Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'surreal'

English Word: surreal

Key Russian Translations:

• сюрреалистический [sʊrrɛəlɪstɪkəskɪj] - [Formal, used in artistic or abstract contexts]

Frequency: Low (This word is not commonly used in everyday Russian conversation; it's more prevalent in discussions of art, literature, or philosophy.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) - Requires familiarity with abstract concepts and artistic terminology; learners at this level can grasp it with some exposure to cultural contexts.

Pronunciation (Russian):

сюрреалистический: [sʊrrɛəlɪstɪkəskɪj]

Note on сюрреалистический: The stress falls on the fourth syllable ("lis-"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the cluster of consonants. Pronounce it with a soft "r" sound as in Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: Strange, dream-like, or bizarre in a way that defies reality, often associated with art or surrealism.

Translation(s) & Context:

• сюрреалистический - Used in formal or artistic contexts to describe something unreal or dream-like, such as in literature, films, or visual arts.

Usage Examples:

• Этот фильм был сюрреалистическим, с неожиданными поворотами сюжета.

  This film was surreal, with unexpected plot twists.

• Её сон ощущался как сюрреалистический мир, полный странных образов.

  Her dream felt like a surreal world, full of strange images.

• В музее мы увидели сюрреалистические картины Дали, которые вызывают удивление.

  In the museum, we saw surreal paintings by Dalí that evoke wonder.

• Эта ситуация в повседневной жизни кажется сюрреалистической и нереальной.

  This situation in everyday life seems surreal and unreal.

• Сюрреалистический стиль письма автора делает его книги уникальными.

  The author's surreal writing style makes his books unique.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Сюрреалистический" is an adjective in Russian, which means it changes based on gender, number, and case. It follows the standard pattern for adjectives ending in -ий. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: This adjective has regular inflections, making it straightforward once basic adjective patterns are learned.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • абсурдный (absurd, with a connotation of illogicality; often used interchangeably but less artistic)
  • фантастический (fantastic, implying imaginative elements; suitable for creative contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • реалистический (realistic, directly opposite in artistic or descriptive contexts)
  • рациональный (rational, emphasizing logical over dream-like qualities)

Related Phrases:

• Сюрреалистический искусство - Refers to surreal art, often linked to movements like Dadaism.
• Сюрреалистический сон - Describes a dream-like, bizarre dream experience.
• Сюрреалистический мир - Means a surreal world, used in literature to depict alternate realities.

Usage Notes:

This translation corresponds closely to the English "surreal" in artistic and abstract contexts, but it's more formal in Russian and rarely used in casual speech. When choosing between synonyms like "абсурдный," opt for "сюрреалистический" if the context involves visual arts or psychology. Grammatically, always inflect it according to the noun it modifies, and be mindful of gender and case agreements. For example, it's ideal for describing experiences in literature or films, but avoid overusing it in everyday conversation to maintain naturalness.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "сюрреалистический" interchangeably with "абсурдный" without considering nuance. Incorrect: "Это абсурдный картина" (meant to say surreal). Correct: "Это сюрреалистическая картина" – Explanation: "Абсурдный" implies illogical absurdity, while "сюрреалистический" suggests a dream-like quality; choose based on context to avoid miscommunication.

• Error: Forgetting to inflect the adjective properly, e.g., saying "сюрреалистический женщина" instead of "сюрреалистическая женщина." Correct: Always match gender, as in "сюрреалистическая женщина" – Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree with nouns, so this is a common rookie mistake for English speakers used to invariable adjectives.

Cultural Notes:

"Сюрреалистический" is deeply tied to the Surrealism movement in early 20th-century art and literature, pioneered by figures like Salvador Dalí and André Breton in Russia-influenced circles. In Russian culture, it often evokes the avant-garde experiments of the 1920s, reflecting a fascination with the subconscious and irrational, which contrasts with Russia's realist traditions in literature (e.g., Tolstoy). Understanding this helps English learners appreciate its use in modern Russian media and art critiques.

Related Concepts:

• абстрактный (abstract)
• фантазия (fantasy)
• дадаизм (Dadaism)