Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sultry'

English Word: sultry

Key Russian Translations:

• жаркий [ˈʐarkʲɪj] - [Informal, used for describing hot and humid weather]
• страстный [ˈstrastnɨj] - [Formal, used for describing seductive or passionate qualities]
• соблазнительный [səbləznʲɪˈtʲelʲnɨj] - [Informal, used in contexts of allure or temptation]

Frequency: Medium (The word 'sultry' and its translations are commonly encountered in everyday conversations about weather or descriptions of people, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; learners at this level can grasp the basic usage, but nuances like context-specific applications may require more practice. For 'страстный', it might lean towards B2 due to emotional connotations.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

жаркий: [ˈʐarkʲɪj]

Note on жаркий: The 'ж' sound is a voiced palatal fricative, similar to the 's' in 'measure' in English; stress is on the first syllable, and it softens in certain inflections.

страстный: [ˈstrastnɨj]

Note on страстный: The 'str' cluster is pronounced with a soft 'r', and the ending '-ный' often softens in speech; be cautious with the vowel sounds in rapid conversation.

соблазнительный: [səbləznʲɪˈtʲelʲnɨj]

Note on соблазнительный: This is a longer word with multiple syllables; the stress falls on the fourth syllable, and it may vary in informal speech for emphasis.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Hot and humid weather (Referring to oppressive heat)

Translation(s) & Context:

• жаркий - Used in everyday weather descriptions, such as in casual conversations or forecasts.

Usage Examples:

• Сегодня на улице жаркий день, и все жалуются на духоту.

  Today is a sultry day outside, and everyone is complaining about the stuffiness.

• Летом в Москве часто бывают жаркие вечера, когда невозможно спать.

  In Moscow, summers often have sultry evenings when it's impossible to sleep.

• После дождя воздух становится ещё более жарким и влажным.

  After the rain, the air becomes even more sultry and humid.

• Жаркий климат Юга России идеален для виноградарства, но не для всех туристов.

  The sultry climate of Southern Russia is ideal for viticulture but not for all tourists.

Meaning 2: Seductive or passionate (Referring to a person's alluring quality)

Translation(s) & Context:

• страстный - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe intense emotional or physical attraction.
• соблазнительный - Used in informal settings, like media or casual descriptions, to imply temptation.

Usage Examples:

• Её страстный взгляд завораживал всех в комнате.

  Her sultry gaze captivated everyone in the room.

• В фильме актриса сыграла соблазнительную героиню, полную загадок.

  In the film, the actress played a sultry character full of mysteries.

• Страстный танец под музыку фламенко всегда вызывает эмоции.

  The sultry dance to flamenco music always evokes strong emotions.

• Его соблазнительный голос сделал песню хитом на радио.

  His sultry voice made the song a hit on the radio.

• Страстный поцелуй в конце фильма подчеркнул романтический сюжет.

  The sultry kiss at the end of the film highlighted the romantic plot.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations ('жаркий', 'страстный', 'соблазнительный') are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern with some irregularities. Below is a table for 'жаркий' as an example; others follow similar rules.

For 'страстный' and 'соблазнительный', the inflections are regular but end in '-ый' or '-ный', which softens in certain forms. These adjectives do not have irregular changes.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • знойный (similar to жаркий, but more poetic for extreme heat)
  • пылкий (for страстный, implying fiery passion with a nuance of enthusiasm)
  • привлекательный (for соблазнительный, but less intense, meaning attractive)
• Antonyms:
  • холодный (opposite of жаркий, meaning cold)
  • бесстрастный (opposite of страстный, meaning impassive)
  • отталкивающий (opposite of соблазнительный, meaning repulsive)

Related Phrases:

• жаркий день - A hot day; used in weather forecasts or daily conversations.
• страстный поцелуй - A passionate kiss; common in romantic literature or films.
• соблазнительный взгляд - A seductive glance; often in descriptions of interpersonal dynamics.
• жаркий климат - A sultry climate; refers to tropical or humid regions in travel contexts.

Usage Notes:

'Sultry' corresponds closely to 'жаркий' for weather-related meanings and 'страстный' for human qualities, but choose based on context: use 'жаркий' for physical heat and 'страстный' for emotional intensity. In Russian, these adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, which is a key grammatical rule. For informal settings, 'соблазнительный' might be more appropriate than 'страстный' to avoid overly formal tones. Be aware of cultural nuances: Russians often pair these words with sensory descriptions, like in poetry or media.

Common Errors:

• Using 'жаркий' incorrectly in non-weather contexts: English learners might say 'жаркий человек' to mean a sultry person, but this is wrong; use 'страстный' instead. Correct: 'страстный человек'. Error example: 'жаркий взгляд' (implies a hot, uncomfortable stare, not seductive).
• Forgetting adjective agreement: Learners often forget to change 'жаркий' to 'жаркая' for feminine nouns, e.g., saying 'жаркий женщина' instead of 'жаркая женщина'. Correct: Ensure the adjective matches the noun's gender and case.
• Overusing 'соблазнительный' in formal writing: This word can sound too casual; in professional contexts, opt for 'привлекательный'. Error: Using it in business descriptions; Correct: Use 'привлекательный проект' for an appealing project.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'жаркий' often evoke summers in southern regions like the Caucasus, associated with traditions of relaxation and festivals, but also discomfort from heat waves. 'Страстный' ties into romantic literature, such as in works by Pushkin, where sultry emotions reflect intense personal passions, highlighting Russia's emphasis on emotional depth in art and relationships.

Related Concepts:

• зной (intense heat)
• пыл (ardor or passion)
• привлекательность (attractiveness)
• климат (climate)