Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Dirty'

English Word: dirty

Key Russian Translations:

• грязный [ˈɡrʲaznɨj] - [General, Informal/Formal]
• загрязнённый [zəɡrʲɪzˈnʲɵnɨj] - [Formal, Often used for environmental contexts]
• нечистый [nʲɪˈtɕistɨj] - [Formal, Can imply moral impurity]

Frequency: High (especially "грязный")

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for "грязный"); B2 (Intermediate for "загрязнённый" and "нечистый")

Pronunciation (Russian):

грязный: [ˈɡrʲaznɨj]

Note on грязный: Stress falls on the first syllable; the 'r' is rolled, and 'ы' sounds like a short, hard 'i'.

загрязнённый: [zəɡrʲɪzˈnʲɵnɨj]

Note on загрязнённый: Stress on the third syllable; the 'ё' is pronounced as 'yo'.

нечистый: [nʲɪˈtɕistɨj]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Physically Unclean (Literal)

Translation(s) & Context:

• грязный - Used for physical dirt on objects, clothes, or people (most common).
• загрязнённый - Often used for polluted environments, like air or water.

Usage Examples:

• Его руки были грязные после работы в саду.

  His hands were dirty after working in the garden.

• Этот стол такой грязный, что его нужно протереть.

  This table is so dirty that it needs to be wiped.

• Воздух в городе сильно загрязнённый.

  The air in the city is heavily polluted.

2. Morally Impure or Unethical (Figurative)

Translation(s) & Context:

• нечистый - Used in contexts of moral or spiritual impurity.
• грязный - Can be used metaphorically for dishonest actions or thoughts.

Usage Examples:

• У него нечистая совесть после этого поступка.

  He has a guilty (dirty) conscience after that act.

• Это грязная сделка, я не хочу в ней участвовать.

  This is a dirty deal; I don’t want to be part of it.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

грязный (Adjective): Declines according to gender, number, and case. Below is the basic declension for singular forms:

загрязнённый (Adjective, Past Passive Participle): Follows similar adjective declension rules as "грязный". Often used in formal or scientific contexts.

нечистый (Adjective): Declines like "грязный". Also used as "нечистая сила" (evil force) in folklore contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "грязный":

• засаленный (greasy, soiled)
• замызганный (stained, messy - colloquial)

Note: "засаленный" often implies greasy dirt, while "замызганный" is more colloquial and implies messiness.

Antonyms for "грязный":

• чистый (clean)
• опрятный (tidy)

Related Phrases:

• грязные руки - "dirty hands" (literal or figurative, as in guilt)
• грязная работа - "dirty work" (unpleasant or unethical tasks)
• нечистая сила - "evil force" (folklore, supernatural context for "нечистый")

Usage Notes:

• "грязный" is the most versatile and commonly used translation for "dirty", applicable in both literal and figurative senses.
• "загрязнённый" is more specific to pollution or contamination and is often seen in formal or technical contexts.
• "нечистый" carries a stronger moral or spiritual connotation and is less frequent in everyday speech for physical dirt.
• Be mindful of the adjective agreement in Russian; the form changes based on the noun it modifies (gender, number, case).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "нечистый" for physical dirt. Incorrect: "Моя рубашка нечистая." Correct: "Моя рубашка грязная." Explanation: "нечистый" implies moral impurity, not physical dirt.
• Error: Ignoring adjective agreement. Incorrect: "грязный комната." Correct: "грязная комната." Explanation: "комната" (room) is feminine, so the adjective must be "грязная".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, cleanliness is highly valued, especially in personal and household contexts. Calling something or someone "грязный" can be seen as a strong criticism. Additionally, the concept of "нечистый" ties into Russian folklore, often referring to supernatural or evil entities like "нечистая сила" (evil forces).

Related Concepts:

• чистота (cleanliness)
• загрязнение (pollution)
• нечисть (evil spirits, folklore)