Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'hungry'

English Word: hungry

Key Russian Translations:

• голодный (/ɡɐˈlodnɨj/) - [Informal, commonly used in everyday contexts]

Frequency: High (This word is frequently used in daily conversations, literature, and media in Russian.)

Difficulty: A2 (Elementary) for basic recognition; B1 (Intermediate) for full inflection mastery, as it involves adjective agreement with nouns in gender, number, and case.

Pronunciation (Russian):

голодный: /ɡɐˈlodnɨj/

Note on голодный: The stress is on the second syllable (/lo/). The 'г' is a voiced velar fricative, similar to the 'g' in "go," but ensure it's not aspirated. Regional variations may soften the vowels in casual speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary meaning: Feeling a strong desire for food, often describing physical hunger in humans or animals.

Translation(s) & Context:

• голодный - Used in informal and formal contexts to describe someone or something experiencing hunger, such as in daily life, literature, or medical discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Я очень голодный после долгой прогулки.

  I am very hungry after a long walk.

• Дети были голодны и ждали ужина.

  The children were hungry and waiting for dinner.

• После тренировки он чувствовал себя голодным, как волк.

  After the workout, he felt as hungry as a wolf.

• Голодный кот мяукал у двери, прося еду.

  The hungry cat meowed at the door, begging for food.

• В жару люди становятся голодными быстрее.

  In the heat, people get hungry faster.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Голодный is an adjective in Russian, which must agree with the noun it modifies in gender, number, and case. It follows the standard first-declension adjective pattern, with regular inflections. Below is a table outlining its key forms:

Note: This adjective does not have irregular forms, making it straightforward once the basic patterns are learned.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • алчущий (alchushchiy) - More formal or literary, implying a deeper, almost craving-like hunger.
  • голодливый (golodlivyy) - Informal, emphasizing frequent hunger.
• Antonyms:
  • сытый (sytыy) - Meaning full or satisfied after eating.
  • наевшийся (naevshiyisya) - Informal, indicating someone who has eaten enough.

Related Phrases:

• Голодный как волк - Literally "hungry as a wolf"; used to describe extreme hunger in everyday expressions. (English equivalent: "As hungry as a wolf.")
• Умереть с голоду - Literally "to die of hunger"; an idiomatic phrase for starving or being extremely hungry. (English: "To starve to death.")
• Голод не тетка - A proverb meaning "Hunger is no aunt," implying that hunger forces action; used in contexts of necessity. (English: Similar to "Necessity is the mother of invention.")

Usage Notes:

Голодный directly corresponds to the English "hungry" in most contexts, but remember that Russian adjectives must agree with the nouns they modify. For example, use the feminine form (голодная) with feminine nouns like "девушка" (girl). It's versatile across formal and informal settings, but in polite conversations, Russians might soften the expression with phrases like "я хочу есть" (I want to eat). When choosing between synonyms, use "голодный" for straightforward physical hunger and "алчущий" for metaphorical or intense cravings.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using the masculine form "голодный" with feminine nouns, e.g., saying "голодный женщина" instead of "голодная женщина."

  Correct: Голодная женщина (The hungry woman). Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the gender of the noun; this is a common mistake for English speakers who don't inflect adjectives.

• Error: Overusing "голодный" in formal writing where a more neutral phrase like "испытывающий голод" (experiencing hunger) might be better.

  Correct: In formal contexts, opt for descriptive phrases to avoid sounding too casual. Explanation: While "голодный" is acceptable, more advanced users should adapt to register for precision.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressions involving hunger like "голодный как волк" often draw from folklore and rural traditions, where wolves symbolize survival instincts. Historically, Russia has faced famines, so words like "голод" (hunger) carry subtle connotations of endurance and resourcefulness in literature and proverbs.

Related Concepts:

• еда (eda) - Food
• аппетит (appetit) - Appetite
• сытость (syatost') - Satiety or fullness