Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sweltering'

English Word: sweltering

Key Russian Translations:

• жаркий [ʒárkʲɪj] - [Informal, commonly used for hot weather]
• душный [dúʃnɨj] - [Formal, specifically for stuffy or oppressive heat]

Frequency: Medium (The word is encountered in everyday conversations about weather but not as ubiquitous as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; requires understanding of adjective inflections, though the base form is straightforward for learners at this level. For 'жаркий', it's B1; for 'душный', it may edge toward B2 due to nuanced contexts.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

жаркий: [ʒárkʲɪj]

душный: [dúʃnɨj]

Note on жаркий: The 'ж' sound is a voiced palatal fricative, similar to the 's' in 'measure' in English; pay attention to the stress on the first syllable to avoid sounding unnatural.

Note on душный: The 'ш' is a voiceless palatal fricative, like 'sh' in 'shoe'; this word often has a softer pronunciation in casual speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: Extremely hot and oppressive, often referring to weather that causes discomfort.

Translation(s) & Context:

• жаркий - Used in informal, everyday contexts to describe intense heat, such as during summer days; common in spoken language.
• душный - Applied in more formal or descriptive contexts, emphasizing stuffy, humid heat in enclosed spaces; less common but precise for 'sweltering' indoors.

Usage Examples:

• На улице сегодня очень жарко, и все жалуются на жару.

  It's sweltering outside today, and everyone is complaining about the heat.

• В этой комнате душно из-за отсутствия кондиционера.

  It's sweltering in this room because there's no air conditioning.

• Летом в Москве часто бывает жаркий день, когда асфальт плавится от жары.

  In Moscow, summer often brings sweltering days when the asphalt melts from the heat.

• После пробежки я чувствую себя душным и усталым.

  After the run, I feel sweltering and exhausted.

• Жаркий климат Юга России делает его популярным для отпуска, но не для всех.

  The sweltering climate in Southern Russia makes it popular for vacations, but not for everyone.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'жаркий' and 'душный' are adjectives in Russian, which inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow regular patterns for most forms.

For 'жаркий' (regular adjective):

For 'душный' (also regular):

These adjectives do not have irregular forms, making them relatively straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • знойный (znoynyy) - More poetic, emphasizing scorching heat.
  • жгучий (zhguchiy) - Implies burning or intense heat, often metaphorical.
• Antonyms:
  • холодный (kholodnyy) - Cold, directly opposite for weather contexts.
  • прохладный (prokhladnyy) - Cool or refreshing, milder opposite.

Related Phrases:

• жаркая погода - Sweltering weather; used to describe hot summer conditions.
• душная комната - A stuffy, sweltering room; common for indoor heat complaints.
• жара в разгаре - Heat wave in full swing; implies ongoing sweltering conditions.

Usage Notes:

'Sweltering' directly corresponds to 'жаркий' in casual weather talk, but 'душный' is better for enclosed, humid environments. Always ensure the adjective agrees with the noun in gender, number, and case—e.g., use 'жаркая' for feminine nouns. In formal writing, 'душный' might be preferred for precision, while 'жаркий' suits everyday speech. Learners should note that Russian weather vocabulary often reflects cultural experiences with extreme climates, so context is key for choosing the right word.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'жаркий' without proper inflection, e.g., saying "жаркий день" for a feminine noun like "день" (which is masculine, so it's correct, but mistakes occur with other genders).

  Correct: For a feminine noun like "погода" (weather), say "жаркая погода". Incorrect example: "Жаркий погода" (wrong agreement). Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender; this is a common oversight for English speakers used to invariable adjectives.

• Error: Confusing 'жаркий' with 'горячий' (hot, as in temperature of objects).

  Correct: Use 'жаркий' for weather; 'горячий' for things like hot tea. Incorrect example: "Горячий день" instead of "Жаркий день". Explanation: 'Горячий' implies physical heat, not atmospheric sweltering, leading to semantic errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russia, words like 'жаркий' evoke the intense summer heat in regions like Moscow or the southern areas, where heat waves can be challenging due to historical architecture without modern cooling. This ties into cultural practices, such as dacha retreats to escape the sweltering city, highlighting how weather vocabulary reflects adaptation to seasonal extremes.

Related Concepts:

• погода (pogoda) - Weather
• жара (zhara) - Heat wave
• лето (leto) - Summer