Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'dead'

English Word: dead

Key Russian Translations:

• мертвый [ˈmʲertvɨj] - [Formal, Used for deceased beings or metaphorically]
• умерший [ʊˈmʲerʂɨj] - [Formal, Often used for deceased persons]
• покойный [pɐˈkojnɨj] - [Formal, Respectful, Often used for the deceased]

Frequency: High (commonly used in various contexts)

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner to Intermediate, varies slightly by translation)

Pronunciation (Russian):

мертвый: [ˈmʲertvɨj]

Note on мертвый: Stress falls on the first syllable; the 'р' is rolled slightly.

умерший: [ʊˈmʲerʂɨj]

Note on умерший: Stress on the second syllable; 'ш' is pronounced as a soft 'sh' sound.

покойный: [pɐˈkojnɨj]

Note on покойный: Stress on the second syllable; often used in formal or respectful contexts.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Deceased (Literal Death of a Person or Animal)

Translation(s) & Context:

• мертвый - Used for both people and animals, often in a neutral or literal sense.
• умерший - Specifically for people, more formal and often used in legal or official contexts.
• покойный - Respectful term for a deceased person, often used in eulogies or formal speech.

Usage Examples:

• Его дедушка мертвый уже десять лет.

  His grandfather has been dead for ten years.

• Умерший оставил после себя большое наследство.

  The deceased left behind a large inheritance.

• Мы чтим память покойного профессора.

  We honor the memory of the late professor.

• Это мертвая птица, её нельзя спасти.

  This is a dead bird; it cannot be saved.

• На похоронах говорили о покойном с большой любовью.

  At the funeral, they spoke of the deceased with great love.

2. Metaphorical (Non-Living, Inactive, or Broken)

Translation(s) & Context:

• мертвый - Used for inanimate objects or metaphorically for things like "dead battery" or "dead language".

Usage Examples:

• Мой телефон мертв, батарея села.

  My phone is dead; the battery ran out.

• Латынь — это мертвый язык.

  Latin is a dead language.

• Этот район города совершенно мертв ночью.

  This part of the city is completely dead at night.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

мертвый (Adjective): Declines according to gender, number, and case in Russian grammar.

Case	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Plural
Nominative	мертвый	мертвая	мертвое	мертвые
Genitive	мертвого	мертвой	мертвого	мертвых
Dative	мертвому	мертвой	мертвому	мертвым

умерший (Participle/Adjective): Also declines like an adjective; often used as a noun in formal contexts.

покойный (Adjective): Declines similarly to мертвый; used primarily for people in a respectful tone.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for мертвый (in context of deceased):

• умерший
• покойный
• усопший (archaic, formal)

Note: "усопший" is more archaic and used in religious or very formal contexts.

Antonyms for мертвый:

• живой (alive)
• живущий (living)

Related Phrases:

• мертвая тишина - "dead silence" (complete silence, often eerie)
• мертвый сезон - "dead season" (off-season, period of low activity)
• мертвая точка - "dead point" (stagnation or deadlock)

Usage Notes:

• "мертвый" is the most versatile translation, applicable to both literal death and metaphorical contexts like "dead battery" or "dead silence".
• "умерший" is strictly for people and often used in formal or legal contexts, such as in documents or announcements.
• "покойный" is a respectful term, often used when speaking of someone recently deceased or in a commemorative context; avoid using it in casual conversation.
• Be mindful of the tone and context when choosing between these translations, as using "мертвый" for a person in a formal setting may sound too blunt or disrespectful.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "мертвый" in formal contexts for a deceased person, e.g., *Мой мертвый отец* (sounds harsh and inappropriate).
• Correction: Use "покойный" or "умерший", e.g., Мой покойный отец (My late father).
• Error: Using "умерший" for inanimate objects, e.g., *Мой умерший телефон* (incorrect, sounds unnatural).
• Correction: Use "мертвый", e.g., Мой мертвый телефон (My dead phone).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, discussing death or the deceased often carries a tone of respect or solemnity. Terms like "покойный" are preferred in formal or commemorative settings to honor the deceased. Additionally, Russians may avoid direct mentions of death in casual contexts, sometimes using euphemisms or softer expressions.

Related Concepts:

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