Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'frump'

English Word: frump

Key Russian Translations:

• неряха [nʲɪˈraxə] - [Informal, often used for women in everyday, colloquial speech]
• старомодная дама [stərəmɐˈdonnəjə ˈdamə] - [Formal, literary or descriptive contexts]

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

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian noun declensions and informal/formal distinctions. For 'неряха', it's B1; for 'старомодная дама', it's B2 due to compound structures.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

неряха: [nʲɪˈraxə]

Note on неряха: The stress falls on the second syllable ('ra'). Be cautious with the palatalized 'н' sound, which is common in Russian but may be tricky for English speakers.

старомодная дама: [stərəmɐˈdonnəjə ˈdamə]

Note on старомодная дама: This is a phrase rather than a single word, so pronunciation varies; the stress is on 'don' in 'старомодная'. It's often spoken more fluidly in natural speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A dowdy, unattractive woman, often implying sloppiness or unfashionable appearance.

Translation(s) & Context:

• неряха - Used in informal, everyday contexts to describe someone who is sloppy or unkempt, often with a humorous or mildly derogatory tone.
• старомодная дама - Applied in more formal or narrative contexts, emphasizing outdated style rather than messiness.

Usage Examples:

• Моя соседка всегда выглядит как неряха, с растрепанными волосами и старой одеждой.

  My neighbor always looks like a frump, with messy hair and old clothes.

• В этом фильме главная героиня изображена как неряха, но на самом деле она очень добрая.

  In this film, the main character is portrayed as a frump, but she's actually very kind.

• Не будь такой неряхой; причешись перед выходом!

  Don't be such a frump; comb your hair before going out!

• Она одевается как старомодная дама, но это её стиль.

  She dresses like a frump, but that's her style.

• В деревне многие женщины становятся похожими на старомодных дам из прошлого века.

  In the village, many women end up looking like frumps from the last century.

Meaning 2: (Extended) A person who is stubbornly old-fashioned or out of touch.

Translation(s) & Context:

• старпёр - Informal, used for both genders to imply a grumpy, outdated individual (though 'frump' is more gender-specific).

Usage Examples:

• Его дед — настоящий старпёр, не желающий мириться с современными изменениями.

  His grandfather is a real frump, refusing to accept modern changes.

• Почему ты ведёшь себя как старпёр, цепляясь за старые привычки?

  Why are you acting like a frump, clinging to old habits?

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'неряха' (feminine noun, 1st declension):

For 'старомодная дама' (adjective + noun phrase): 'Старомодная' declines as a standard adjective, and 'дама' follows feminine noun patterns. It is not a fixed compound, so inflections vary by context. No irregular changes.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • неряха - Similar: слепая (slepaya, meaning blind to fashion)
  • старомодная дама - Similar: ретроградка (retragradka, implying backwardness)
• Antonyms:
  • красотка (krasotka, a beauty)
  • модница (modnitsa, a fashionable woman)

Related Phrases:

• Выглядеть неряхой - To look like a frump; used to describe unkempt appearance.
• Старомодная одежда - Old-fashioned clothing; often implies a frumpish style in context.
• Быть полной неряхой - To be a complete frump; emphasizes extreme sloppiness.

Usage Notes:

'Frump' doesn't have a direct one-to-one equivalent in Russian, so translations like 'неряха' are more informal and carry a connotation of messiness, while 'старомодная дама' is neutral and descriptive. Use 'неряха' in casual conversations or humor, but avoid it in formal writing as it can be pejorative. For gender-neutral contexts, consider 'старпёр'. Pay attention to Russian's grammatical gender: 'неряха' is feminine, so it changes based on the subject. When learning, focus on context to choose the right translation—'frump' often implies age, which 'старомодная дама' captures better.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'неряха' for men, e.g., saying "Он неряха" without adjustment. Correct: Use "неряха" only for females; for males, say "нерях" or "грязнуля". Explanation: Russian nouns have gender, so mismatched usage sounds unnatural.
• Error: Overusing in formal contexts, e.g., "В офисе она неряха." Correct: "В офисе она выглядит старомодно." Explanation: 'Неряха' is too casual for professional settings; opt for milder phrases to avoid offense.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like 'неряха' often reflect societal expectations around appearance, especially for women, stemming from historical influences like Soviet-era practicality over fashion. It can carry a light-hearted tone in modern usage but may evoke stereotypes from literature, such as in Chekhov's works, where characters' dowdiness symbolizes deeper social commentary.

Related Concepts:

• модница (fashionable woman)
• грязнуля (slob or messy person)
• ретроград (reactionary or old-fashioned person)