Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Corpulent'

English Word: Corpulent

Key Russian Translations:

• полный [ˈpolnɨj] - [Neutral, Common]
• толстый [tɐlˈstɨj] - [Informal, Slightly Pejorative]
• упитанный [ʊpʲɪˈtanːɨj] - [Neutral to Positive, Often Humorous]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner to Intermediate)

Pronunciation (Russian):

полный: [ˈpolnɨj]

Note on полный: Stress on the first syllable. The 'ы' sound is a unique Russian vowel, pronounced as a short, centralized 'i'.

толстый: [tɐlˈstɨj]

Note on толстый: Stress on the second syllable. The 'о' is reduced due to unstressed position.

упитанный: [ʊpʲɪˈtanːɨj]

Note on упитанный: Stress on the third syllable. Note the gemination (doubling) of 'н' which slightly elongates the sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Physically Fat or Overweight (Descriptive)

Translation(s) & Context:

• полный - General term for being overweight, neutral tone, suitable for most contexts.
• толстый - More direct and informal, can be offensive if used carelessly.
• упитанный - Often implies well-fed or plump in a less negative or even affectionate way.

Usage Examples:

• Он довольно полный человек.

  He is quite a corpulent person.

• Не называй его толстым, это невежливо.

  Don't call him fat, it's rude.

• Мой кот очень упитанный, потому что я его перекармливаю.

  My cat is very corpulent because I overfeed him.

• После праздников я чувствую себя полным.

  After the holidays, I feel corpulent.

• Её бабушка такая милая и упитанная дама.

  Her grandmother is such a sweet and corpulent lady.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

полный (Adjective): Declines according to gender, number, and case. Below is the paradigm for singular forms in nominative, genitive, and accusative cases.

толстый (Adjective): Follows a similar declension pattern to "полный."

упитанный (Adjective): Also declines like "полный," though less frequently used in certain cases.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• тучный - More formal, often used in literature.
• грузный - Implies heaviness along with being overweight.

Note: "тучный" is more literary, while "грузный" often emphasizes physical burden.

Antonyms:

• худой - Thin, slim.
• стройный - Slender, well-proportioned.

Related Phrases:

• полный человек - A corpulent person (neutral description).
• толстый как бочка - Fat as a barrel (colloquial, humorous or pejorative).
• упитанный малыш - A chubby baby (affectionate tone).

Usage Notes:

• "полный" is the safest and most neutral choice when describing someone as corpulent. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
• "толстый" should be used with caution as it can sound rude or offensive, especially when referring to a person directly.
• "упитанный" often carries a softer or even positive connotation, frequently used for children, pets, or in a humorous tone.
• Unlike English, where "corpulent" is somewhat formal or literary, Russian equivalents vary widely in tone, so context is crucial.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "толстый" in a formal or polite setting. Example: *Уважаемый толстый господин* (Respected fat gentleman) sounds offensive. Correct: Use "полный" instead: *Уважаемый полный господин* (still rare, better to avoid direct reference).
• Error: Misusing gender or case endings, e.g., saying *полная мужчина* instead of *полный мужчина* (incorrect gender agreement). Correct: Adjectives must agree with the noun in gender, number, and case.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, commenting on someone's weight can be seen as impolite, especially with terms like "толстый." Historically, being "упитанный" (well-fed) was associated with health and prosperity, especially in rural contexts, though modern urban attitudes align more with Western ideals of slimness.

Related Concepts:

• здоровье - Health.
• вес - Weight.
• телосложение - Body type.