Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'naked'

English Word: naked

Key Russian Translations:

• голый [ɡɐˈɫɨj] - [Informal, commonly used in everyday contexts]
• нагой [nɐˈɡoj] - [Formal, literary or poetic usage]
• обнажённый [ɐbnɐˈʐɛnnɨj] - [Formal, emphasizing exposure or vulnerability]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are encountered in general conversation, literature, and media, but not as frequently as basic vocabulary in everyday speech.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR standards; involves understanding adjective inflections and contexts, which may vary slightly between translations.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

голый: [ɡɐˈɫɨj]

нагой: [nɐˈɡoj]

обнажённый: [ɐbnɐˈʐɛnnɨj]

Note on голый: The stress is on the second syllable, and the 'л' sound can be challenging for English speakers due to its soft, palatalized quality in Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Without clothing or covering (Literal sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• голый - Used in casual, everyday situations to describe someone or something without clothes.
• нагой - Applied in more formal or artistic contexts, such as literature or descriptions of nudity in art.
• обнажённый - Often used in contexts involving exposure, vulnerability, or figurative senses like "exposed to the elements."

Usage Examples:

• Он был голый после купания в реке.

  He was naked after swimming in the river.

• Дети бегали по пляжу обнажённые, наслаждаясь летом.

  The children were running on the beach naked, enjoying the summer.

• В поэзии нагой часто символизирует чистоту и свободу.

  In poetry, 'naked' (nagoy) often symbolizes purity and freedom.

• Она почувствовала себя голой под дождём, без зонта.

  She felt naked under the rain, without an umbrella.

• Обнажённые ветви деревьев зимой выглядят хрупкими.

  The naked (obnazhënnyy) branches of the trees look fragile in winter.

Meaning 2: Figurative or metaphorical (Exposed, unprotected)

Translation(s) & Context:

• голый - Used metaphorically for emotional or situational exposure, e.g., in personal stories.
• обнажённый - Common in discussions of truth or vulnerability, such as in psychology or philosophy.

Usage Examples:

• Его голые эмоции шокировали аудиторию.

  His naked emotions shocked the audience.

• Обнажённая правда о прошлом раскрылась в письме.

  The naked truth about the past was revealed in the letter.

• В этом фильме герой остаётся голым перед своими страхами.

  In this film, the hero is naked (exposed) to his fears.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

The primary translations like "голый" and "нагой" are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. "Обнажённый" follows similar patterns as a past passive participle used adjectivally. Below is a table for "голый" as an example; other words inflect similarly but with variations.

Note: "Нагой" is less commonly inflected and often used in fixed expressions. It does not change as regularly as "голый" in modern usage.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • нагой - Similar to голый but more formal; often used in literary contexts.
  • обнажённый - Emphasizes the act of uncovering; suitable for metaphorical uses.
  • без одежды - A phrase meaning "without clothes," used as a periphrastic synonym.
• Antonyms:
  • одетый - Meaning "clothed" or "dressed."
  • закрытый - Meaning "covered" or "concealed."

Related Phrases:

• голый как правда - Meaning: Completely honest or straightforward (e.g., in confessions).
• обнажённая душа - Meaning: A bare or exposed soul, referring to emotional vulnerability.
• нагой в снегу - Meaning: Literally "naked in the snow," used metaphorically for endurance or hardship.

Usage Notes:

"Голый" is the most direct translation for "naked" in informal settings, but choose "нагой" or "обнажённый" for formal or literary contexts to avoid sounding too casual. Be mindful of cultural sensitivities; in Russian, discussions of nudity can carry connotations of vulnerability or impropriety. Grammatically, always inflect the adjective to agree with the noun's gender, number, and case. For multiple translations, select based on context: use "голый" for physical nakedness and "обнажённый" for figurative exposure.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "голый" without proper inflection, e.g., saying "голый женщина" instead of "голая женщина."
  Correct: голая женщина (naked woman). Explanation: Adjectives must agree in gender; this error stems from English's lack of gender agreement.
• Mistake: Confusing "голый" with "нагой" in everyday speech, leading to overly formal language.
  Correct: Use "голый" for casual talk; "нагой" is better for poetry. Explanation: Over-formalizing can make speech sound unnatural to native speakers.
• Mistake: Translating "naked" literally in idioms, e.g., saying "голый правда" for "naked truth."
  Correct: Use "обнажённая правда." Explanation: Russian idioms often require specific phrasing to convey the intended meaning accurately.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "голый" can evoke themes from literature and folklore, such as in folk tales where nudity symbolizes innocence or rebirth. However, due to historical and social conservatism, public nudity is less accepted than in some Western cultures, so these words might carry undertones of vulnerability or taboo in everyday conversation.

Related Concepts:

• одежда (clothing)
• тело (body)
• уязвимость (vulnerability)