Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'ass'

English Word: ass

Key Russian Translations:

• осёл [ˈosʲoɫ] - [Formal, Refers to the animal 'donkey']
• задница [ˈzadnʲɪtsə] - [Informal, Refers to 'buttocks']
• дурак [dʊˈrak] - [Informal, Insult meaning 'fool' or 'idiot']

Frequency: Medium (varies by meaning; 'осёл' is less common, while 'задница' and 'дурак' are more frequent in informal contexts)

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner-Intermediate; 'осёл' is easier, while 'задница' and 'дурак' require understanding of informal tone and context)

Pronunciation (Russian):

осёл: [ˈosʲoɫ]

Note on осёл: Stress on the first syllable; the 'ё' is pronounced as a distinct 'yo' sound.

задница: [ˈzadnʲɪtsə]

Note on задница: Stress on the first syllable; the 'ц' sounds like 'ts'.

дурак: [dʊˈrak]

Note on дурак: Stress on the second syllable; a sharp 'r' sound typical in Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Literal Meaning: Donkey (Animal)

Translation(s) & Context:

• осёл - Used to refer to the animal 'donkey'; often appears in fables or stories.

Usage Examples:

• На ферме жил старый осёл.

  An old donkey lived on the farm.

• Осёл упрямо не хотел идти.

  The donkey stubbornly refused to move.

• В сказке осёл был очень умным.

  In the fairy tale, the donkey was very clever.

2. Slang Meaning: Buttocks

Translation(s) & Context:

• задница - Informal and somewhat crude; used to refer to someone's buttocks.

Usage Examples:

• Он упал прямо на задницу!

  He fell right on his ass!

• Не сиди на холодном, задница замёрзнет.

  Don’t sit on the cold surface, your butt will freeze.

• Она шлёпнула его по заднице.

  She slapped him on the butt.

3. Insult Meaning: Fool or Idiot

Translation(s) & Context:

• дурак - Informal and insulting; used to call someone a fool or idiot.

Usage Examples:

• Ты что, дурак, так делать?

  Are you an ass to do that?

• Не будь дураком, подумай сначала.

  Don’t be an ass, think first.

• Он вёл себя как полный дурак.

  He behaved like a complete ass.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

осёл (noun, masculine): Follows the standard masculine noun declension in Russian.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	осёл	ослы
Genitive	осла	ослов
Dative	ослу	ослам
Accusative	осла	ослов
Instrumental	ослом	ослами
Prepositional	об осле	об ослах

задница (noun, feminine): Follows the standard feminine noun declension.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	задница	задницы
Genitive	задницы	задниц
Dative	заднице	задницам
Accusative	задницу	задницы
Instrumental	задницей	задницами
Prepositional	о заднице	о задницах

дурак (noun, masculine): Follows the standard masculine noun declension.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	дурак	дураки
Genitive	дурака	дураков
Dative	дураку	дуракам
Accusative	дурака	дураков
Instrumental	дураком	дураками
Prepositional	о дураке	о дураках

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for осёл (donkey):

• ишак

Note: 'ишак' is more colloquial and can also be used as an insult.

Synonyms for задница (buttocks):

• попа
• зад

Note: 'попа' is less crude, often used playfully; 'зад' is neutral but less common.

Synonyms for дурак (fool):

• идиот
• глупец

Antonyms for дурак (fool):

• умник
• мудрец

Related Phrases:

• упрямый как осёл - Stubborn as a donkey (used to describe someone very stubborn).
• таскать свою задницу - To drag one's ass (used to describe laziness or reluctance).
• не будь дураком - Don’t be a fool (a common reprimand or advice).

Usage Notes:

• The English word 'ass' has multiple meanings, and the Russian translations reflect this diversity. Use 'осёл' only for the literal animal; it is rarely used metaphorically in modern Russian.
• 'задница' is informal and can be considered rude in formal settings. Opt for more neutral terms like 'ягодицы' in polite conversation if referring to anatomy.
• 'дурак' is a strong insult in Russian, stronger than 'ass' might be in some English contexts. Use with caution as it can offend.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'осёл' to insult someone as a 'fool'. Correct Usage: Use 'дурак' instead, as 'осёл' strictly refers to the animal. Example of error: *Ты осёл! (Wrong)* vs. *Ты дурак! (Correct)*.
• Error: Using 'задница' in formal or polite contexts. Correct Usage: Replace with 'ягодицы' in medical or formal discussions. Example of error: *У меня болит задница. (Inappropriate in formal settings)* vs. *У меня болят ягодицы. (Correct)*.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, direct insults like 'дурак' carry significant weight and can lead to conflict if used carelessly. Unlike in some English-speaking contexts where 'ass' might be used jokingly, 'дурак' is rarely playful. Additionally, 'осёл' often appears in traditional fables (e.g., Krylov’s fables), symbolizing stubbornness or simplicity.

Related Concepts:

• идиотизм (idiocy)
• глупость (stupidity)
• упрямство (stubbornness)