The stormy season in this region begins in September.

• Русский: Бурный ветер срывал листья с деревьев в парке.

  English: The stormy wind was ripping leaves off the trees in the park.

Meaning 2: Metaphorical use, describing intense emotions or situations (e.g., a stormy relationship)

Translation(s) & Context:

• бурный - Often used metaphorically in emotional or dramatic contexts, such as in novels or discussions about relationships.
• штормовой - Less common metaphorically; typically reserved for literal weather descriptions.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: Их бурный роман закончился неожиданным разрывом.

  English: Their stormy romance ended in an unexpected breakup.

• Русский: В бурном споре они забыли о дружбе.

  English: In their stormy argument, they forgot about their friendship.

• Русский: Бурный период в истории России принес много изменений.

  English: The stormy period in Russian history brought many changes.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'бурный' and 'штормовой' are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern for first-declension adjectives, with some irregularities in spelling.

For 'бурный' (irregular due to its consonant stem):

For 'штормовой' (more regular):

These adjectives do not change in predicative position (e.g., after 'быть' - to be), but always inflect in attributive position.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: неистовый (neistovyy - wild, furious; often used for emotional storms), грозный (groznyy - threatening, as in a thunderstorm)
• Antonyms: спокойный (spokoynyy - calm), тихий (tihiy - quiet; implies the opposite of turbulence)

Note: 'Неистовый' emphasizes uncontrolled intensity, while 'грозный' has a connotation of menace, which might be more specific than 'бурный'.

Related Phrases:

• Бурная погода - Stormy weather; refers to turbulent atmospheric conditions.
• Штормовой фронт - Stormy front; a meteorological term for an advancing storm system.
• Бурный поток - Stormy stream; used metaphorically for fast-moving water or life events.

Usage Notes:

'Бурный' is the more versatile translation for 'stormy' in everyday English, capturing both literal and figurative senses, while 'штормовой' is best for technical or weather-specific contexts. Choose 'бурный' for emotional or descriptive writing, as it aligns closely with English idioms like 'a stormy night'. Be mindful of Russian's case system when using these adjectives; they must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify. For example, in formal writing, 'штормовой' might be preferred for precision, but in casual speech, 'бурный' is more natural.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'бурный' without proper inflection, e.g., saying "бурный день" in genitive context as "бурный день" instead of "бурного дня". Correct: Ensure agreement, as in "в бурном дне" (in a stormy day). Explanation: Russian adjectives must inflect, unlike English, so learners often forget to change endings.
• Error: Confusing 'бурный' with 'грозный', thinking they are identical; e.g., using 'грозный' for weather when 'бурный' is more accurate. Correct: 'Грозный' implies threat, so use 'бурный' for general storminess. Explanation: This mix-up stems from partial synonyms, leading to imprecise meaning.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian literature, such as in works by Pushkin or Tolstoy, 'бурный' often symbolizes emotional turmoil or historical upheaval, reflecting Russia's vast landscapes and harsh weather. For instance, stormy conditions in folklore might represent chaos or fate, helping English speakers appreciate the poetic depth in Russian expressions.

Related Concepts:

• ураган (hurricane)
• гроза (thunderstorm)
• буревестник (storm petrel, a bird symbolizing impending storms)