Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'foolish'

English Word: foolish

Key Russian Translations:

• глупый /ɡluˈpɨj/ - [Informal, commonly used in everyday conversation]
• дурной /ˈdur.nəj/ - [Formal or literary contexts, implying moral foolishness]

Frequency: High (This word and its variants are frequently encountered in Russian media, literature, and daily speech.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of basic adjective inflections, but the vocabulary itself is straightforward for learners at this level. For 'дурной', it may lean towards B2 due to its more nuanced, formal usage.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

глупый: /ɡluˈpɨj/

дурной: /ˈdur.nəj/

Note on глупый: The stress is on the first syllable (/ɡlu/), and the 'ы' sound can be tricky for English speakers, as it's a back unrounded vowel—similar to the 'i' in "bit" but more centralized. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Note on дурной: The initial 'д' is soft and dental, and the stress falls on the first syllable. Avoid over-emphasizing the 'р' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Lacking good sense, judgment, or wisdom (e.g., making unwise decisions).

Translation(s) & Context:

• глупый - Used in informal settings to describe someone or something as silly or unwise, often without strong negative connotations.
• дурной - Applied in more formal or literary contexts, emphasizing moral or ethical foolishness, such as in proverbs or serious discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Он совершил глупый поступок, не проверив факты. (He committed a foolish act by not checking the facts.)

  He committed a foolish act by not checking the facts.

• Её глупый комментарий рассердил всех на встрече. (Her foolish comment angered everyone at the meeting.)

  Her foolish comment angered everyone at the meeting.

• Это был дурной совет, который привёл к потере денег. (This was a foolish (morally bad) advice that led to losing money.)

  This was a foolish (morally bad) advice that led to losing money.

• В детстве я делал глупые вещи, чтобы привлечь внимание. (As a child, I did foolish things to get attention.)

  As a child, I did foolish things to get attention.

• Дурной поступок друга разочаровал всю семью. (The foolish (ethically wrong) act of my friend disappointed the whole family.)

  The foolish (ethically wrong) act of my friend disappointed the whole family.

Meaning 2: Impractical or absurd in a light-hearted way (e.g., harmless silliness).

Translation(s) & Context:

• глупый - Often used playfully among friends, without implying serious criticism.

Usage Examples:

• Его глупая шутка заставила всех засмеяться. (His foolish joke made everyone laugh.)

  His foolish joke made everyone laugh.

• Мы смотрели глупый фильм, чтобы расслабиться после работы. (We watched a foolish movie to relax after work.)

  We watched a foolish movie to relax after work.

• Глупые игры в парке – это весело для детей. (Foolish games in the park are fun for children.)

  Foolish games in the park are fun for children.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'глупый' and 'дурной' are adjectives, which inflect for gender, number, and case in Russian. Adjectives agree with the nouns they modify. 'Глупый' follows regular patterns, while 'дурной' is also regular but can have slight nuances in formal usage.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • дурацкий (more playful, often for absurd situations)
  • несмышлёный (implying naivety or lack of experience)
• Antonyms:
  • умный (intelligent, wise)
  • разумный (sensible, reasonable)

Related Phrases:

• глупый вопрос (a foolish question) - Used to dismiss trivial or obvious inquiries in conversation.
• дурной пример (a bad/foolish example) - Refers to negative role models or cautionary tales.
• глупая затея (a foolish undertaking) - Describes an impractical or silly plan.

Usage Notes:

'Глупый' directly corresponds to 'foolish' in most everyday contexts and is versatile, but it's more neutral and informal than 'foolish' in English. Use 'дурной' for situations with moral undertones, similar to 'foolish' in a judgmental sense. Be mindful of adjective agreement with nouns in gender, number, and case. In formal writing, opt for 'дурной' to convey deeper criticism, while 'глупый' suits casual dialogue. When choosing between translations, consider the context: informal vs. formal.

Common Errors:

• Error: Failing to inflect the adjective correctly, e.g., saying "глупый женщина" instead of "глупая женщина" (foolish woman). Correct: Always match gender, as in "глупая женщина". This happens because English adjectives don't inflect.

• Error: Using 'глупый' in formal contexts where 'дурной' is more appropriate, e.g., "Это глупый решение" in a legal document. Correct: "Это дурное решение". Explanation: 'Глупый' sounds too casual; 'дурной' adds a layer of moral judgment.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'глупый' are often used in humor or self-deprecation, reflecting a cultural tendency to downplay intelligence in social interactions to avoid appearing arrogant. For instance, in Russian folklore and literature, foolish characters (e.g., in folktales) teach lessons about wisdom through their mistakes, emphasizing communal values over individual smarts.

Related Concepts:

• умный (intelligent)
• интеллект (intellect)
• разум (reason)