Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'dumb'

English Word: dumb

Key Russian Translations:

• глупый /ɡluˈpɨj/ - [Informal, commonly used for describing someone as foolish or silly]
• немой /nʲɪˈmoj/ - [Formal, specifically for inability to speak or muteness]

Frequency: Medium (e.g., 'глупый' is frequently used in everyday Russian conversation, while 'немой' is less common and context-specific)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate for 'глупый' as it involves basic adjective declensions; A2 for 'немой' as it's a straightforward adjective with minimal changes)

Pronunciation (Russian):

глупый: /ɡluˈpɨj/

Note on глупый: The stress falls on the last syllable ('-ый'). Be mindful of the soft 'л' sound, which is common in Russian adjectives.

немой: /nʲɪˈmoj/

Note on немой: The initial 'н' is palatalized (soft), which can be challenging for English speakers; pronounce it with a slight 'y' glide.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Stupid, foolish, or lacking intelligence

Translation(s) & Context:

• глупый - Used in informal settings to describe unwise behavior or decisions, such as in casual conversations or light-hearted criticism.

Usage Examples:

• Он такой глупый, что забыл ключи в машине.

  He is so dumb that he left the keys in the car.

• Не делай глупый поступок, подумай сначала.

  Don't do a dumb thing; think first.

• Её глупые шутки всегда вызывают смех.

  Her dumb jokes always make people laugh.

• Это глупый план, он никогда не сработает.

  This is a dumb plan; it will never work.

Meaning 2: Unable to speak or mute

Translation(s) & Context:

• немой - Used in formal or medical contexts to describe a person who cannot speak, often due to physical conditions.

Usage Examples:

• В фильме главный герой — немой детектив.

  In the movie, the main character is a dumb detective (meaning mute).

• Его травма сделала его немым на всю жизнь.

  His injury made him dumb (mute) for life.

• Немой свидетель не мог описать, что видел.

  The dumb witness (mute) couldn't describe what he saw.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'глупый' and 'немой' are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern for most cases, but 'глупый' is a regular adjective with full declension, while 'немой' is also regular but less commonly inflected in everyday use.

Note: These adjectives do not change in predicative position (e.g., after 'to be'), but they must agree with the noun in other positions. 'Немой' is invariant in some fixed phrases.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • дурацкий (dull or foolish, often with a humorous connotation; differs from 'глупый' by implying absurdity)
  • тупой (literally 'blunt,' used informally for 'dumb' in the sense of slow-witted)
• Antonyms:
  • умный (intelligent)
  • разумный (sensible or reasonable)

Related Phrases:

• глупый вопрос (a dumb question) - A phrase used to dismiss a silly inquiry, often in educational or conversational contexts.
• немой укор (mute reproach) - Refers to silent criticism or disapproval, highlighting emotional subtlety in Russian culture.
• сделать что-то глупое (to do something dumb) - Common in narratives to describe foolish actions.

Usage Notes:

'Dumb' in English can be offensive or casual, and its Russian equivalents reflect this nuance. Use 'глупый' for everyday, informal situations to avoid sounding harsh, as it's less formal than English 'dumb.' For 'немой,' reserve it for literal muteness to prevent misunderstandings, as it doesn't carry the 'foolish' connotation. When choosing between translations, consider the context: 'глупый' works for intellectual shortcomings, while 'немой' is strictly for speech inability. Grammatically, always ensure adjectives agree with the noun in gender, number, and case.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'глупый' interchangeably with 'дурацкий' without considering tone. Error example: Saying "Он дурацкий" when meaning "He is dumb" (incorrect as 'дурацкий' implies something absurdly foolish). Correct: "Он глупый." Explanation: 'Дурацкий' has a stronger, more playful or derogatory edge, so choose based on context to avoid unintended offense.
• Mistake: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "Она глупый" instead of "Она глупая." Error example: "Она глупый человек." Correct: "Она глупая человек." Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender; this is a common slip for English learners due to English's lack of agreement.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'глупый' are often used in humor or self-deprecation, reflecting a value on wit and intelligence in social interactions. 'Немой' can evoke historical contexts, such as in literature (e.g., in Dostoevsky's works), where silence symbolizes deeper emotional or philosophical states, emphasizing Russia's literary tradition of introspection.

Related Concepts:

• безмозглый (brainless)
• тупоголовый (thick-headed)
• молчаливый (silent or taciturn)