Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Corpse'

English Word: corpse

Key Russian Translations:

• труп [trup] - [Neutral, Most Common]
• мертвец [mertvˈets] - [Informal, Slightly Archaic or Literary]
• покойник [pakˈojnik] - [Respectful, Often Used for Deceased Person]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in specific contexts like crime reports or formal discussions)

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner to Intermediate; "труп" is easier, while "мертвец" and "покойник" may require cultural context)

Pronunciation (Russian):

труп: [trup]

Note on труп: The "р" is rolled, and the vowel "у" is pronounced as a short, rounded "oo".

мертвец: [mertvˈets]

Note on мертвец: Stress on the second syllable; "ц" is a sharp "ts" sound.

покойник: [pakˈojnik]

Note on покойник: Stress on the second syllable; "ой" is a diphthong sounding like "oy" in "boy".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Dead Body (General, Neutral)

Translation(s) & Context:

• труп - Used in neutral or formal contexts, such as medical, legal, or news reports.

Usage Examples:

• На месте преступления был найден труп.

  A corpse was found at the crime scene.

• В морге хранятся неопознанные трупы.

  Unidentified corpses are kept in the morgue.

• Труп был обнаружен спустя неделю.

  The corpse was discovered a week later.

2. Deceased Person (Respectful or Personal)

Translation(s) & Context:

• покойник - Used to refer to a deceased person respectfully, often in personal or familial contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Мы пришли проститься с покойником.

  We came to say goodbye to the deceased.

• Покойник был добрым человеком.

  The deceased was a kind person.

3. Dead Body (Literary or Figurative)

Translation(s) & Context:

• мертвец - Often used in literature, folklore, or figuratively to evoke a haunting or eerie tone.

Usage Examples:

• В старом замке видели мертвеца.

  A corpse (or ghost) was seen in the old castle.

• Он выглядел как мертвец после бессонной ночи.

  He looked like a corpse after a sleepless night.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

труп (Noun, Masculine, Inanimate):

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	труп	трупы
Genitive	трупа	трупов
Dative	трупу	трупам
Accusative	труп	трупы
Instrumental	трупом	трупами
Prepositional	о трупе	о трупах

покойник (Noun, Masculine, Animate): Follows similar declension patterns for animate masculine nouns (e.g., Accusative = Genitive in singular and plural).

мертвец (Noun, Masculine, Animate): Follows similar animate masculine declension patterns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• останки (remains, often used for skeletal remains or relics)
• тело (body, neutral but can imply a corpse in context)

Note: "останки" is more specific to decayed or historical remains, while "тело" can refer to a living body as well.

Antonyms:

• живой (alive)

Related Phrases:

• обнаружить труп - to discover a corpse (often in criminal contexts)
• хоронить покойника - to bury the deceased (respectful tone)
• ходячий мертвец - walking corpse (figurative, zombie-like)

Usage Notes:

• "труп" is the most neutral and widely used term for "corpse," suitable for formal and informal contexts, especially in legal or medical discussions.
• "покойник" carries a tone of respect and is often used when referring to someone recently deceased, especially in personal or familial settings.
• "мертвец" is less common in modern speech and often appears in literature, horror contexts, or as a metaphor for someone who looks lifeless.
• Be mindful of context when choosing between these translations, as using "труп" in a personal setting might sound cold or disrespectful.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "труп" when referring to a loved one in a personal context. Wrong: "Труп моей бабушки." Correct: "Покойник моей бабушки" or simply "моя бабушка" with context implying death.
• Error: Mispronouncing "мертвец" by stressing the first syllable. Stress is on the second syllable: [mertvˈets].

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, discussing death and corpses can be sensitive. The term "покойник" is often preferred when speaking about a recently deceased person out of respect. Additionally, Russian folklore and literature frequently use "мертвец" to evoke supernatural or eerie imagery, reflecting cultural associations with death and the afterlife.

Related Concepts:

• смерть (death)
• похороны (funeral)
• кладбище (cemetery)