Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'totally'

English Word: totally

Key Russian Translations:

• полностью [pɐlˈnostʲju] - [Formal]
• совсем [sɐˈvsʲem] - [Informal]
• абсолютно [ɐpˈsɔlʲnutnə] - [Formal, used for emphasis]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday Russian speech and writing, but not as basic as core vocabulary).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; learners at this level can handle basic adverbial expressions, though nuances may require practice for "совсем" in informal contexts).

Pronunciation (Russian):

полностью: [pɐlˈnostʲju]

совсем: [sɐˈvsʲem]

абсолютно: [ɐpˈsɔlʲnutnə]

Note on полностью: The stress falls on the third syllable; be careful with the soft 'tʲ' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers due to its palatalization.

Note on совсем: Pronunciation can vary slightly in rapid speech, where [sɐˈvsʲem] might soften to [sɐfˈsʲem] in some dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Completely or entirely (as an adverb indicating totality)

Translation(s) & Context:

• полностью - Used in formal contexts to emphasize full completion, such as in descriptions or instructions.
• совсем - Common in informal everyday speech for similar emphasis, often with a sense of exaggeration.
• абсолютно - Applied in emphatic or absolute contexts, like agreements or descriptions of certainty.

Usage Examples:

• Я полностью согласен с твоим мнением. (Ya polnost'yu soglasen s tvoyim mneniyem.)

  I totally agree with your opinion. (This example shows "totally" in a formal agreement context.)

• Эта задача совсем несложная. (Eta zadacha sovsem neslozhnaya.)

  This task is totally easy. (Here, it demonstrates informal usage for understatement or emphasis in casual conversation.)

• Дом абсолютно готов к продаже. (Dom absolyutno gotov k prodazhe.)

  The house is totally ready for sale. (This illustrates emphatic usage in professional or descriptive settings.)

• Он совсем забыл о встрече. (On sovsem zabyt o vstreche.)

  He totally forgot about the meeting. (Shows how it can imply complete forgetfulness in narrative contexts.)

• Проект полностью завершён. (Proyekt polnost'yu zavershyon.)

  The project is totally finished. (Emphasizes completion in a formal report or update.)

Meaning 2: Absolutely or emphatically (as in slang or agreement, e.g., "Totally!" meaning "Yes, definitely!")

Translation(s) & Context:

• абсолютно - Used in responses to show strong agreement, especially in modern, informal Russian.
• совсем - Less common here, but can imply enthusiastic affirmation in youth slang.

Usage Examples:

• Абсолютно! Давай пойдём в кино. (Absolyutno! Davay poydyom v kino.)

  Totally! Let's go to the movies. (This captures slangy agreement in casual conversations.)

• Совсем верно! (Sovsem verno!)

  Totally right! (Used for emphatic confirmation in discussions.)

• Абсолютно круто! (Absolyutno kruto!)

  Totally cool! (Demonstrates informal enthusiasm among younger speakers.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Most key translations like "полностью", "совсем", and "абсолютно" are adverbs, which do not undergo typical inflection in Russian (e.g., no changes for gender, number, or case). They remain invariant in all contexts.

For example:

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • целиком [tselʲikʲam] - Means "entirely," often interchangeable in descriptive contexts.
  • полностью - Similar to the original, but with a slight nuance of thoroughness.
  • вполне [vpolʲne] - Used for "fully" in affirmative senses, with a more positive connotation.
• Antonyms:
  • частично [ʧɐsʲʧʲinə] - Means "partially," contrasting with complete totality.
  • немного [nʲimnəɡə] - Means "a little," indicating incompleteness.

Related Phrases:

• Полностью согласен - (Fully agree; used in debates or discussions to show total concurrence.)
• Совсем не так - (Not at all like that; expresses strong denial or correction.)
• Абсолютно невозможно - (Absolutely impossible; a fixed phrase for emphasizing impossibility in challenges.)
• Целиком и полностью - (Entirely and completely; a emphatic idiom for total agreement or coverage.)

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "totally" often corresponds to adverbs like "полностью" in formal writing or professional settings, while "совсем" is preferred in casual speech for its conversational feel. Choose "абсолютно" when emphasizing absolute certainty, as it aligns with English slang like "totally awesome." Be mindful of context: in negative sentences, "совсем" can intensify negation (e.g., "совсем не" for "not at all"). English learners should note that Russian adverbs don't change form, making them simpler than inflected words, but pay attention to word order for natural flow.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "полностью" in informal contexts where "совсем" would sound more natural, e.g., saying "Я полностью устал" instead of "Я совсем устал." Correct: The latter is more idiomatic for everyday fatigue; explanation: "Полностью" sounds overly formal and stiff.

• Error: Confusing "абсолютно" with "полностью" in agreement phrases, leading to redundancy, e.g., "Я абсолютно полностью согласен." Correct: Use just "абсолютно согласен"; explanation: This avoids repetition and maintains concise Russian style.

• Error: Overusing "совсем" in formal writing, e.g., in a business email. Correct: Opt for "полностью" for professionalism; explanation: "Совсем" can come across as too casual or dialectical in official contexts.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "абсолютно" are often used in enthusiastic youth slang, influenced by Western media, to express agreement or excitement (e.g., in social media or casual chats). However, "totally" equivalents don't carry deep historical connotations, unlike some Russian idioms that reflect collectivist values or Soviet-era language.

Related Concepts:

• целиком
• вовсе
• полноценно