ре́дкий
rédkij
The English word 'rare' is translated into Russian as ре́дкий (rédkij).
The adjective ре́дкий is used to describe something that is very uncommon. It can also be used to describe things that are thin or sparse, such as a sparse forest or thin hair.
Meaning: very uncommon (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective changes its ending to agree with the gender of the noun it modifies: ре́дкая is the feminine form, ре́дкое is the neuter form and ре́дкие is the plural form.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is rédkij.
Did you know?
- In Russian, a 'rare' steak is not described with ре́дкий, but with с кровью, which literally translates to 'with blood'.
- The word ре́дкий shares a deep linguistic root with ряд, meaning 'row'. It originally described things that were spaced far apart in a row.
- When talking about a 'rare' disease, Russians use the term орфанное заболевание, borrowed from the English word 'orphan', rather than ре́дкое заболевание in medical contexts.
Examples in context
- Это очень редкий случай.This is a very rare case.
- Редкие виды растений.Rare plant species.
- Это исключительная находка.This is an exceptional find.
- Исключительно редкий случай.An extraordinarily rare case.
- Такие случаи нечасты.Such cases are rare.
- Нечастое явление.A rare phenomenon.
- Он настоящий редкостный гений.He's a truly rare genius.
- Такой шанс – редкостный случай.Such an opportunity is a rare occurrence.
Example conversation
Alexander and Anastasia are looking at an old book in a library.
- Александр AleksandrПосмотри, это очень ре́дкий экземпляр!Posmotri, eto ochen' redkiy ekzemplyar!Look, this is a very rare copy!
- Анастасия AnastasiaПравда? Почему он такой ре́дкий?Pravda? Pochemu on takiy redkiy?Really? Why is it so rare?
- Александр AleksandrЕго напечатали всего сто раз.Yego napechatali vsego sto raz.Only one hundred copies were printed.
- Анастасия AnastasiaНам очень повезло его найти.Nam ochen' povezlo yego nayti.We are very lucky to find it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rare” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
