Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'dirt'

English Word: dirt

Key Russian Translations:

• грязь [ɡrʲazʲ] - [General, Neutral]
• грунт [ɡrunt] - [Specific, Often refers to soil or earth]
• пыль [pɨlʲ] - [Specific, Refers to dust]

Frequency: High (especially "грязь")

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for "грязь" and "пыль"; B1 for "грунт" due to specific usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

грязь: [ɡrʲazʲ]

Note on грязь: The soft 'r' sound (indicated by ʲ) might be challenging for English speakers; ensure the 'я' is pronounced as a soft vowel.

грунт: [ɡrunt]

пыль: [pɨlʲ]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Physical dirt or filth (on surfaces, clothes, etc.)

Translation(s) & Context:

• грязь - Used for general dirt, mud, or filth in everyday contexts.

Usage Examples:

• На ботинках много грязи после прогулки.

  There’s a lot of dirt on the boots after the walk.

• Она вытерла грязь с рук полотенцем.

  She wiped the dirt off her hands with a towel.

• Этот стол весь в грязи, нужно его почистить.

  This table is all dirty; it needs to be cleaned.

2. Soil or earth (as in gardening or construction)

Translation(s) & Context:

• грунт - Refers to soil or ground material, often in technical or agricultural contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Этот грунт идеально подходит для посадки цветов.

  This soil is perfect for planting flowers.

• Строители привезли новый грунт для выравнивания участка.

  The builders brought new soil to level the plot.

3. Dust (fine particles on surfaces)

Translation(s) & Context:

• пыль - Refers specifically to dust, often indoors or on objects.

Usage Examples:

• На полке скопилась пыль, пора убирать.

  Dust has accumulated on the shelf; it’s time to clean.

• После ремонта везде была пыль.

  After the renovation, there was dust everywhere.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

грязь (feminine noun):

Case	Singular
Nominative	грязь
Genitive	грязи
Dative	грязи
Accusative	грязь
Instrumental	грязью
Prepositional	грязи

Note: "грязь" is typically used in the singular form as it often refers to an uncountable concept.

грунт (masculine noun): Follows regular masculine declension patterns (e.g., Nominative: грунт, Genitive: грунта).

пыль (feminine noun): Follows regular feminine declension patterns (e.g., Nominative: пыль, Genitive: пыли).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "грязь":

• нечистота (less common, formal)
• слякоть (specifically for wet, muddy dirt)

Note: "слякоть" implies wet or slushy conditions, unlike the general "грязь".

Antonyms for "грязь":

• чистота (cleanliness)

Related Phrases:

• вытирать грязь - To wipe off dirt.
• по уши в грязи - Literally "up to the ears in dirt," meaning deeply involved in trouble or mess.
• стереть пыль - To dust off (wipe away dust).
• плодородный грунт - Fertile soil.

Usage Notes:

• "грязь" is the most versatile and common translation for "dirt," suitable for most everyday contexts involving filth or mud.
• "грунт" should only be used when referring to soil or earth in a technical or agricultural sense, not for general dirtiness.
• "пыль" is specific to dust and should not be confused with mud or soil. It often appears in indoor or fine-particle contexts.
• Be mindful of the grammatical gender and declension when using these nouns in sentences, as errors in case usage are common among learners.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "грунт" to describe dirt on clothes or hands. Wrong: На рубашке много грунта. Correct: На рубашке много грязи (There’s a lot of dirt on the shirt).
• Error: Confusing "пыль" with "грязь" for mud. Wrong: На улице пыль после дождя. Correct: На улице грязь после дождя (There’s mud on the street after the rain).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, cleanliness is highly valued, and terms like "грязь" may carry a stronger negative connotation than "dirt" in English, often implying negligence or lack of care. The phrase "по уши в грязи" is a common idiom to describe being in a messy or problematic situation.

Related Concepts:

• чистота (cleanliness)
• уборка (cleaning)
• земля (earth, ground)