Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'turbulent'

English Word: turbulent

Key Russian Translations:

• бурный /ˈbʊrnɨj/ - [Formal, often used in literary or descriptive contexts]
• турбулентный /tʊr.bʊˈlʲɛnt.nɨj/ - [Technical, specific to scientific or aviation contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature, news, and technical discussions, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective forms and contextual nuances, suitable for learners with basic grammar knowledge)

Pronunciation (Russian):

бурный: /ˈbʊrnɨj/

Note on бурный: The stress is on the first syllable; be careful with the rolled 'r' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers.

турбулентный: /tʊr.bʊˈlʲɛnt.nɨj/

Note on турбулентный: This is a borrowed word with a more complex pronunciation; the 'лʲ' represents a palatalized 'l', which softens the sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Characterized by turbulence, disorder, or violent motion (e.g., in weather, water, or emotions).

Translation(s) & Context:

• бурный - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe stormy or chaotic situations, such as weather or emotional states.
• турбулентный - Applied in technical contexts like aviation or physics, referring to unsteady flows or disruptions.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: Бурный ветер разметал листья по улице.

  English: The turbulent wind scattered the leaves across the street.

• Русский: В турбулентном потоке самолёт начало трясти.

  English: In the turbulent air current, the plane started to shake.

• Русский: Её бурные эмоции не позволяли сосредоточиться.

  English: Her turbulent emotions prevented her from focusing.

• Русский: Бурный период в истории России был полон перемен.

  English: The turbulent period in Russian history was full of changes.

2. Unstable or chaotic in a social or political sense.

Translation(s) & Context:

• бурный - Common in historical or narrative contexts to describe eras of upheaval.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: Бурные годы революции изменили страну.

  English: The turbulent years of the revolution changed the country.

• Русский: В бурном обществе трудно найти стабильность.

  English: In a turbulent society, it's hard to find stability.

• Русский: Политическая турбулентность привела к новым реформам.

  English: Political turbulence led to new reforms.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'бурный' and 'турбулентный' are adjectives, which in Russian inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow standard patterns for most cases.

Note: These adjectives follow the regular first-declension pattern. They do not have irregular forms, making them relatively straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • бурливый (more vivid, implying bubbling or effervescent energy)
  • хаотичный (emphasizes disorder over intensity)
• Antonyms:
  • спокойный (calm, opposite in emotional or weather contexts)
  • стабильный (stable, especially in social or technical contexts)

Related Phrases:

• Бурный поток - A turbulent stream; used to describe fast-moving water in nature.
• Турбулентное течение - Turbulent flow; common in scientific discussions, e.g., in fluid dynamics.
• Бурные времена - Turbulent times; refers to periods of historical upheaval or personal crisis.

Usage Notes:

'Бурный' is the more versatile and idiomatic choice for general English 'turbulent', especially in non-technical contexts, as it evokes a sense of natural or emotional intensity. 'Турбулентный' is a direct borrowing and should be reserved for scientific or precise scenarios, like aviation, to avoid sounding overly formal or awkward in everyday speech. Always ensure the adjective agrees in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies, which is a key grammatical rule in Russian. For example, use 'бурная' with feminine nouns.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'бурный' in technical contexts where 'турбулентный' is more appropriate, e.g., saying "бурный воздух" instead of "турбулентный воздух" for airplane turbulence. Correct: 'Турбулентный воздух' is the standard term in aviation to avoid confusion.

• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "бурный река" (incorrect) instead of "бурная река" for a feminine noun like 'река'. Correct: Always match the ending, as in "бурная река". This stems from English speakers' tendency to ignore gender in adjectives.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'бурный' often appear in literature and historical narratives, such as in descriptions of Russia's revolutionary periods (e.g., the 1917 Revolution). It carries connotations of passionate upheaval, reflecting the country's history of dramatic social changes, which can help English learners appreciate the emotional depth in Russian texts like those by Tolstoy or Dostoevsky.

Related Concepts:

• ветер (wind)
• река (river)
• революция (revolution)