Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'unreliable'

English Word: unreliable

Key Russian Translations:

• ненадёжный [nʲɪnɐˈdʲeʐnɨj] - [Formal, Adjective; Used in general contexts to describe unreliability]
• неустойчивый [nʲɪʊˈstuʊstʲɪvɨj] - [Informal; Used when emphasizing instability or unpredictability]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday Russian, especially in discussions about technology, people, or systems)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; Learners at this level can grasp the concept with practice, but distinguishing nuances from similar adjectives may require B2 for full mastery)

Pronunciation (Russian):

ненадёжный: [nʲɪnɐˈdʲeʐnɨj]

неустойчивый: [nʲɪʊˈstuʊstʲɪvɨj]

Note on ненадёжный: The stress is on the third syllable ('dʲeʐ'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft 'dʲ' sound; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: Not dependable or trustworthy, often referring to people, objects, or systems that fail to perform reliably.

Translation(s) & Context:

• ненадёжный - Used in formal or technical contexts, such as describing faulty equipment or untrustworthy individuals.
• неустойчивый - Applied in informal settings, like emotional instability or fluctuating systems.

Usage Examples:

• Эта машина ненадёжная, она часто ломается. (Eta mashina nenadezhnaya, ona chasto lomayetsya.)

  This car is unreliable; it breaks down often. (Demonstrates use in a practical, everyday context with a physical object.)

• Я не доверяю этому неустойчивому источнику информации. (Ya ne doverayu etomu neustoychivomu istochniku informatsii.)

  I don't trust this unstable source of information. (Shows informal use in discussions about reliability of data.)

• В его поведении есть что-то ненадёжное, поэтому мы не сотрудничаем. (V yego povedenii yest' chto-to nenadezhnoe, poetomu my ne sotrudnichestvuyem.)

  There's something unreliable in his behavior, so we don't collaborate. (Illustrates use in interpersonal or professional contexts.)

• Неустойчивая погода делает поездку ненадёжной. (Neustoychivaya pogoda delayet poyezdku nenadezhnoj.)

  Unstable weather makes the trip unreliable. (Highlights combination with other adjectives in descriptive sentences.)

• Этот сотрудник ненадёжный в критических ситуациях. (Etot sotrudnik nenadezhnyy v kriticheskikh situatsiyakh.)

  This employee is unreliable in critical situations. (Emphasizes use in evaluative contexts, showing grammatical agreement.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Adjectives like these follow standard patterns but have irregularities in certain forms due to spelling rules.

Note: These adjectives are invariant in short form (e.g., ненадёжен for masculine singular), which is less common but used in predicates.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • неблагонадёжный (neblagonadezhnyy) - Similar but often implies moral unreliability; used in legal or ethical contexts.
  • ненадёжный вариант (as a phrase, emphasizing alternatives).
• Antonyms:
  • надёжный (nadezhnyy) - Directly opposite, meaning reliable and trustworthy.
  • устойчивый (ustoychivyy) - Stable, especially in contexts of endurance or consistency.

Related Phrases:

• ненадёжный источник (nenadezhnyy istochnik) - Unreliable source; Refers to information that cannot be trusted.
• неустойчивая связь (neustoychivaya svyaz) - Unstable connection; Common in tech contexts for poor internet or relationships.
• ненадёжный партнёр (nenadezhnyy partnyor) - Unreliable partner; Used in business or personal alliances to indicate inconsistency.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "ненадёжный" directly corresponds to "unreliable" in formal English contexts, but it's often paired with specific nouns to clarify meaning, unlike the more versatile English word. For informal speech, "неустойчивый" might be preferred when emphasizing fluctuation. Be mindful of gender agreement in sentences; for example, use "ненадёжная" for feminine nouns. When choosing between translations, opt for "ненадёжный" in professional settings and "неустойчивый" for emotional or physical instability.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "ненадёжный" without proper case agreement, e.g., saying "Я видел ненадёжный машину" instead of "Я видел ненадёжную машину."
  Correct: Ensure the adjective agrees in gender, number, and case (here, "ненадёжную" for feminine accusative).
  Explanation: Russian adjectives must inflect, unlike English, so learners often forget this, leading to grammatical errors.
• Mistake: Confusing with "неудобный" (inconvenient), e.g., translating "unreliable phone" as "неудобный телефон" instead of "ненадёжный телефон."
  Correct: Use "ненадёжный" for dependability issues.
  Explanation: These words sound similar but have different meanings, causing semantic mix-ups for beginners.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "ненадёжный" often carry a pragmatic connotation, reflecting the historical emphasis on reliability in Soviet-era engineering and daily life. For instance, it's commonly used in discussions about public services or technology, where unreliability can symbolize broader societal frustrations, though it doesn't have deep idiomatic roots.

Related Concepts:

• надёжный
• устойчивость
• неблагонадёжный