Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'cloddish'

English Word: cloddish

Key Russian Translations:

• Неуклюжий [nʲɪˈukləʐɨj] - [Informal, often used for physical clumsiness]
• Грубый [ˈɡrubɨj] - [Informal, emphasizing rudeness or boorishness]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in everyday conversations about behavior, but not as frequent as basic adjectives)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective inflections and contextual nuances in Russian)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Неуклюжий: [nʲɪˈukləʐɨj]

Грубый: [ˈɡrubɨj]

Note on Неуклюжий: The stress falls on the third syllable; be careful with the soft 'л' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. Variations in regional accents may soften the 'ж' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Clumsy or awkward in behavior, often implying a lack of grace or refinement.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Неуклюжий - Used in informal contexts to describe someone who is physically or socially awkward, such as in everyday conversations about personal habits.
• Грубый - Applied in contexts involving rudeness or boorish behavior, often in more emotional or critical discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Его неуклюжий танец заставил всех засмеяться.

  His cloddish dance made everyone laugh.

• Она выглядит неуклюжей в новых туфлях, но со временем привыкнет.

  She looks cloddish in her new shoes, but she'll get used to them over time.

• Грубый манер общения не подходит для формальных встреч.

  A cloddish manner of speaking isn't suitable for formal meetings.

• Неуклюжий жест друга обидел её, хотя он не хотел.

  His cloddish gesture offended her, even though he didn't mean to.

• Грубый человек в толпе нарушил спокойствие мероприятия.

  The cloddish person in the crowd disrupted the event's peace.

Meaning 2: Loutish or uncultured, referring to behavior that is unrefined or boorish.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Грубый - Common in contexts criticizing social behavior, such as in literature or casual critiques.
• Неуклюжий - Less common for this meaning, but used when physical clumsiness leads to social awkwardness.

Usage Examples:

• Его грубый юмор не всегда уместен в компании.

  His cloddish humor isn't always appropriate in company.

• Неуклюжий подход к работе привёл к ошибкам.

  His cloddish approach to work led to mistakes.

• Грубый тон в переписке может оскорбить собеседника.

  A cloddish tone in correspondence can offend the recipient.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Неуклюжий is a standard adjective with regular inflections, while Грубый follows similar patterns but can vary slightly in usage.

Note: These adjectives do not have irregular forms but must agree with the noun they modify in gender, number, and case.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Неуклюжий: Торопливый (hasty, with a similar connotation of clumsiness)
  • Грубый: Хамский (boorish, often used in more intense contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • Грациозный (graceful)
  • Элегантный (elegant)

Related Phrases:

• Неуклюжий жест - A clumsy or awkward gesture; often used to describe unintended faux pas in social interactions.
• Грубый манер - A boorish manner; refers to rude behavior in communication or etiquette.
• Быть неуклюжим в общении - To be cloddish in communication; highlights difficulties in social exchanges.

Usage Notes:

"Cloddish" corresponds closely to "Неуклюжий" when emphasizing physical awkwardness and to "Грубый" for social or behavioral rudeness. In Russian, these words are context-dependent: use "Неуклюжий" in informal, everyday settings, but avoid it in formal writing. "Грубый" carries a stronger negative tone and should be chosen when the behavior is intentionally offensive. Grammatically, always ensure the adjective agrees with the noun in gender, number, and case. For English learners, differentiate based on subtlety—'cloddish' is milder than 'Грубый' in some cases.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "Неуклюжий" interchangeably with "Грубый" without considering context. For example, saying "Он неуклюжий в манерах" when "Грубый" is more appropriate for rude manners.

  Correct: "Он грубый в манерах" (He is cloddish in his manners). Explanation: "Неуклюжий" implies clumsiness, not intentional rudeness, which can lead to misunderstandings in social descriptions.

• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., using "Неуклюжий" with a feminine noun without changing to "Неуклюжая".

  Correct: "Неуклюжая женщина" instead of "Неуклюжий женщина". Explanation: Russian adjectives must inflect, unlike English, so learners often overlook case and gender.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "Неуклюжий" or "Грубый" may reflect historical attitudes toward rural or unrefined behavior, stemming from class distinctions in 19th-century literature (e.g., in works by Tolstoy). They can carry subtle connotations of social class, where clumsiness is sometimes linked to peasant life, encouraging users to be sensitive in cross-cultural contexts.

Related Concepts:

• Торопливый (hasty)
• Хамский (boorish)
• Грациозный (graceful)