Red Kalinka Forum

Hi everybody

Could you help me with some examples on how to use "экономный" and "экономичный". Can you use "экономный" about cars, like "это очень экономная машина"?

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Use 'экономный' only while referring to people who tend to save money. 'Экономичный' is rarely used word and I advice not to use it at all but it's referrering to something(device, not person) that consume not many resources or help to save them.

thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

dimiter wrote:Use 'экономный' only while referring to people who tend to save money. 'Экономичный' is rarely used word and I advice not to use it at all but it's referrering to something(device, not person) that consume not many resources or help to save them.

So... if I have a car that consumes very little petrol (compared to other cars) I can say "У меня есть очень экономная машина", right?

So... if I have a car that consumes very little petrol (compared to other cars) I can say "У меня есть очень экономная машина", right?

No, the second part of the post was about the word 'экономичный'. You can say 'У меня очень экономичная машина'. 'Экономный' is only about person.

thanks so much!

dimiter wrote:

So... if I have a car that consumes very little petrol (compared to other cars) I can say "У меня есть очень экономная машина", right?

No, the second part of the post was about the word 'экономичный'. You can say 'У меня очень экономичная машина'. 'Экономный' is only about person.

Thanks Dimiter. Everything is clear now

Speaking about a person who spends something (money, fuel, water, other resources) economically, one should say 'экономный' and not 'экономичный'. I am with dimiter on this one. Examples:

экономный фермер (an economical farmer),
экономный руководитель экспедиции (the economical leader of an expedition).

However, I wouldn't say that 'экономичный' is a seldom used word. 'Экономный' along with 'экономичный' may also describe an economical way of spending resources:

вести экономный (NOT 'экономичный') образ жизни (to live below one's means),
использовать экономный (OR 'экономичный') способ расхода воды (to use an economical way of consumption of water),
экономный (OR 'экономичный') способ обработки материала (an economical way of processing of a material),
жить экономно (NOT 'экономично') (to live in an economical way).

When speaking about economical devices, one may use 'экономичный' as well as 'экономный', however the former is preferable:

экономичная/экономная лампочка (an economical light bulb),
экономичный/экономный котёл (an economical boiler),
экономичный/экономный двигатель (an economical engine),
экономичная/экономная машина (an economical car).

Thanks Taras! As always, an awesome explanation!