Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Bald'

English Word: bald

Key Russian Translations:

• лысый [ˈlɨsɨj] - [Informal, Masculine]
• плешивый [plʲɪˈʂɨvɨj] - [Colloquial, Slightly Derogatory, Masculine]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for both translations)

Pronunciation (Russian):

лысый: [ˈlɨsɨj]

Note on лысый: The stress is on the first syllable. The 'ы' sound is unique to Russian and does not have a direct English equivalent; it’s a close, central vowel.

плешивый: [plʲɪˈʂɨvɨj]

Note on плешивый: The stress is on the second syllable. The 'ш' sound is a retroflex fricative, similar to 'sh' in English but harder.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Lacking Hair on the Head

Translation(s) & Context:

• лысый - Most common term for describing someone bald, used in neutral or informal contexts.
• плешивый - Less common, often with a negative or mocking connotation.

Usage Examples:

• Он стал лысым после сорока лет.

  He became bald after forty years old.

• Мой дедушка совсем лысый, но ему это идёт.

  My grandfather is completely bald, but it suits him.

• Этот плешивый старик всегда ворчит.

  This bald old man always grumbles.

• У него лысая голова, как у младенца.

  He has a bald head like a baby’s.

• Почему ты назвал его плешивым? Это обидно!

  Why did you call him bald in that way? That’s offensive!

Russian Forms/Inflections:

лысый (Adjective): This adjective changes according to gender, number, and case, following standard Russian adjective declension rules.

плешивый (Adjective): Follows similar declension patterns as лысый. Used less frequently, often with a derogatory tone.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• облысевший (having gone bald)
• безволосый (hairless, more general)

Note: "облысевший" often implies the process of becoming bald, while "безволосый" can refer to any hairless state, not just the head.

Antonyms:

• волосатый (hairy)
• кудрявый (curly-haired)

Related Phrases:

• лысая голова - "bald head" (literal description of a bald person’s head)
• лысеть с каждым днём - "to go bald day by day" (describing the process of losing hair)
• плешивая макушка - "bald crown" (often used mockingly to describe partial baldness)

Usage Notes:

• "лысый" is the most neutral and widely used term for "bald" in Russian. It can be used descriptively without offense in most contexts.
• "плешивый" carries a negative or mocking tone and should be avoided in polite conversation as it can be considered rude.
• Both terms are adjectives and must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they describe (e.g., лысый мужчина - bald man; лысая женщина - bald woman).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "плешивый" in a neutral or formal context.
  Incorrect: Мой начальник плешивый. (My boss is bald - sounds derogatory)
  Correct: Мой начальник лысый. (My boss is bald - neutral tone)
• Error: Forgetting to adjust the adjective for gender or case.
  Incorrect: Она лысый. (She is bald - wrong gender form)
  Correct: Она лысая. (She is bald - correct feminine form)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, baldness is sometimes humorously associated with wisdom or age, and terms like "лысый" can be used affectionately among close friends. However, using derogatory terms like "плешивый" can be seen as disrespectful, especially towards elders.

Related Concepts:

• волосы (hair)
• облысение (baldness, hair loss)
• причёска (hairstyle)