Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'stranger'

English Word: stranger

Key Russian Translations:

• Незнакомец [nʲɪznɐˈkomʲɪts] - [Formal, Masculine]
• Незнакомка [nʲɪznɐˈkomkə] - [Formal, Feminine]
• Чужой [ˈt͡ɕuʐoj] - [Informal, General]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday conversations, literature, and media, but not as frequent as basic nouns like "friend").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; involves understanding gender agreement in Russian nouns, which can be challenging for beginners, but the vocabulary itself is straightforward once basic grammar is learned).

Pronunciation (Russian):

Незнакомец: [nʲɪznɐˈkomʲɪts]

Незнакомка: [nʲɪznɐˈkomkə]

Чужой: [ˈt͡ɕuʐoj]

Note on Незнакомец: The stress falls on the third syllable ("ko"), and the palatalized 'n' sound [nʲ] can be tricky for English speakers; practice with native audio to master the soft consonants.

Note on Чужой: The 'zh' sound [ʐ] is similar to the 's' in "measure"; it's a voiced fricative, common in Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: A person who is not known or familiar to the speaker.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Незнакомец - Used in formal or narrative contexts to refer to an unknown man, often in stories or polite descriptions.
• Незнакомка - Applied to an unknown woman, common in literature or everyday situations involving gender-specific references.
• Чужой - More informal, implying not just unfamiliarity but also a sense of otherness or outsider status, e.g., in social or emotional contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Я увидел незнакомца на улице и решил не подходить. (I saw a stranger on the street and decided not to approach.)

  English: I saw a stranger on the street and decided not to approach.

• Эта незнакомка спросила меня о дороге, но я не знал, куда она идёт. (This stranger asked me for directions, but I didn't know where she was going.)

  English: This stranger asked me for directions, but I didn't know where she was going.

• В большом городе каждый может почувствовать себя чужим. (In a big city, anyone can feel like a stranger.)

  English: In a big city, anyone can feel like a stranger.

• Не разговаривай с незнакомцами, как тебя учили родители. (Don't talk to strangers, as your parents taught you.)

  English: Don't talk to strangers, as your parents taught you.

• Чужой в этой компании чувствовал себя неуютно на вечеринке. (The stranger in this group felt uncomfortable at the party.)

  English: The stranger in this group felt uncomfortable at the party. This example shows the word in a social context with implied emotional distance.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily nouns, which in Russian undergo declension based on case, number, and gender. "Незнакомец" and "Незнакомка" are third-declension nouns, while "Чужой" is an adjective that can function as a noun.

Note: These follow regular patterns for Russian nouns and adjectives. "Чужой" is invariable in some contexts when used as a noun but changes as an adjective.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Посторонний (more neutral, often used in formal or official contexts, implying an outsider without emotional connotation).
  • Незнакомый (as an adjective, e.g., "незнакомый человек"; less specific than "незнакомец").
• Antonyms:
  • Знакомый (familiar person or acquaintance).
  • Друг (friend, implying closeness).

Related Phrases:

• Странный незнакомец (Strange stranger) - Refers to an unfamiliar person with odd behavior; used in mystery or suspense contexts.
• Не разговаривать с чужими (Don't talk to strangers) - A common warning phrase, especially for children, emphasizing safety.
• Чужой в чужой стороне (A stranger in a strange land) - An idiomatic expression meaning feeling out of place; implies cultural displacement.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, translations like "незнакомец" and "незнакомка" are gender-specific, so always match the gender of the person being described, unlike the gender-neutral "stranger" in English. Use "чужой" for a more emotional or informal tone, such as in literature or casual speech. Be cautious with context: in formal writing, opt for "незнакомец/незнакомка," while in everyday conversation, "чужой" might convey alienation. Grammar note: These words require agreement in case and number with other elements in the sentence.

• When choosing between translations, consider the gender and formality; for example, use "незнакомка" for a female stranger in a story.
• In phrases, "stranger" often pairs with verbs like "встретить" (to meet), as in "встретить незнакомца."

Common Errors:

English learners often forget gender agreement: for instance, mistakenly using "незнакомец" for a female subject, saying "Я увидела незнакомец" instead of "Я увидела незнакомку." Correct: Use the feminine form for female referents. Another error is overusing "чужой" in neutral contexts; it can sound too harsh, whereas "незнакомец" is more neutral. Example of error: "Он был чужой человек" (incorrect overlap); Correct: "Он был чужим" or simply "Он был незнакомцем."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of a "stranger" (e.g., "незнакомец") often carries a sense of caution, rooted in historical and social contexts like rural traditions where outsiders were viewed with suspicion. This is reflected in proverbs like "Не верь чужому" (Don't trust a stranger), emphasizing community and familiarity in Russian society.

Related Concepts:

• Друг (friend)
• Знакомый (acquaintance)
• Гость (guest)