Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'hairy'

English Word: hairy

Key Russian Translations:

• волосатый /vɐlɐˈsatɨj/ - [Informal, often used for people or animals]
• мохнатый /mɐxˈnatɨj/ - [Informal, typically for objects like fabrics or animals with thick fur]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday descriptions, but not as frequent as basic adjectives like "big" or "small")

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjective inflections, but the vocabulary itself is straightforward for learners past A2 level)

Pronunciation (Russian):

волосатый: /vɐlɐˈsatɨj/ (The stress is on the third syllable; note the soft "т" sound, which can be tricky for English speakers.)

Note on волосатый: Pay attention to the vowel reduction in unstressed syllables, common in Russian; the "о" in the first syllable sounds like a schwa (/ɐ/).

мохнатый: /mɐxˈnatɨj/ (Stress on the second syllable; the "х" is a guttural sound, similar to the "ch" in Scottish "loch".)

Note on мохнатый: This word often involves a harder pronunciation of consonants, which might feel unnatural for English speakers used to softer sounds.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Covered with hair or fur (Literal description)

Translation(s) & Context:

• волосатый - Used in informal contexts to describe people, animals, or objects with excessive hair, e.g., in casual conversations or literature.
• мохнатый - Applied to objects or animals with thick, shaggy hair, often in descriptive or poetic contexts, like nature descriptions.

Usage Examples:

• У него волосатый грудь, что делает его похожим на медведя.

  He has a hairy chest, which makes him look like a bear.

• Эта старая собака мохнатая и очень милая.

  This old dog is hairy and very cute.

• В жаркую погоду мой волосатый друг всегда страдает от жары.

  In hot weather, my hairy friend always suffers from the heat.

• Мохнатый ковёр в гостиной добавляет уюта комнате.

  The hairy carpet in the living room adds coziness to the room.

• Его руки волосатые, но он не комплексует по этому поводу.

  His arms are hairy, but he doesn't complex about it.

Meaning 2: Slang for risky or complicated (Informal English usage, e.g., "a hairy situation")

Translation(s) & Context:

• рискованный or напряжённый - Not a direct translation; "волосатый" isn't used, but these convey the idea in informal Russian contexts, such as adventure stories or casual talk.

Usage Examples:

• Эта поездка была рискованной, как волосатый трюк в цирке.

  This trip was risky, like a hairy stunt in the circus. (Note: Here, "волосатый" is used metaphorically for emphasis, though it's not standard.)

• Напряжённая ситуация в офисе заставила всех нервничать.

  The hairy situation in the office made everyone nervous.

• Рискованный полёт над горами был настоящим приключением.

  The hairy flight over the mountains was a real adventure.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "волосатый" and "мохнатый" are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern for hard-stem adjectives. Below is a table for "волосатый" as an example; "мохнатый" follows similar rules.

For "мохнатый", the inflections are identical in pattern. These adjectives do not have irregular forms, making them relatively straightforward once the basic rules are learned.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • пушистый (pushistyi) - Similar to "мохнатый", but implies softer, fluffier hair; often used for animals or fabrics.
  • шерстистый (sherstistyi) - Emphasizes wool-like hair, common in contexts involving animals.
• Antonyms:
  • лысый (lysy) - Meaning bald or hairless, directly opposite for people or objects.
  • гладкий (gladkiy) - Meaning smooth, used for surfaces without hair or texture.

Related Phrases:

• волосатый как медведь - Meaning "hairy like a bear"; used to describe someone very hairy in a humorous way.
• мохнатый ковёр - Meaning "hairy carpet"; a common phrase for describing textured home decor.
• пушистый и волосатый зверь - Meaning "a fluffy and hairy animal"; often in wildlife descriptions, with the explanation that it refers to animals like bears or dogs.

Usage Notes:

"Hairy" translates most directly to "волосатый" for literal descriptions, but choose based on context: use "мохнатый" for thicker, more voluminous hair. In Russian, these adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, which is a key grammatical difference from English. For slang meanings like a "hairy situation," avoid direct translations and use words like "рискованный" instead, as "волосатый" doesn't carry the same idiomatic weight. These words are more common in informal speech, so they're suitable for everyday conversations but less so in formal writing.

Common Errors:

• Error: Forgetting to inflect the adjective, e.g., saying "волосатый женщина" instead of "волосатая женщина". Correct: Always match the adjective to the noun's gender and case. Explanation: Russian requires agreement, unlike English, so learners often overlook this, leading to grammatically incorrect sentences.

• Error: Using "волосатый" for objects when "мохнатый" is more appropriate, e.g., "волосатый ковёр" instead of "мохнатый ковёр". Correct: "Мохнатый ковёр" implies a shaggy texture. Explanation: Confusing synonyms can alter the nuance; "волосатый" is better for living things.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "волосатый" can carry light-hearted or humorous connotations, especially in describing men with body hair, which is often seen as a sign of masculinity in folklore (e.g., fairy tales with bears or wild men). However, in modern contexts, it might be used teasingly, reflecting attitudes toward personal grooming that differ from Western norms.

Related Concepts:

• волосы (hair in general)
• шерсть (fur or wool)
• борода (beard)