Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'doltish'

English Word: doltish

Key Russian Translations:

• глупый [ˈɡlupɨj] - [Informal, commonly used in everyday conversation]
• тупой [ˈtupoj] - [Informal, potentially offensive or emphatic; used in casual or slang contexts]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are encountered in standard Russian texts, conversations, and media, but not as ubiquitous as basic adjectives.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; learners at this level should grasp basic adjective usage, though nuances like connotation may require more practice. For "глупый", it's B1; for "тупой", it might edge toward B2 due to its potential offensiveness.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

глупый: [ˈɡlupɨj] (The stress is on the first syllable; the "ы" sound is a soft, back vowel common in Russian.)

тупой: [ˈtupoj] (Stress on the first syllable; note the soft "o" sound, which can be tricky for English speakers.)

Note on глупый: The "ы" vowel may sound similar to the "i" in "bit" but is more centralized; be cautious of regional variations in pronunciation.

Note on тупой: This word has a harder consonant sound in "т", which can emphasize its blunt connotation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Describing someone as foolish or lacking intelligence, often in a mild or humorous way.

Translation(s) & Context:

• глупый - Used in everyday situations to describe silly behavior without strong negativity; common in informal speech or writing.
• тупой - Applied in contexts where the foolishness is more frustrating or obvious, such as in arguments or critiques; avoid in formal settings due to its pejorative tone.

Usage Examples:

• Он такой глупый, что забыл ключи в машине. (He is so doltish that he left the keys in the car.)

  Translation: He is so doltish that he left the keys in the car. (This example shows "глупый" in a light-hearted, descriptive context.)

• Не будь тупой и подумай перед тем, как действовать. (Don't be doltish and think before you act.)

  Translation: Don't be doltish and think before you act. (Here, "тупой" is used in an advisory context, highlighting poor decision-making.)

• Её глупый поступок стоил нам целого дня. (Her doltish action cost us an entire day.)

  Translation: Her doltish action cost us an entire day. (Demonstrates "глупый" with a noun, emphasizing consequences in narrative speech.)

• Этот тупой план никогда не сработает. (This doltish plan will never work.)

  Translation: This doltish plan will never work. (Illustrates "тупой" modifying a noun in a critical context.)

• Почему ты всегда такой глупый в важных моментах? (Why are you always so doltish in important moments?)

  Translation: Why are you always so doltish in important moments? (Shows "глупый" in a questioning, interpersonal dialogue.)

Meaning 2: Referring to something as awkwardly simple or unintelligent in design or execution.

Translation(s) & Context:

• глупый - Often used metaphorically for objects or ideas that seem foolishly straightforward.
• тупой - Less common here, but can imply blunt or unrefined execution.

Usage Examples:

• Это глупый дизайн, который не учитывает пользовательские нужды. (This is a doltish design that doesn't consider user needs.)

  Translation: This is a doltish design that doesn't consider user needs. (Example in a professional context, using "глупый" for critique.)

• Тупой инструмент сломался после первого использования. (The doltish tool broke after the first use.)

  Translation: The doltish tool broke after the first use. (Shows "тупой" for poor quality in everyday objects.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "глупый" and "тупой" are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern for most cases, but they are not irregular. Here's a breakdown:

Note: These adjectives agree with the nouns they modify. For example, in a sentence like "глупый человек" (doltish person), it changes to "глупого человека" in the genitive case. They do not have irregular forms, making them straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • дурацкий [duˈratskij] - More playful or mocking; often used for silly ideas.
  • неразумный [nʲɪrɐˈzumnɨj] - Implies lack of reason; slightly more formal than "глупый".
• Antonyms:
  • умный [ˈumnɨj] - Intelligent or clever.
  • разумный [rɐˈzumnɨj] - Reasonable or sensible.

Related Phrases:

• Глупый вопрос - (A doltish question; refers to a silly or obvious inquiry.)
• Тупой как пробка - (Doltish as a cork; an idiomatic expression meaning extremely foolish or dense.)
• Не делай глупостей - (Don't do doltish things; a common warning against foolish actions.)

Usage Notes:

"Doltish" corresponds most closely to "глупый" in neutral contexts, but English users should note that Russian adjectives like this carry cultural nuances—e.g., "глупый" is often used affectionately among friends, while "тупой" can be rude. Choose based on formality: use "глупый" in everyday speech and "тупой" sparingly. Grammatically, always ensure agreement with the noun's gender, number, and case. For multiple translations, opt for "глупый" when emphasizing harmless foolishness and "тупой" for stronger criticism.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "глупый" in formal writing without considering its informal tone. Correct: Replace with "неразумный" for a more polished equivalent. Example of error: *Он глупый менеджер.* (Incorrect in professional contexts); Correct: Он неразумный менеджер.
• Mistake: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "глупый женщина" instead of "глупая женщина". Explanation: Russian requires gender agreement; always check the noun's form.
• Mistake: Confusing "тупой" with "тупик" (dead end), leading to misuse. Correct: Use "тупой" only for people or ideas, not literal paths.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "глупый" often appear in folklore and literature to humorously depict human flaws, as seen in stories by Pushkin or Chekhov. It reflects a cultural tolerance for eccentricity, where being "doltish" might be portrayed as endearing rather than solely negative, unlike in some Western contexts where intelligence is more emphasized.

Related Concepts:

• умный (intelligent)
• интеллект (intellect)
• дурак (fool)