Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'strange'

English Word: strange

Key Russian Translations:

• странный [ˈstrannɨj] - [Informal, Common in everyday speech]
• необычный [nʲɪɐˈbuɕnɨj] - [Formal, Used in more neutral or descriptive contexts]
• чужой [ˈʧuʐoj] - [Informal, Specifically implying something unfamiliar or alien]

Frequency: Medium (The word and its translations appear regularly in conversations, literature, and media, but not as frequently as basic adjectives.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; Learners at this level can grasp basic usage, but mastering nuances and inflections requires practice. For 'странный', it's B1; for 'необычный', it's A2 due to its simplicity.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

странный: [ˈstrannɨj]

необычный: [nʲɪɐˈbuɕnɨj]

чужой: [ˈʧuʐoj]

Note on странный: The stress falls on the first syllable; the 'ы' sound can be challenging for English speakers, as it doesn't have a direct equivalent—it's a back unrounded vowel. Pronounce it like a softer 'i' in "bit".

Note on необычный: The 'щ' sound is a voiceless palatal fricative, similar to 'sh' in "she" but more sibilant; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Unusual or surprising in a way that is unsettling or hard to understand.

Translation(s) & Context:

• странный - Used in casual conversations to describe something odd or bizarre, often with a hint of mystery.
• необычный - Applied in formal or neutral settings, like descriptions in articles, to mean unique without negative connotations.

Usage Examples:

• Этот странный шум раздаётся ночью. (This strange noise happens at night.)

  This strange noise happens at night. (Demonstrates 'странный' in a descriptive, everyday context.)

• Его поведение было необычным для такой встречи. (His behavior was unusual for such a meeting.)

  His behavior was unusual for such a meeting. (Shows 'необычный' in a formal social context.)

• В этом городе всё кажется чужим и странным. (In this city, everything seems alien and strange.)

  In this city, everything seems alien and strange. (Illustrates 'чужой' combined with 'странный' for emphasis on unfamiliarity.)

• Странный человек подошёл к нам на улице. (A strange person approached us on the street.)

  A strange person approached us on the street. (Highlights 'странный' in a narrative, potential threat context.)

• Необычный вкус этого блюда запомнится надолго. (The unusual taste of this dish will be remembered for a long time.)

  The unusual taste of this dish will be remembered for a long time. (Uses 'необычный' in a positive, sensory description.)

Meaning 2: Not familiar or known from before; foreign.

Translation(s) & Context:

• чужой - Common in contexts involving outsiders or unfamiliar environments, often with emotional undertones.
• странный - Sometimes used interchangeably, but less focused on foreignness.

Usage Examples:

• В чужой стране трудно адаптироваться. (In a foreign country, it's hard to adapt.)

  In a foreign country, it's hard to adapt. (Emphasizes 'чужой' in a cultural or travel context.)

• Этот обычай кажется странным для нас. (This custom seems strange to us.)

  This custom seems strange to us. (Shows 'странный' when describing unfamiliar cultural practices.)

• Чужой язык звучит странно поначалу. (A foreign language sounds strange at first.)

  A foreign language sounds strange at first. (Combines concepts for language learning scenarios.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Here's a breakdown for 'странный' as an example; similar patterns apply to others with slight variations.

For 'необычный', it follows a similar adjectival pattern but is more regular. 'Чужой' also inflects as above but can act as a noun in some contexts (e.g., 'чужие' for 'foreigners').

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • загадочный (mysterious) - Often used for more enigmatic strangeness.
  • удивительный (amazing) - Implies positive surprise, unlike the neutral 'strange'.
• Antonyms:
  • обычный (ordinary) - The opposite of unusual.
  • свой (familiar) - Contrasts with foreign or alien aspects.

Related Phrases:

• Странная история (Strange story) - A phrase used for mysterious narratives, often in literature.
• Необычный поворот (Unusual turn) - Refers to an unexpected event in a story or situation.
• Чужой мир (Foreign world) - Describes an unfamiliar environment, like in science fiction.

Usage Notes:

'Странный' is the most direct equivalent to 'strange' in informal English contexts, but 'необычный' is better for neutral or positive descriptions to avoid negative connotations. In Russian, adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, which is a key grammatical difference from English. Choose 'чужой' when emphasizing alienation. Be cautious with context: in formal writing, opt for 'необычный' over 'странный' to sound more professional.

• Common scenarios: Use in daily conversations, storytelling, or when describing emotions.
• Grammar tip: Always inflect the adjective; e.g., don't say 'странный женщина'—it's 'странная женщина'.

Common Errors:

English learners often forget to inflect adjectives, e.g., saying 'странный книга' instead of 'странная книга' (for a feminine noun). Correct: Use the proper form based on the noun's gender. Another error is overusing 'странный' for all meanings of 'strange', leading to 'странный' in formal contexts where 'необычный' is more appropriate—e.g., incorrect: 'Странный эксперимент в лаборатории' (implies oddness), correct: 'Необычный эксперимент в лаборатории' for something innovative.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'странный' can carry a sense of intrigue or superstition, especially in folklore where the strange often relates to mystical elements. For instance, in Russian literature (e.g., by Gogol), the 'strange' is used to explore the uncanny, reflecting a cultural fascination with the mysterious aspects of life.

Related Concepts:

• загадка (mystery)
• незнакомый (unfamiliar)
• мистический (mystical)