Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'homeless'

English Word: homeless

Key Russian Translations:

• бездомный [bɪzˈdomnɨj] - [Adjective, Formal, Singular]
• бездомные [bɪzˈdomnɨje] - [Adjective, Formal, Plural]

Frequency: Medium (Common in social, news, and humanitarian contexts, but not everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; involves basic adjective inflections, suitable for learners with some grasp of Russian grammar)

Pronunciation (Russian):

бездомный: [bɪzˈdomnɨj]

бездомные: [bɪzˈdomnɨje]

Note on бездомный: The stress is on the second syllable ("dom"), and the "ы" sound is a subtle, centralized vowel common in Russian; be careful with the soft sign (ь) which affects pronunciation but not spelling directly.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: Lacking a permanent home or residence, often implying poverty or social marginalization.

Translation(s) & Context:

• бездомный - Used in formal or descriptive contexts to refer to individuals without homes, such as in social services or news reports.
• бездомные - Plural form for groups or general references, common in discussions about homelessness as a societal issue.

Usage Examples:

• Он бездомный и живёт на улице.

  He is homeless and lives on the street.

• В большом городе много бездомных людей, которые нуждаются в помощи.

  In the big city, there are many homeless people who need help.

• Бездомные животные часто собираются у помойки.

  Homeless animals often gather at the dumpster.

• Правительство пытается решить проблему бездомных в регионах.

  The government is trying to address the issue of homeless people in the regions.

• Она стала бездомной после пожара в её доме.

  She became homeless after a fire in her house.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

бездомный is an adjective in Russian, which means it changes based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow standard patterns for most words, but this one is regular. Below is a table showing its inflections:

Note: These forms are regular for adjectives ending in -ый. If the word is used predicatively (e.g., "He is homeless"), it may not change as much in casual speech.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • бродяга (brodaga) - More informal, often implies a wandering lifestyle.
  • бесприютный (bespriyutnyy) - Similar, but emphasizes lack of shelter; used in poetic or formal contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • оседлый (osedlyy) - Settled or rooted, contrasting with a nomadic or unstable life.
  • домашний (domashniy) - Homebound or domestic, often used for animals or people with stable homes.

Related Phrases:

• Бездомный человек (Bezdomnyy chelovek) - Homeless person; used in social work or charity contexts to refer to individuals.
• Бездомные животные (Bezdomnye zhivotnye) - Stray animals; common in discussions about animal welfare.
• Проблема бездомности (Problema bezdomnosti) - The issue of homelessness; a phrase for broader societal debates.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "бездомный" directly corresponds to the English "homeless" as an adjective, but it's more commonly used in formal or written contexts rather than casual speech. Always consider gender and case agreements when using it in sentences—e.g., pair it with masculine nouns like "человек" (chelovek). If the context involves animals, it's still appropriate, but for people, it carries a connotation of social issues. When choosing between translations like "бездомный" and "бесприютный," opt for the former for general homelessness and the latter for a sense of abandonment.

Common Errors:

• English learners often forget to inflect the adjective correctly. For example, incorrectly saying "Я вижу бездомный" instead of "Я вижу бездомного" (if referring to a masculine noun in accusative case). Correct usage: "Я вижу бездомного человека" – The adjective must agree in case, gender, and number.

• Confusing it with "нищий" (nishchiy, meaning beggar), which implies begging for money, whereas "бездомный" focuses on lack of housing. Error example: Using "бездомный" to mean someone asking for alms; correct: Use "нищий" for that context.

• Overusing the word without context; in Russian, it's better to specify, e.g., "бездомный из-за финансовых проблем" (homeless due to financial issues), to avoid sounding vague.

Cultural Notes:

In Russia, the term "бездомный" is often linked to post-Soviet social challenges, such as economic instability and migration, which led to increased homelessness in urban areas. It carries a stigma and is frequently discussed in the context of government programs or charity work, reflecting broader cultural attitudes toward poverty and community support.

Related Concepts:

• нищий (nishchiy)
• бомж (bomzh)
• переселенец (pereselenets)