Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'fat'

English Word: fat

Key Russian Translations:

• толстый [ˈtolstɨj] - [Informal, Adjective; commonly used for people or objects]
• жирный [ˈʐɨrnɨj] - [Informal; often for food or substances, implying greasiness or high fat content]

Frequency: Medium (The word is encountered in everyday conversations, literature, and media, but not as basic as core vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjective declensions and contextual nuances. For 'жирный', it may be A2 for food-related contexts.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

толстый: [ˈtolstɨj]

жирный: [ˈʐɨrnɨj]

Note on толстый: The stress is on the first syllable; be careful with the 'т' sound, which is unaspirated in Russian. Variations in informal speech may soften the vowels.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Overweight or plump (Referring to physical appearance)

Translation(s) & Context:

• толстый - Used in casual descriptions of people or animals, but can be offensive; avoid in formal settings.
• жирный - Less common for people; better for objects like food.

Usage Examples:

• Он стал толстым после того, как перестал заниматься спортом.

  He became fat after he stopped exercising.

• Эта кошка такая толстая, что еле влезает в корзину.

  This cat is so fat that it barely fits into the basket.

• Не ешьте эту жирную еду, если вы на диете.

  Don't eat this fatty food if you're on a diet.

• Мой дядя всегда был толстым, но он счастливый человек.

  My uncle has always been fat, but he's a happy person.

Meaning 2: Containing a lot of fat (Referring to food or substances)

Translation(s) & Context:

• жирный - Ideal for culinary contexts; implies richness in fat content.
• толстый - Rarely used here; more for physical thickness.

Usage Examples:

• Это масло слишком жирное для салата.

  This oil is too fatty for the salad.

• Жирное мясо может быть вредным для здоровья.

  Fatty meat can be harmful to health.

• В ресторане подают жирные блюда, которые очень вкусные.

  The restaurant serves fatty dishes that are very tasty.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'толстый' and 'жирный' are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Adjectives agree with the nouns they modify.

For 'толстый' (irregular in some forms due to historical reasons):

For 'жирный' (more regular):

These adjectives do not change for verbs but must agree with nouns in sentences.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • пухлый (pukhlyy) - Plump, softer connotation, often for cheeks or objects.
  • полный (polnyy) - Full-figured, less negative than 'толстый'.
• Antonyms:
  • худой (khudoy) - Thin, skinny; directly opposite for physical appearance.
  • стройный (stroynyy) - Slender, graceful; used for positive slimness.

Related Phrases:

• Толстый как слон - Meaning: As fat as an elephant; used idiomatically to exaggerate size.
• Жирная еда - Meaning: Fatty food; common in dietary discussions.
• Толстый слой - Meaning: Thick layer; for non-physical contexts like paint or snow.

Usage Notes:

'Толстый' directly corresponds to 'fat' in English for describing weight but carries a potentially offensive tone in Russian culture, so use it cautiously. 'Жирный' is better for food-related contexts and aligns with 'fatty'. In formal writing, opt for neutral alternatives like 'полный'. Grammar-wise, always decline adjectives to match the noun's gender, number, and case. When choosing between translations, select based on context: personal appearance vs. substances.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'толстый' without declension, e.g., saying "Я видел толстый мужчина" instead of "Я видел толстого мужчину".

  Correct: The adjective must agree: "Я видел толстого мужчину". Explanation: Russian adjectives change endings based on case; here, genitive case requires 'толстого'.

• Error: Confusing 'жирный' with 'толстый' in food contexts, e.g., saying "Это толстый масло" for oil.

  Correct: Use "Это жирное масло". Explanation: 'Жирный' is specific to fat content, while 'толстый' implies thickness, not greasiness.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'толстый' can be sensitive due to historical and societal attitudes toward body image. During the Soviet era, fuller figures were sometimes idealized as signs of health and prosperity, contrasting with modern Western influences promoting slimness. Use these terms thoughtfully to avoid offense.

Related Concepts:

• похудеть (pohudet) - To lose weight
• диета (dieta) - Diet
• спорт (sport) - Sports or exercise