Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'glum'

English Word: glum

Key Russian Translations:

• грустный [ˈɡrustnɨj] - [Informal, Adjective]
• унылый [uˈnɨlɨj] - [Formal, Adjective]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday conversations and literature, but not as ubiquitous as basic emotions like "happy").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; learners at this level can understand and use these adjectives in context, though mastering inflections may require practice).

Pronunciation (Russian):

грустный: [ˈɡrustnɨj]

Note on грустный: The stress is on the first syllable; the 'г' is a voiced velar fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers who may pronounce it like 'g' in "go". Variations in casual speech might soften the ending vowel.

унылый: [uˈnɨlɨj]

Note on унылый: Stress falls on the second syllable; the 'ы' sound is a centralized vowel not found in English, often approximated as in "bit".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Sad, gloomy, or dejected in appearance or mood.

Translation(s) & Context:

• грустный - Used in informal settings to describe temporary sadness, e.g., in everyday conversations about emotions.
• унылый - Applied in more formal or literary contexts to convey a deeper, persistent gloominess.

Usage Examples:

• Он выглядел грустным после неудачи на экзамене.

  He looked glum after failing the exam. (This example shows the adjective in a simple descriptive context, highlighting emotional response.)

• Её грустные глаза выдавали скрытую тоску.

  Her glum eyes revealed hidden longing. (Demonstrates usage in describing physical appearance with emotional undertones.)

• Унылый осенний день заставил всех чувствовать меланхолию.

  The glum autumn day made everyone feel melancholy. (Illustrates the word in a seasonal or atmospheric context, emphasizing pervasiveness.)

• Дети стали грустными, когда узнали о отмене праздника.

  The children became glum when they learned about the holiday cancellation. (Shows plural agreement and reaction to external events.)

• Его унылый взгляд пугал собеседников во время беседы.

  His glum gaze frightened the interlocutors during the conversation. (Uses the more formal variant in a social interaction scenario.)

Secondary Meaning: Dull or lacking enthusiasm (less common, but applicable in some contexts).

Translation(s) & Context:

• грустный - In informal contexts, to describe something unexciting or monotonous.

Usage Examples:

• Фильм оказался грустным и неинтересным для аудитории.

  The film turned out to be glum and uninteresting for the audience. (Example of using the word to describe media or entertainment.)

• Грустная вечеринка закончилась раньше времени.

  The glum party ended earlier than expected. (Shows application to events, emphasizing lack of energy.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "грустный" and "унылый" are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern for most cases, but they can have irregularities in spelling or stress. Below is a table for "грустный" as an example; "унылый" follows similar rules.

For "унылый", the inflections are regular: e.g., Nominative: унылый (m), унылая (f), унылое (n), унылые (pl). These adjectives do not have irregular forms but must agree with the noun they modify.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • печальный (pechal'nyy) - Similar to грустный but often implies deeper sorrow; used in emotional contexts.
  • мрачный (mrachnyy) - Conveys a darker, more ominous gloom; interchangeable in formal settings.
• Antonyms:
  • веселый (veselyy) - Happy or cheerful.
  • радостный (radostnyy) - Joyful or delighted.

Related Phrases:

• Грустный вид (grustnyy vid) - A glum appearance; refers to someone's facial expression indicating sadness.
• Унылый пейзаж (unylıy peyzazh) - A glum landscape; used for describing dreary scenery, often in literature.
• Быть в грустном настроении (byt' v grustnom nastroyenii) - To be in a glum mood; a common phrase for temporary emotional states.

Usage Notes:

• While "glum" in English is often neutral or mildly negative, Russian equivalents like "грустный" can vary by context—use "грустный" for everyday situations and "унылый" for more poetic or formal ones to avoid sounding overly dramatic.
• Adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they describe, which is a key grammatical difference from English.
• When choosing between translations, opt for "грустный" in spoken language and "унылый" in written or literary contexts for precision.
• Be mindful of cultural nuances: Russians may use these words in reflections on life's hardships, so they often appear in proverbs or songs.

Common Errors:

• English learners often forget adjective agreement: Incorrect - "Он грустный дом" (should be "грустный" only if describing a masculine noun, but this is nonsensical; correct example: "Он в грустном настроении").
• Mispronouncing the vowel sounds: For instance, saying [ˈɡrustni] instead of [ˈɡrustnɨj] for "грустный", which alters the word's meaning or makes it hard to understand. Correct usage: Practice the centralized 'ы' sound.
• Overusing in formal contexts: Beginners might use "грустный" where "унылый" is more appropriate, e.g., in essays, leading to an informal tone.

Cultural Notes:

Words like "грустный" and "унылый" often reflect Russia's cultural emphasis on introspection and melancholy, influenced by literature (e.g., in works by Pushkin or Chekhov). They can evoke the "Russian soul" concept, where sadness is tied to national identity, such as in folk songs about harsh winters or historical hardships.

Related Concepts:

• тоска (toska) - A deep, spiritual longing or boredom.
• меланхолия (melancholiya) - Melancholy, often linked to philosophical reflections.
• пессимизм (pessimizm) - Pessimism, as a broader emotional state.