Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'nincompoop'

English Word: nincompoop

Key Russian Translations:

• дурак [ˈdurək] - [Informal; often used for males, with a humorous or derogatory tone]
• дура [ˈdurə] - [Informal; used for females, similar humorous connotation]
• болван [bɐlˈvan] - [Informal; slightly more emphatic, implying denseness or clumsiness]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday Russian conversation, especially in informal settings, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary like "человек")

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of basic noun inflections and informal language, per CEFR standards. For 'дурак' and 'дура', B1; for 'болван', also B1 due to similar structure.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

дурак: [ˈdurək]

дура: [ˈdurə]

болван: [bɐlˈvan]

Note on дурак: The stress is on the first syllable; be careful with the rolled 'r' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers. Variations in regional accents may soften the vowels.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A foolish or stupid person (primary meaning, often with a playful or mocking intent)

Translation(s) & Context:

• дурак - Used in casual, everyday conversations to lightly mock someone's foolishness, such as in family settings or among friends (avoid in formal contexts).
• дура - Similar to дурак but specifically for females; common in humorous narratives or light-hearted criticism.
• болван - Applied when emphasizing physical or mental clumsiness; often in situations involving mistakes or accidents.

Usage Examples:

• Он настоящий дурак, если думает, что это сработает. (On nastoyashchiy durak, yesli dumayet, chto eto srabotayet.)

  He is a real nincompoop if he thinks that will work. (This example shows the word in a simple declarative sentence, highlighting everyday judgment.)

• Не будь дурой и не трогай это! (Ne bud' duroi i ne trogai eto!)

  Don't be a nincompoop and don't touch that! (Illustrates imperative use, with gender agreement for a female subject.)

• Этот болван опять потерял ключи. (Etot bolvan snova poteryal klyuchi.)

  This nincompoop lost his keys again. (Demonstrates use in a narrative context, emphasizing repeated foolishness.)

• Дураки вроде него всегда попадают в неприятности. (Duraki vrode nego vsegda popadayut v neprzyatnosti.)

  Nincompoops like him always get into trouble. (Shows plural form in a general statement, common in proverbs or observations.)

• Почему ты ведёшь себя как дурак на вечеринке? (Pochemu ty vedesh' sebya kak durak na vecherinke?)

  Why are you acting like a nincompoop at the party? (Exemplifies idiomatic use in social scenarios, with a questioning structure.)

Overly naive or gullible person (secondary, less common meaning)

Translation(s) & Context:

• дурак - In contexts involving deception or naivety, such as in stories or warnings.

Usage Examples:

• Не будь дураком и не верь первым встречным. (Ne bud' durakom i ne ver' pervym vstrechnym.)

  Don't be a nincompoop and don't believe the first person you meet. (This highlights advisory use, focusing on gullibility.)

• Она дура, что доверилась ему. (Ona dura, chto doverilas' emu.)

  She is a nincompoop for trusting him. (Shows application to a female subject in a reflective context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These words are primarily nouns with irregular or standard inflections based on Russian grammar rules. 'Дурак' and 'дура' are first-declension nouns (for masculine and feminine, respectively), while 'болван' is also masculine but follows similar patterns.

Note: These words do not change in plural forms as irregularly as some nouns, but always ensure gender and case agreement in sentences.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • идиот [iˈdʲjot] (more severe, implying extreme stupidity; often used in heated arguments)
  • глупец [ˈglupʲɛts] (milder, emphasizing foolishness over malice)
• Antonyms:
  • умный [ˈumnɨj] (smart or intelligent; used in positive contexts)
  • мудрый [ˈmudrɨj] (wise; implies experience and good judgment)

Related Phrases:

• Дурак на дураке (Durak na durake) - Meaning: One fool after another; used to describe a series of silly mistakes in a chain of events.
• Болван с большой буквы (Bolvan s bol'shoy bukvy) - Meaning: A capital-N nincompoop; emphasizes someone who is exceptionally foolish.
• Не будь дураком (Ne bud' durakom) - Meaning: Don't be a fool; a common admonition in advice-giving scenarios.

Usage Notes:

These translations for 'nincompoop' are highly informal and can be offensive, so use them cautiously in Russian conversations—stick to formal equivalents like 'невежественный человек' in professional settings. 'Дурак' directly corresponds to a playful or mocking tone in English, but always match gender (e.g., 'дура' for females). When choosing between translations, opt for 'болван' if the context involves physical clumsiness. Grammatically, ensure proper case agreement, as Russian nouns change based on their role in the sentence.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'дурак' for a female subject without changing to 'дура'.
  Correct: Она дура (She is a nincompoop).
  Explanation: Russian requires gender agreement; this error can make the sentence grammatically incorrect and confusing.
• Mistake: Forgetting case inflections, e.g., saying 'Я видел дурак' instead of 'Я видел дурака'.
  Correct: Я видел дурака (I saw the nincompoop).
  Explanation: Accusative case is needed after verbs like 'видеть'; ignoring this leads to basic grammatical errors common among beginners.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'дурак' are often used in folklore, humor, and everyday banter, reflecting a tradition of self-deprecating or satirical language seen in literature (e.g., in folktales by Pushkin). They carry a light-hearted connotation in informal settings but can escalate to insults, highlighting the importance of context in social interactions.

Related Concepts:

• глупый (foolish)
• идиотизм (idiocy)
• мудрость (wisdom)