Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'putrid'

English Word: putrid

Key Russian Translations:

• гнилой /ɡnʲɪˈloј/ - [Informal, commonly used for organic decay]
• вонючий /vɐˈnutɕɪj/ - [Informal, emphasizing foul odor]
• разложившийся /rəzlɐˈʐɨvɕɪj/ - [Formal, for advanced decomposition]

Frequency: Medium - This word and its translations are encountered in everyday contexts like describing food or environments, but not as common as basic adjectives.

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) - Involves understanding Russian adjectives and their inflections; "гнилой" and "вонючий" are straightforward for intermediates, while "разложившийся" may require more advanced vocabulary knowledge.

Pronunciation (Russian):

гнилой: /ɡnʲɪˈloј/

Note on гнилой: The initial 'г' is a voiced velar fricative, similar to the 'g' in "go" but softer; stress falls on the second syllable, which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalized 'нʲ'.

вонючий: /vɐˈnutɕɪj/

Note on вонючий: The 'ч' is a voiceless palatal fricative, like the 'ch' in "church"; the word has a strong emphasis on the second syllable.

разложившийся: /rəzlɐˈʐɨvɕɪj/

Note on разложившийся: This is a longer word with multiple consonants; focus on the stress in the third syllable, and note the soft sign 'ь' affecting pronunciation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Decayed or rotten, often referring to organic matter like food.

Translation(s) & Context:

• гнилой - Used in informal contexts for spoiled food or materials; common in everyday conversation.
• вонючий - Applied when emphasizing a strong, unpleasant smell; suitable for vivid descriptions.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: Этот фрукт гнилой и есть его нельзя. (Etot frukt gniloy i yest' yego nel'zya.)

  English: This fruit is putrid and you can't eat it.

• Русский: В холодильнике лежит вонючий сыр, который уже испортился. (V kholodil'nike lezhit vonuchiy syr, kotoryy uzhe isportilsya.)

  English: In the fridge, there's putrid cheese that's already spoiled.

• Русский: После дождя улица стала разложившейся и полной гнилых листьев. (Posle dozhdya ulitsa stala razlozhivsheysya i polnoy gnilykh list'yev.)

  English: After the rain, the street became putrid and full of rotten leaves.

• Русский: Гнилой запах распространился по всей комнате. (Gniloy zapakh rasprostranilsya po vsyey komnate.)

  English: The putrid smell spread throughout the entire room.

• Русский: Не трогай этот вонючий мусор, он может быть опасным. (Ne trogay etot vonuchiy musor, on mozhet byt' opasnym.)

  English: Don't touch that putrid garbage; it might be dangerous.

Meaning 2: Figuratively foul or morally corrupt (e.g., in literature or descriptions).

Translation(s) & Context:

• разложившийся - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe moral decay or corruption.
• гнилой - Can be metaphorical, like in "гнилой характер" for a rotten personality.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: Его гнилой характер отпугивает друзей. (Yego gniloy kharakter otpushchayet druzey.)

  English: His putrid character repels his friends.

• Русский: В этом обществе слишком много разложившихся идей. (V etom obshchestve slishkom mnogo razlozhivshikhsya idey.)

  English: In this society, there are too many putrid ideas.

• Русский: Вонючий воздух фабрики символизирует гнилую промышленность. (Vonuchiy vozdukh fabriki simvoliziruet gniluyu promyshlennost'.)

  English: The putrid air of the factory symbolizes the rotten industry.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are adjectives, so they inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. "Гнилой" and "вонючий" follow standard first-conjugation patterns, while "разложившийся" is a past passive participle and has its own variations.

Note: These are regular inflections; "разложившийся" is less common and may not change in all contexts as it's a participle.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • протухший (protukhshiy) - Specifically for spoiled food; less intense than гнилой.
  • испорченный (isporchennyy) - General for ruined or decayed; often used interchangeably in casual speech.
• Antonyms:
  • свежий (svezhiy) - Fresh, opposite in the context of food or air.
  • чистый (chistyy) - Clean, contrasting with foul or decayed states.

Related Phrases:

• Гнилой фрукт (Gniloy frukt) - Putrid fruit; refers to spoiled produce in daily life.
• Вонючий запах (Vonuchiy zapakh) - Putrid smell; used for describing unpleasant odors in environments.
• Разложившаяся еда (Razlozhivshayasya yeda) - Decomposed food; common in health or waste management contexts.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, adjectives like "гнилой" must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, unlike in English. For example, use "гнилая" for feminine nouns. Choose "вонючий" for emphasis on smell over decay. "Разложившийся" is more formal and suited for written or scientific contexts. English speakers should note that these words carry a strong negative connotation, similar to "putrid," and are best avoided in polite conversation.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "гнилой" without proper inflection, e.g., saying "Этот фрукт гнилой" in a context where it should be "гнилая яблоко" (incorrect; should be "гнилое яблоко" for neuter).

  Correct: "Это гнилое яблоко." (This is putrid apple.) - Explanation: Adjectives must match the noun's gender (neuter here).

• Error: Confusing "вонючий" with "гнилой," leading to overuse of "вонючий" for any decay, e.g., "Гнилой вонючий" redundantly.

  Correct: Use only "гнилой" for decay without emphasizing smell. - Explanation: This creates awkward repetition; choose based on primary meaning.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "гнилой" often appear in literature (e.g., in Chekhov's works) to symbolize moral or social decay, reflecting historical themes of hardship and resilience. This can evoke ideas of post-Soviet life where food spoilage was common, adding a layer of realism to everyday language.

Related Concepts:

• вонь (von') - Stench
• испорченность (isporchennost') - Spoilage
• гниение (gnieniye) - Decay