Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'bum'

English Word: bum

Key Russian Translations:

• бомж [bɒmʒ] - [Informal, Abbreviation for "без определённого места жительства", meaning "homeless"]
• бродяга [brɐˈdʲaɡə] - [Neutral, Often used for "vagrant" or "tramp"]
• безработный [bʲɪzɾɐˈbotnɨj] - [Formal, Literally "unemployed", context-dependent]
• бездельник [bʲɪzˈdʲelʲnʲɪk] - [Informal, Derogatory, for "idler" or "slacker"]

Frequency: Medium (varies by context; "бомж" and "бродяга" are more commonly used for "homeless" meanings)

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner to Intermediate; "бомж" is easier to learn as slang, while "бродяга" and "безработный" require contextual understanding)

Pronunciation (Russian):

бомж: [bɒmʒ]

Note on бомж: The "ж" sound is a voiced fricative, similar to the "s" in "measure". Stress is on the single syllable.

бродяга: [brɐˈdʲaɡə]

Note on бродяга: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "я" is pronounced like "ya".

безработный: [bʲɪzɾɐˈbotnɨj]

бездельник: [bʲɪzˈdʲelʲnʲɪk]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Bum as "homeless person" or "vagrant"

Translation(s) & Context:

• бомж - Commonly used slang for a homeless person, often with a neutral or slightly negative connotation.
• бродяга - Refers to a wanderer or tramp, can have a romanticized or neutral tone depending on context.

Usage Examples:

• На улице много бомжей, особенно зимой.

  There are many homeless people on the street, especially in winter.

• Этот бродяга прошёл сотни километров в поисках работы.

  This vagrant walked hundreds of kilometers in search of work.

• Бомж спал на скамейке в парке.

  The homeless man was sleeping on a park bench.

2. Bum as "unemployed" or "idle person"

Translation(s) & Context:

• безработный - Formal term for someone without a job, often used in official contexts.
• бездельник - Derogatory term for someone who avoids work or is lazy.

Usage Examples:

• Он безработный уже два года после закрытия завода.

  He has been unemployed for two years since the factory closed.

• Не будь бездельником, найди себе занятие!

  Don't be a bum, find something to do!

• Безработные люди часто обращаются за помощью в центры занятости.

  Unemployed people often seek help at employment centers.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

бомж: Noun, masculine. Does not typically inflect beyond singular/plural forms due to its slang nature.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	бомж	бомжи
Genitive	бомжа	бомжей
Dative	бомжу	бомжам

бродяга: Noun, masculine. Regular declension for animate nouns.

безработный: Adjective used as a noun, declines like a standard adjective based on gender and number.

бездельник: Noun, masculine. Regular declension.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "бомж/бродяга" (homeless/vagrant):

• нищий
• попрошайка

Note: "нищий" emphasizes poverty or begging, while "попрошайка" specifically refers to someone asking for money.

Antonyms for "бездельник" (idler):

• трудяга
• работяга

Related Phrases:

• жить как бомж - "to live like a homeless person" (to live in extreme poverty or without a home)
• бродяга по жизни - "a vagrant by nature" (someone who wanders or avoids settling down)
• сидеть без работы - "to sit without work" (to be unemployed)

Usage Notes:

• "бомж" is a widely understood slang term but can be seen as insensitive in formal contexts. Use "бродяга" for a more neutral tone or "без определённого места жительства" for official language.
• "бездельник" carries a strong negative connotation and should be avoided in polite conversation.
• When translating "bum" as an adjective (e.g., "bum leg"), there is no direct equivalent in Russian; context-specific phrases or adjectives like "плохой" (bad) are often used instead.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "бомж" in formal writing or speech. Correct Usage: Use "бродяга" or a full phrase like "человек без определённого места жительства". Example of error: "В докладе упомянули бомжей" (Incorrect in formal context); Correct: "В докладе упомянули людей без определённого места жительства".
• Error: Confusing "бездельник" with "безработный". Explanation: "бездельник" implies laziness, while "безработный" simply means unemployed without judgment.

Cultural Notes:

The term "бомж" emerged in the Soviet era as an acronym for "без определённого места жительства" (without a fixed place of residence) and is tied to the social stigma of homelessness in Russian culture. It reflects a historical context where residency registration was mandatory, and lacking it often meant exclusion from societal systems.

Related Concepts:

• нищета (poverty)
• бездомность (homelessness)
• тунеядство (parasitism/idleness, a Soviet-era term)