Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'bony'

English Word: bony

Key Russian Translations:

• костлявый [ˈkostlʲavɨj] - [Informal, Descriptive]
• худощавый [xʊˈdoʂːavɨj] - [Neutral, Often for slim with visible bones]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

костлявый: [ˈkostlʲavɨj]

Note on костлявый: Stress falls on the first syllable. The 'л' sound is soft due to the following 'я'.

худощавый: [xʊˈdoʂːavɨj]

Note on худощавый: Stress on the second syllable. The 'щ' sound is a long, soft 'sh' unique to Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Referring to a thin person or animal with prominent bones

Translation(s) & Context:

• костлявый - Often used colloquially to describe someone very thin, sometimes with a negative or humorous tone.
• худощавый - A more neutral term, often describing a naturally slim build with visible bones.

Usage Examples:

• Он такой костлявый, что кажется, кожа да кости.

  He is so bony that he looks like skin and bones.

• Её худощавое телосложение делает её похожей на модель.

  Her bony build makes her look like a model.

• Этот костлявый котёнок нуждается в хорошем питании.

  This bony kitten needs good nutrition.

• Худощавый мужчина стоял у двери, нервно теребя шляпу.

  A bony man stood by the door, nervously fidgeting with his hat.

• После болезни она стала выглядеть очень костляво.

  After the illness, she started looking very bony.

2. Referring to something full of bones (e.g., fish)

Translation(s) & Context:

• костлявый - Commonly used for fish or meat that has many bones, often with a negative connotation.

Usage Examples:

• Эта рыба слишком костлявая, её трудно есть.

  This fish is too bony; it’s hard to eat.

• Я не люблю костлявую рыбу, предпочитаю филе.

  I don’t like bony fish; I prefer fillets.

• Бабушка всегда жалуется, что суповой набор слишком костлявый.

  Grandma always complains that the soup set is too bony.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

костлявый (Adjective): Declines according to standard Russian adjective rules based on gender, number, and case.

худощавый (Adjective): Follows similar declension patterns as костлявый.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for костлявый:

• тощий
• худой

Note: 'тощий' is more informal and often implies extreme thinness; 'худой' is broader and can mean just 'thin'.

Antonyms for костлявый/худощавый:

• полный
• упитанный

Related Phrases:

• кожа да кости (lit. skin and bones) - Used with костлявый to emphasize extreme thinness.
• худощавое телосложение (bony build) - Common collocation with худощавый to describe a slim physique.

Usage Notes:

• While both 'костлявый' and 'худощавый' can describe a thin person with visible bones, 'костлявый' often carries a more negative or humorous tone, whereas 'худощавый' is neutral or even positive in some contexts (e.g., describing a model).
• For describing food like fish, only 'костлявый' is appropriate as 'худощавый' is reserved for people or animals in terms of build.
• Be mindful of the context and tone when using these words, as 'костлявый' might sound rude if used inappropriately.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'худощавый' to describe bony fish. Incorrect: Эта рыба худощавая. Correct: Эта рыба костлявая. Explanation: 'худощавый' is used for describing physique, not food.
• Error: Misplacing stress in pronunciation, e.g., saying [kostˈlʲavɨj] instead of [ˈkostlʲavɨj]. Explanation: Stress in Russian is critical; incorrect stress can make the word sound unnatural.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, describing someone as 'костлявый' might be seen as impolite or mocking, especially if said directly to the person. It’s often used jokingly among close friends or family. On the other hand, 'худощавый' can be a polite way to describe someone’s slim build, especially in formal or professional contexts.

Related Concepts:

• худоба (thinness)
• телосложение (physique)