Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Dingy'

English Word: Dingy

Key Russian Translations:

• грязный [ˈɡrʲaznɨj] - [Informal, General Use]
• тусклый [ˈtuskɫɨj] - [General Use, Often for Color/Light]
• обшарпанный [ɐbˈʂarpənɨj] - [Informal, Often for Places/Objects]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "грязный" and "тусклый"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "обшарпанный"

Pronunciation (Russian):

грязный: [ˈɡrʲaznɨj]

Note on грязный: The stress falls on the first syllable. The "р" sound is rolled, which may be challenging for non-native speakers.

тусклый: [ˈtuskɫɨj]

Note on тусклый: Pay attention to the soft "л" sound, which is palatalized.

обшарпанный: [ɐbˈʂarpənɨj]

Note on обшарпанный: Stress on the second syllable. The "ш" sound is a retroflex fricative, distinct from English "sh".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Dirty or Soiled (Appearance)

Translation(s) & Context:

• грязный - Used for something visibly dirty or stained, often in casual contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Его рубашка была грязная после работы в саду.

  His shirt was dingy after working in the garden.

• Стены в этой комнате такие грязные, что их нужно покрасить.

  The walls in this room are so dingy that they need to be painted.

• Не трогай эту грязную тряпку!

  Don't touch that dingy rag!

2. Dull or Faded (Color/Light)

Translation(s) & Context:

• тусклый - Refers to something lacking brightness, often used for colors or light.

Usage Examples:

• Тусклый свет лампы едва освещал комнату.

  The dingy light of the lamp barely illuminated the room.

• Её платье было тусклого серого цвета.

  Her dress was a dingy gray color.

3. Shabby or Worn-Out (Places/Objects)

Translation(s) & Context:

• обшарпанный - Used for places or objects that look old, worn, or neglected, often with a negative connotation.

Usage Examples:

• Мы вошли в обшарпанную гостиницу с потёртым ковром.

  We entered a dingy hotel with a worn-out carpet.

• Этот обшарпанный стол давно пора заменить.

  This dingy table should have been replaced long ago.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

грязный (Adjective): Declines according to gender, number, and case, following standard Russian adjective patterns.

Case	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Plural
Nominative	грязный	грязная	грязное	грязные
Genitive	грязного	грязной	грязного	грязных

тусклый (Adjective): Follows similar declension patterns as "грязный".

обшарпанный (Adjective): Also declines like other adjectives, with a colloquial tone.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for грязный:

• запачканный (stained, soiled)
• нечистый (unclean)

Note: "запачканный" often implies temporary dirt, while "нечистый" can have a moral connotation.

Antonyms for грязный:

• чистый (clean)
• опрятный (neat)

Synonyms for тусклый:

• блёклый (faded)
• матовый (matte, dull)

Antonyms for тусклый:

• яркий (bright)
• светлый (light)

Related Phrases:

• грязный как свинья - Literally "dirty as a pig", meaning extremely dirty.
• тусклый взгляд - "Dingy gaze", often used to describe a lifeless or sad look in someone’s eyes.
• обшарпанные стены - "Dingy walls", referring to walls that are old and worn-out.

Usage Notes:

• "грязный" is the most versatile translation for "dingy" when referring to dirtiness, suitable for everyday speech.
• "тусклый" should be used when describing a lack of brightness or vibrancy, often for light or color, and is more neutral in tone.
• "обшарпанный" carries a stronger negative connotation and is typically used for physical spaces or objects that are neglected or dilapidated.
• Be mindful of context when choosing between these translations, as they are not interchangeable.

Common Errors:

Error 1: Using "тусклый" to describe a dirty object. Incorrect: "Эта рубашка тусклая" (This shirt is dingy, implying dullness in color rather than dirtiness). Correct: "Эта рубашка грязная".

Error 2: Overusing "обшарпанный" for people or abstract concepts. Incorrect: "У него обшарпанный характер" (He has a dingy personality). Correct: Use "угрюмый" (gloomy) or another appropriate adjective.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, describing something as "обшарпанный" often implies not just physical shabbiness but also a sense of neglect or lack of care, which can reflect poorly on the owner or caretaker of the place/object. This term is frequently used in literature or everyday speech to evoke a vivid image of decay or poverty.

Related Concepts:

• ветхий ( dilapidated)
• потёртый (worn-out)
• запущенный (neglected)