Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'gaudy'

English Word: gaudy

Key Russian Translations:

• кричащий [kriˈtʃaʂɨj] - [Informal, often used for visually overwhelming or tastelessly bright items]
• вульгарный [vʊlʲˈɡarnɨj] - [Formal, implies crudeness or excessive ostentation]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in descriptive language about fashion, art, or design, but not in everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjectives and their nuances, with some cultural context for accurate usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

кричащий: [kriˈtʃaʂɨj]

Note on кричащий: The stress falls on the second syllable; be mindful of the soft 'ш' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers.

вульгарный: [vʊlʲˈɡarnɨj]

Note on вульгарный: Pronounce the 'лʲ' as a soft 'l', and the word has a rolling 'r' that might vary in speed based on regional dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Excessively ornamented, bright, or showy in a tasteless way.

Translation(s) & Context:

• кричащий - Used in informal contexts for describing clothing, decorations, or colors that are overly flashy and lack elegance.
• вульгарный - Applied in more formal or critical contexts, such as art criticism or social commentary, to denote something crudely ostentatious.

Usage Examples:

• Её платье было слишком кричащим для такого элегантного вечера.

  Her dress was too gaudy for such an elegant evening.

• Этот дизайн интерьера кажется вульгарным из-за переизбытка ярких цветов.

  This interior design seems gaudy due to the excess of bright colors.

• Кричащие украшения на выставке привлекали внимание, но выглядели неуместно.

  The gaudy jewelry at the exhibition drew attention but looked out of place.

• Вульгарный стиль этой машины подчёркивает её некачественную сборку.

  The gaudy style of this car highlights its poor craftsmanship.

• Художник использовал кричащие тона, чтобы передать хаос городской жизни.

  The artist used gaudy tones to convey the chaos of urban life.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "кричащий" and "вульгарный" are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern for short and long forms, with variations for agreement with nouns.

Note: These adjectives are regular and do not have irregular forms, making them straightforward for learners once basic declension is understood.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: яркий (yarkiy) - Brighter, more vivid, but less negative; пёстрый (pyostryy) - Colorful and variegated, often neutral.
• Antonyms: скромный (skromnyy) - Modest or understated; элегантный (elegantnyy) - Elegant and refined.

Related Phrases:

• Кричащие цвета - Gaudy colors; often used in fashion or design to describe overly vibrant palettes.
• Вульгарный вкус - Gaudy taste; refers to poor aesthetic judgment in cultural contexts.
• Кричащий дизайн - Gaudy design; commonly applied to architecture or products that are excessively flashy.

Usage Notes:

"Gaudy" translates to Russian words like "кричащий" or "вульгарный," which carry a negative connotation similar to English, implying tasteless excess. Choose "кричащий" for informal, visual descriptions (e.g., in everyday conversations about fashion), and "вульгарный" for more formal or critical contexts (e.g., in literature or critiques). Be aware of gender and case agreement when using these adjectives with nouns. In Russian, these words often appear in descriptive phrases, and overuse can sound judgmental, much like in English.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "gaudy" with simply "bright" and using "светлый" (bright/light) instead of "кричащий." Correct: Use "кричащий" for the negative, excessive connotation. Example of error: "Светлый дизайн" (meaning light design), which doesn't convey gaudiness. Explanation: "Светлый" refers to literal brightness or lightness, not tasteless ostentation.

• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "кричащий платье" instead of "кричащее платье" for neuter nouns. Correct: Always match gender, number, and case. Explanation: Russian requires full agreement, unlike English, so learners must check the noun's properties first.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "кричащий" or "вульгарный" often critique Soviet-era aesthetics or modern consumerism, where excessive decoration might symbolize poor taste or materialism. For instance, in literature by authors like Gogol, gaudy elements highlight social satire, reflecting historical views on class and ostentation.

Related Concepts:

• модный (fashionable)
• экстравагантный (extravagant)
• цветовой (color-related)