Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'maladroit'

English Word: maladroit

Key Russian Translations:

• неуклюжий [nʲɪʊˈkluʐɨj] - [Adjective, Informal]
• неловкий [nʲɪˈlovkʲɪj] - [Adjective, Formal or Neutral]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are commonly encountered in everyday Russian conversations, literature, and media, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; learners at this CEFR level can understand and use these adjectives in context, though mastering inflections may require practice. For 'неуклюжий', it's B1; for 'неловкий', it's A2 due to its simplicity.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

неуклюжий: [nʲɪʊˈkluʐɨj]

Note on неуклюжий: The pronunciation features a soft 'н' (palatalized), which can be tricky for English speakers. Stress falls on the third syllable; practice with native audio for accurate intonation.

неловкий: [nʲɪˈlovkʲɪj]

Note on неловкий: The 'л' is soft, and the word has a straightforward rhythm; common in spoken Russian without major variations.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Clumsy or awkward in movement, behavior, or skill.

Translation(s) & Context:

• неуклюжий - Used in informal contexts to describe physical or social clumsiness, often with a humorous or negative connotation.
• неловкий - Applied in more neutral or formal settings, such as professional evaluations, to indicate awkwardness without strong judgment.

Usage Examples:

• Он неуклюжий в новых ситуациях и часто роняет вещи.

  He is maladroit in new situations and often drops things.

• Её неловкие попытки танцевать вызвали улыбки у всех.

  Her maladroit attempts at dancing brought smiles to everyone.

• Этот неуклюжий механик сломал ещё одну деталь.

  This maladroit mechanic broke another part.

• Неловкий жест политика не был принят публикой.

  The politician's maladroit gesture was not well-received by the audience.

• В детстве я был неуклюжим, но с практикой улучшился.

  As a child, I was maladroit, but I improved with practice.

Meaning 2: Inept or bungling in handling tasks or situations.

Translation(s) & Context:

• неловкий - Often used in professional or social contexts to describe mishandling without implying malice.
• неуклюжий - More casual, emphasizing incompetence in everyday life.

Usage Examples:

• Его неловкий подход к переговорам провалил сделку.

  His maladroit approach to negotiations ruined the deal.

• Неуклюжий комментарий друга обидел её.

  The friend's maladroit comment offended her.

• Эта неловкая ошибка в отчёте стоила компании денег.

  This maladroit mistake in the report cost the company money.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'неуклюжий' and 'неловкий' are adjectives in Russian, which inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow regular patterns for most forms.

These adjectives follow the standard first-declension pattern. They do not have irregular forms, making them straightforward for learners, but always ensure agreement with the noun's gender, number, and case.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• неудобный (inconvenient, awkward)
• торопливый (hasty, which can imply clumsiness in haste)

Note: 'неудобный' often emphasizes discomfort, while 'торопливый' highlights speed-related awkwardness.

Antonyms:

• ловкий (skillful)
• умелый (adept)

Related Phrases:

• неуклюжий жест - A maladroit gesture (used to describe an awkward action in social interactions).
• неловкий момент - An awkward moment (common in conversations about embarrassing situations).
• быть неуклюжим как слон в посудной лавке - To be as maladroit as a bull in a china shop (a idiomatic expression for extreme clumsiness).

Usage Notes:

'Maladroit' corresponds closely to 'неуклюжий' in informal contexts and 'неловкий' in more formal ones. Choose 'неуклюжий' for everyday, humorous descriptions of physical clumsiness, and 'неловкий' for professional or emotional awkwardness. Be mindful of adjective agreement in Russian sentences; always match gender, number, and case with the noun. In spoken Russian, these words can carry a light-hearted tone, unlike the potentially negative connotation in English.

• Avoid overusing in formal writing; opt for more precise synonyms if needed.
• When translating, consider the context: 'maladroit' in social settings often maps to 'неловкий'.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse gender agreement, e.g., saying "неуклюжий женщина" instead of "неуклюжая женщина" (maladroit woman). Correct: Ensure the adjective ends with '-ая' for feminine nouns. Another error is confusing with synonyms: Using 'неудобный' (inconvenient) when 'неловкий' is meant, as in "неудобный движение" for "maladroit movement" – correct is "неловкое движение". This happens because 'неудобный' implies discomfort rather than clumsiness.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'неуклюжий' are often used in a self-deprecating or humorous way, especially in literature and anecdotes, reflecting a cultural tolerance for imperfection. For instance, Russian folktales frequently feature clumsy characters who learn from their mistakes, emphasizing resilience over perfection.

Related Concepts:

• грациозный (graceful)
• умение (skill)
• координация (coordination)