Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'gauche'

English Word: gauche

Key Russian Translations:

• неуклюжий [nʲɪˈʊkɫʲɪʐɨj] - [Informal, Adjective]
• неловкий [nʲɪˈɫofkʲɪj] - [Formal, Adjective, Used in social contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday conversations about social behavior, but not as frequent as basic adjectives).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjective declensions and nuanced social vocabulary).

Pronunciation (Russian):

неуклюжий: [nʲɪˈʊkɫʲɪʐɨj] (Stress on the third syllable; the 'у' is pronounced as a short 'u' sound.)

неловкий: [nʲɪˈɫofkʲɪj] (Stress on the second syllable; pay attention to the soft 'л' sound.)

Note on неуклюжий: This word has a rolling 'р' in some regional accents, but standard pronunciation avoids it. Beginners may struggle with the consonant cluster.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: Lacking social grace or tact, often implying awkwardness in behavior or manners.

Translation(s) & Context:

• неуклюжий - Used in informal settings to describe someone who is physically or socially clumsy, e.g., in everyday interactions.
• неловкий - Applied in more formal contexts, such as professional or social etiquette discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Он был неуклюжий на вечеринке, постоянно задевал людей. (He was gauche at the party, constantly bumping into people.)

  English Translation: He was awkward at the party, constantly bumping into people.

• Её неловкий комментарий обидел всех за столом. (Her gauche comment offended everyone at the table.)

  English Translation: Her awkward comment offended everyone at the table.

• В новой компании он чувствовал себя неуклюжим и не в своей тарелке. (In the new group, he felt gauche and out of place.)

  English Translation: In the new group, he felt awkward and out of place.

• Неловкий жест во время переговоров испортил всю сделку. (The gauche gesture during negotiations ruined the entire deal.)

  English Translation: The awkward gesture during negotiations ruined the entire deal.

• Она старалась не быть неуклюжей, но её манеры всё равно вызывали улыбки. (She tried not to be gauche, but her manners still drew smiles.)

  English Translation: She tried not to be awkward, but her manners still drew smiles.

Meaning: Clumsy in a physical sense, though less common for 'gauche' in English.

Translation(s) & Context:

• неуклюжий - In physical contexts, like coordination issues.

Usage Examples:

• Ребёнок был неуклюжим, часто ронял игрушки. (The child was gauche, often dropping toys.)

  English Translation: The child was clumsy, often dropping toys.

• Его неуклюжие движения в танце заставили всех засмеяться. (His gauche movements in the dance made everyone laugh.)

  English Translation: His awkward movements in the dance made everyone laugh.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "неуклюжий" and "неловкий" are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect according to gender, number, and case. They follow the standard first-declension adjective pattern with some irregularities in certain forms.

Note: These adjectives do not change for feminine or neuter forms in a unique way; they follow general rules. For example, feminine singular nominative: неуклюжая, неловкая.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • неудобный (slightly uncomfortable, with a focus on inconvenience)
  • стеснительный (shy, particularly in social settings)
• Antonyms:
  • элегантный (elegant)
  • грациозный (graceful)

Related Phrases:

• неуклюжий жест (gauche gesture) - A clumsy or awkward action in social interactions.
• неловкий момент (awkward moment) - Refers to an embarrassing or uncomfortable situation.
• быть неуклюжим в общении (to be gauche in communication) - Describes poor social skills in conversations.

Usage Notes:

"Gauche" in English often carries a connotation of social awkwardness, which aligns closely with "неуклюжий" or "неловкий" in Russian. However, Russian speakers might prefer "неловкий" in formal contexts like business meetings, while "неуклюжий" is more casual. Be mindful of adjective agreement with nouns in gender, number, and case. For example, use "неуклюжая" for feminine subjects. When choosing between translations, opt for "неловкий" if the emphasis is on tactlessness rather than physical clumsiness.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "неуклюжий" without proper declension, e.g., saying "Я видел неуклюжий человек" instead of "Я видел неуклюжего человека".
  Correct: Ensure agreement, as in "Я видел неуклюжего человека". Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's case, so this error stems from not applying basic declension rules.
• Mistake: Confusing with "грубый" (rude), which implies rudeness rather than awkwardness.
  Correct: Use "неуклюжий" for social clumsiness, not aggression. Explanation: Learners often mix up nuances, leading to incorrect word choice in context.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, being "гauche" or socially awkward might be more openly discussed in informal settings, reflecting a value on directness and humor about personal flaws. However, in professional environments, such traits could be seen as unrefined, emphasizing the importance of "культура поведения" (culture of behavior) in social interactions.

Related Concepts:

• стеснительность (shyness)
• нерешительность (indecisiveness)
• эмоциональная нестабильность (emotional instability)