When ‘Natural’ Should not Be Translated into ‘Натуральный’

We understand that it is very tempting to translate ‘natural’ into Russian as ‘натуральный’ and ‘натурально,’ but sometimes it can be wrong and may lead to misunderstanding.

We do use the adjective ‘натуральный‘ when we talk about something that was not modified or changed, as an antonym to something artificial: натуральный мёд (natural honey), натуральный йогурт (natural yogurt), натуральные губы (natural lips), натуральный цвет волос (natural hair color).

When we call something ‘natural’ meaning that it is something normal, happening out of the natural order, we use the adjective ‘естественный‘ and ‘естественно.’ Very often these words appear in the natural science contexts.

• естественный отбор = natural selection;
• естественный спутник = natural satellite;
•  сверхъестественные способности = supernatural abilities;
• естественные науки = natural sciences.
• Она вела себя неестественно = She behaved unnaturally.

It’s worth noting that you can use the adverb ‘естественно’ as a synonime of ‘конечно’, ‘разумеется’, but you can not use ‘натурально’ in such context

• – Ты позвонишь мне вечером? = Will you call me in the evening?
  – Естественно! = Naturally!