Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'dowdy'

English Word: dowdy

Key Russian Translations:

• неряшливый /nʲɪˈrʲaʂlʲɪvɨj/ - [Informal, Adjective]
• невзрачный /nʲɪvˈzraʧnɨj/ - [Formal, Adjective]

Frequency: Low (This word and its translations are not commonly used in everyday Russian conversation, appearing more in literary or descriptive contexts.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, according to CEFR; requires familiarity with Russian adjectives and their inflections, but not overly complex for learners with basic grammar knowledge.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

неряшливый: /nʲɪˈrʲaʂlʲɪvɨj/

Note on неряшливый: The 'ш' sound is a soft, palatalized 'sh' as in 'sheep', and the word has a stressed syllable on the second vowel. Pay attention to the palatalization for accurate pronunciation.

невзрачный: /nʲɪvˈzraʧnɨj/

Note on невзрачный: The 'ч' sound is like 'ch' in 'church', and the word ends with a soft 'н'. This can vary slightly in regional accents, such as in Moscow vs. St. Petersburg dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Unfashionable or shabby in appearance (Referring to clothing, style, or personal presentation that is outdated or unkempt.)

Translation(s) & Context:

• неряшливый - Used in informal contexts to describe someone or something that looks carelessly put together, often implying a lack of effort in appearance.
• невзрачный - Applied in more formal or neutral contexts, emphasizing plainness or lack of attractiveness without strong negative connotation.

Usage Examples:

• Её платье было неряшливым и выцветшим, как будто она не заботилась о моде.

  Her dress was dowdy and faded, as if she didn't care about fashion.

• В старом квартале многие дома выглядят невзрачными, но они полны истории.

  In the old neighborhood, many houses look dowdy, but they are full of history.

• Он всегда носит неряшливые костюмы, что не соответствует его положению.

  He always wears dowdy suits, which doesn't match his position.

• Эта мебель невзрачная, но практичная для повседневного использования.

  This furniture is dowdy, but practical for everyday use.

• Девушка в неряшливом свитере сидела в углу, избегая внимания.

  The girl in the dowdy sweater sat in the corner, avoiding attention.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "неряшливый" and "невзрачный" are Russian adjectives, which typically inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow regular patterns for most cases. Here is a breakdown:

These adjectives follow the standard first-declension pattern for hard-stem adjectives. They do not have irregular forms, making them relatively straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • непривлекательный (neprivlekatel'nyy) - More neutral, meaning 'unattractive', often used interchangeably in casual descriptions.
  • неопрятный (neopryatnyy) - Emphasizes messiness, with a slight overlap in informal contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • стильный (st'il'nyy) - Meaning 'stylish' or 'fashionable'.
  • элегантный (elegantnyy) - Meaning 'elegant', used for more refined opposites.

Related Phrases:

• Неряшливый вид (Neryshlivyy vid) - A dowdy appearance; used to describe someone's overall unkempt look in everyday conversations.
• Невзрачный наряд (Nevzraichnyy naryad) - Dowdy outfit; often in contexts discussing fashion or first impressions.
• Быть в неряшливом состоянии (Byt' v neryshlivom sostoyanii) - To be in a dowdy state; implies neglect, commonly in personal or home maintenance discussions.

Usage Notes:

"Dowdy" translates to Russian adjectives like "неряшливый" for informal, everyday scenarios and "невзрачный" for more neutral or formal ones. Choose "неряшливый" when emphasizing carelessness, as it carries a slightly judgmental tone, while "невзрачный" is better for objective descriptions. Be mindful of Russian adjective agreement with nouns in gender, number, and case. For example, in sentences involving fashion, these words often appear in nominative or accusative cases. English speakers might overgeneralize from similar English adjectives, but remember that Russian requires full inflection.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "неряшливый" in formal writing without proper inflection, e.g., saying "неряшливый женщина" instead of "неряшливая женщина". Correction: Always match the adjective to the noun's gender and case; correct example: "неряшливая женщина". This mistake arises from not applying Russian grammar rules consistently.

• Error: Confusing "неряшливый" with "непривлекательный" and using them interchangeably, leading to a mismatch in tone. Correction: "Неряшливый" implies sloppiness, while "непривлекательный" is broader; for a truly dowdy context, stick to "неряшливый". Example of error: "Он непривлекательный" when meaning "dowdy" specifically; better: "Он неряшливый".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "неряшливый" can carry subtle social judgments, especially in urban settings where appearance is tied to social status. For instance, in literature by authors like Chekhov, dowdy characters often symbolize deeper themes of neglect or provincial life, reflecting historical attitudes toward modernity and fashion in Russia.

Related Concepts:

• модный (modnyy) - Relating to fashion and style.
• небрежный (nebrezhnyy) - Connected to carelessness in appearance or behavior.
• стиляга (stilyaga) - A historical term for fashionable youth in Soviet times, contrasting with dowdy aesthetics.