Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'foppish'

English Word: foppish

Key Russian Translations:

• Щегольской [ʂʲɪˈɡolʲskʲɪj] - [Formal, used in literary or descriptive contexts to denote excessive concern with appearance]

Frequency: Low (This word and its translations are not commonly used in everyday Russian conversation; more prevalent in literature or formal descriptions.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires familiarity with Russian adjectives and nuanced vocabulary, as per CEFR standards.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Щегольской: [ʂʲɪˈɡolʲskʲɪj]

Note on Щегольской: The initial "Щ" sound is a voiceless palatalized fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers; it sounds similar to "sh" in "she" but with more palatal emphasis. Be aware of stress on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Excessively concerned with one's appearance, often in a dandyish or showy manner.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Щегольской - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe someone who is overly preoccupied with fashion and elegance, similar to a dandy in English culture.

Usage Examples:

• Его щегольской вид всегда привлекал внимание на вечеринках. (His foppish appearance always drew attention at parties.)

  Translation: His foppish appearance always drew attention at parties.

• В романе герой изображён как щегольской джентльмен, больше заботящийся о нарядах, чем о делах. (In the novel, the hero is depicted as a foppish gentleman, more concerned with outfits than with business.)

  Translation: In the novel, the hero is depicted as a foppish gentleman, more concerned with outfits than with business. This example shows the adjective in a narrative context.

• Её щегольской стиль одежды был неуместен в простой сельской обстановке. (Her foppish style of clothing was out of place in the simple rural setting.)

  Translation: Her foppish style of clothing was out of place in the simple rural setting. Here, it highlights contrast in social settings.

• Щегольской манерой он пытался скрыть свою неуверенность. (With his foppish manner, he tried to hide his insecurity.)

  Translation: With his foppish manner, he tried to hide his insecurity. This demonstrates the word in describing behavior.

• В модных журналах часто критикуют щегольской образ жизни как поверхностный. (Fashion magazines often criticize a foppish lifestyle as superficial.)

  Translation: Fashion magazines often criticize a foppish lifestyle as superficial. This usage extends to broader concepts like lifestyle.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Щегольской" is an adjective in Russian, which follows the standard adjectival declension patterns. Russian adjectives agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify. It is a regular adjective, so it inflects predictably based on these categories. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: This is a regular hard-stem adjective, so it does not have irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Прилизанный (prilizannyy) - More about being overly neat or slick, often with a negative connotation of artificiality.
  • Напыщенный (napyishchennyy) - Implies pompous or inflated behavior, suitable in formal critiques.
• Antonyms:
  • Скромный (skromnyy) - Meaning modest or unassuming.
  • Простой (prostoy) - Meaning simple or straightforward, contrasting with ostentation.

Related Phrases:

• Щегольской вид (shchegols'koy vid) - Foppish appearance; used to describe someone's overly stylish look in social settings.
• Щегольской стиль жизни (shchegols'koy stil' zhizni) - Foppish lifestyle; refers to a life focused on superficial elegance, often with a critical tone.
• Быть щегольским (byt' shchegols'kim) - To be foppish; a phrase emphasizing behavior in everyday or literary contexts.

Usage Notes:

"Щегольской" directly corresponds to "foppish" in English by conveying a sense of exaggerated elegance or dandyism, but it is more commonly found in written Russian, such as in novels or essays, rather than spoken language. Use it in formal contexts to avoid sounding archaic in casual conversation. When choosing between synonyms like "прилизанный," opt for "щегольской" if the emphasis is on historical or cultural dandyism. Grammatically, ensure it agrees with the noun it modifies in gender, number, and case, as per standard Russian adjective rules.

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse "щегольской" with "модный" (fashionable), leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying "Он модный" when meaning "He is foppish" might imply something positive, whereas "щегольской" has a negative connotation. Correct usage: Use "щегольской" for pejorative descriptions, e.g., "Он щегольской" instead of "Он модный" to convey excess.

• Another error is failing to decline the adjective properly, such as using "щегольской" with a feminine noun without changing it to "щегольская." Incorrect: "Её щегольской платье" (wrong form). Correct: "Её щегольское платье" – always check agreement for grammatical accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of "щегольской" evokes images of 19th-century dandies like those in the works of Pushkin or Lermontov, where it symbolizes superficiality amidst deeper societal issues. It reflects a critique of Western-influenced fashion trends during the Imperial era, highlighting how outward appearances can mask inner emptiness in Russian literature.

Related Concepts:

• Модник (modnik) - A person overly interested in fashion.
• Денди (dendi) - Directly borrowed from English, referring to a dandy.
• Прилизанность (prilizannost') - The state of being overly neat or foppish.