Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'limp'

English Word: limp

Key Russian Translations:

• хромать [kʰrɐˈmatʲ] - [Informal, Verb, Used in everyday contexts for walking with an injury]
• вялый [ˈvʲa.lɨj] - [Adjective, Formal or Descriptive, Used for something floppy or weak, e.g., limp vegetables]
• обвисший [ɐbˈvʲi.ʂɨj] - [Adjective, Informal, Plural forms possible, Used for hanging limply]

Frequency: Medium (Common in medical, everyday, or descriptive contexts, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "идти" – to go)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate for 'хромать' as a verb; A2 for 'вялый' as an adjective, based on CEFR, due to irregular verb conjugations and adjective agreements)

Pronunciation (Russian):

хромать: [kʰrɐˈmatʲ]

вялый: [ˈvʲa.lɨj]

обвисший: [ɐbˈvʲi.ʂɨj]

Note on хромать: The stress falls on the second syllable; be careful with the soft 'тʲ' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers. For вялый, the initial 'в' is pronounced with a soft 'v' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

As a verb: To walk unevenly due to injury or weakness

Translation(s) & Context:

• хромать - Used in informal conversations about physical injury, such as after an accident or in sports contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Он хромает после падения с велосипеда.

  He is limping after falling off his bike.

• После операции она долго хромала.

  After the surgery, she limped for a long time.

• Ребёнок хромает, потому что у него болит нога.

  The child is limping because his leg hurts.

• В фильме герой хромает через весь город.

  In the movie, the hero limps through the entire city.

As an adjective: Not firm, floppy, or lacking strength

Translation(s) & Context:

• вялый - Used in formal or descriptive contexts for objects like plants or fabrics that are limp due to lack of rigidity.
• обвисший - Applied in informal settings for clothing or body parts that hang limply, often implying exhaustion or poor condition.

Usage Examples:

• Вялые листья на дереве указывают на засуху.

  The limp leaves on the tree indicate a drought.

• Его рубашка была вялой после стирки.

  His shirt was limp after washing.

• Обвисшие ветви дерева качаются на ветру.

  The limp branches of the tree sway in the wind.

• После тренировки его руки были обвисшими от усталости.

  After the workout, his arms were limp from exhaustion.

• Вялый салат не аппетитный.

  Limp salad isn't appetizing.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'хромать' (a verb of the first conjugation with irregularities):

For 'вялый' and 'обвисший' (adjectives, which decline by case, number, and gender):

These adjectives follow standard patterns and do not have irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: прихрамывать (similar to хромать but more casual), вянуть (for вялый, meaning to wilt)
• Antonyms: крепкий (strong, opposite of вялый), ровный (even, for walking without a limp)

Related Phrases:

• Хромая походка - A limping gait; used to describe an uneven walk due to injury.
• Вялый овощ - Limp vegetable; refers to produce that has lost its firmness.
• Обвисшие плечи - Limp shoulders; implies exhaustion or defeat in body language.

Usage Notes:

'Хромать' directly corresponds to the English verb 'to limp' in contexts of physical injury and is commonly used in informal speech, but avoid it in formal writing where 'двигаться с хромотой' might be more precise. For adjectives like 'вялый', it aligns with 'limp' for objects but not for people; use it for inanimate things to avoid confusion. When choosing between translations, select based on context: verbs for actions, adjectives for states. Grammatically, verbs like 'хромать' require agreement with subject gender in past tense.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'хромать' for non-walking contexts, e.g., saying "Я хромаю от усталости" (incorrectly implying walking limp from tiredness).
  Correct: "Я еле иду от усталости" (I can barely walk from tiredness). Explanation: 'Хромать' specifically denotes an injury-related limp, not general fatigue.
• Error: Forgetting gender agreement with adjectives, e.g., saying "вялый женщина" instead of "вялая женщина".
  Correct: "Вялая женщина" (The limp woman). Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'хромать' often appear in literature or folklore to symbolize vulnerability or resilience, as seen in stories where characters overcome injuries. 'Вялый' might evoke themes of decay in poetry, reflecting Russia's historical emphasis on nature and endurance in harsh climates.

Related Concepts:

• Травма (injury)
• Усталость (fatigue)
• Походка (gait)