Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'very'

English Word: very

Key Russian Translations:

• очень (/ˈoʧʲɪnʲ/) - [Informal/Formal; Used in everyday speech to intensify adjectives or adverbs]
• весьма (/ˈvʲesʲma/) - [Formal; Used in more polished or literary contexts for a similar intensifying effect]

Frequency: High (Very commonly used in both spoken and written Russian, appearing in daily conversations and literature).

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner level; Straightforward for English speakers to grasp due to its basic function as an adverb, though pronunciation may require practice).

Pronunciation (Russian):

очень: /ˈoʧʲɪnʲ/

весьма: /ˈvʲesʲma/

Note on очень: The 'ч' sound is a voiceless palatal fricative, similar to the 'ch' in German "ich"; be careful with the soft sign (ь) which softens the preceding consonant.

Note on весьма: Pronounce the initial 'в' as a voiced labiodental fricative, like 'v' in English "very"; this word is less common in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To a great degree (intensifying adjectives or adverbs)

Translation(s) & Context:

• очень - Used in casual conversations to emphasize qualities, e.g., in positive or negative descriptions.
• весьма - Applied in formal writing or polite speech for a more refined intensification.

Usage Examples:

• Она очень красивая. (Ona ochen' krasivaya.)

  She is very beautiful. (This example shows 'очень' intensifying an adjective in a simple descriptive sentence.)

• Этот фильм очень интересный. (Etot film ochen' interesnyy.)

  This film is very interesting. (Demonstrates use with adjectives in everyday opinions.)

• Он бежит очень быстро. (On bezhit ochen' bystro.)

  He runs very fast. (Illustrates intensification of an adverb in action descriptions.)

• Весьма приятно с вами познакомиться. (Ves'ma priyatno s vami poznakomit'sya.)

  It's very nice to meet you. (Shows 'весьма' in a formal greeting, emphasizing politeness.)

• Это весьма неожиданно. (Eto ves'ma neozhidanno.)

  This is very unexpected. (Used in formal contexts to express surprise.)

Meaning 2: Extremely or thoroughly (in emphatic contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• очень - Employed for strong emphasis in emotional or descriptive language.
• весьма - In formal settings, to convey a high degree without exaggeration.

Usage Examples:

• Я очень рад тебя видеть. (Ya ochen' rad tebya videt'.)

  I'm very glad to see you. (Highlights emotional intensity in personal interactions.)

• Это очень важно для нас. (Eto ochen' vazhno dlya nas.)

  This is very important for us. (Shows use in discussions about significance.)

• Весьма впечатляюще! (Ves'ma vpechatlyayushche!)

  Very impressive! (Formal exclamation in professional or artistic contexts.)

• Он очень устал после работы. (On ochen' ustal posle raboty.)

  He is very tired after work. (Demonstrates with states of being.)

• Весьма любопытно. (Ves'ma lyubopytno.)

  Very interesting. (Used in intellectual or curious contexts.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'очень' and 'весьма' are adverbs and do not undergo inflection in Russian. They remain unchanged regardless of gender, number, case, or tense. This is typical for many Russian adverbs derived from adjectives or other invariable forms.

For comparison, if the word were a noun or verb, it would inflect. Example for a verb-like structure (not applicable here):

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • сильно (/ˈsʲilʲna/) - More intense, often used for physical strength.
  • крайне (/ˈkrajnʲe/) - Extremely, with a sense of extremity.
  • весьма - As above, but with a formal nuance.
• Antonyms:
  • мало (/ˈmalə/) - Little or not much.
  • слабо (/ˈslabə/) - Weakly or not very.

Related Phrases:

• очень хорошо (/ˈoʧʲɪnʲ xəˈrɑʂə/) - Very good; Used in positive affirmations or evaluations.
• очень плохо (/ˈoʧʲɪnʲ ˈploxə/) - Very bad; Common in expressing dissatisfaction.
• весьма интересно (/ˈvʲesʲma ɪnʲtʲeˈrʲesnə/) - Very interesting; Often in academic or conversational contexts to show engagement.

Usage Notes:

'Очень' directly corresponds to 'very' in English for everyday intensification and is versatile across contexts, but it's more neutral in Russian. 'Весьма' is a formal alternative, similar to 'quite' or 'rather' in English, and should be used in professional or written language to avoid sounding overly casual. Always place these adverbs before the word they modify. For multiple translations, choose 'очень' for informal settings and 'весьма' for politeness or formality.

• In negative sentences, 'очень' can intensify the negation, e.g., "не очень" means "not very."
• Be mindful of word order; Russian is flexible but typically follows adjective/adverb placement similar to English.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'очень' in formal writing where 'весьма' is more appropriate. Incorrect: Он очень доволен. (in a business report) Correct: Он весьма доволен. Explanation: 'Очень' may sound too colloquial; 'весьма' maintains a professional tone.
• Error: Overusing 'очень' for emphasis, leading to redundancy. Incorrect: Это очень, очень хорошо. Correct: Это очень хорошо. Explanation: Repetition is unnecessary and can make speech sound unnatural; use stronger adverbs like 'крайне' instead.
• Error: Mispronouncing the soft sign in 'очень', making it sound like 'ochen' without the palatalization. Correct Pronunciation: /ˈoʧʲɪnʲ/ Explanation: This alters the word's sound and may confuse native speakers.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'очень' are often used in expressions of emotion or politeness, reflecting the language's emphasis on relational communication. For instance, in social interactions, exaggerating with 'очень' can show enthusiasm, which aligns with Russian hospitality traditions, but in formal settings, it might be toned down to avoid appearing overly emotional.

Related Concepts:

• хорошо (/xəˈrɑʂə/)
• плохо (/ˈploxə/)
• интересно (/ɪnʲtʲeˈrʲesnə/)