Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'scruffy'

English Word: scruffy

Key Russian Translations:

• Небрежный [nʲɪˈbrʲeʐnɨj] - [Informal; used for describing untidy or shabby appearance]
• Неряшливый [nʲɪˈrʲaʂlʲivɨj] - [Informal; often implies a more habitual sloppiness]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in everyday conversations about appearance, but not as frequent as basic adjectives)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjective forms and nuances, though the core meaning is straightforward for learners at this level)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Небрежный: [nʲɪˈbrʲeʐnɨj]

Note on Небрежный: The stress falls on the second syllable ("brʲeʐ"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft consonants. Pronounce the "ж" as a voiced fricative similar to the "s" in "measure".

Неряшливый: [nʲɪˈrʲaʂlʲivɨj]

Note on Неряшливый: The "ш" sound is a voiceless retroflex fricative, akin to the "sh" in "shoe" but with a slight curl. Stress is on the second syllable.

Audio: Play audio for Небрежный | Play audio for Неряшливый (Note: Replace with actual audio file paths or embed a player.)

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Untidy or shabby in appearance (e.g., referring to clothing, hair, or overall look).

Translation(s) & Context:

• Небрежный - Used in informal contexts to describe someone who looks unkempt, such as after a long day; common in casual conversations.
• Неряшливый - Applied to habitual sloppiness, often with a negative connotation; suitable for describing chronic untidiness in personal style.

Usage Examples:

• Его одежда всегда выглядит небрежно, как будто он не утруждал себя утюгом.

  His clothes always look scruffy, as if he didn't bother ironing them.

• После прогулки в парке её волосы стали неряшливыми и спутанными.

  After the walk in the park, her hair became scruffy and tangled.

• В этом районе улицы часто бывают небрежными, с разбросанным мусором.

  In this area, the streets are often scruffy, with litter scattered around.

• Он появился на встрече в неряшливом свитере, что шокировало всех.

  He showed up at the meeting in a scruffy sweater, which shocked everyone.

• Дети после игры на улице выглядят совершенно небрежно, но счастливо.

  The children look completely scruffy after playing outside, but happily so.

Meaning 2: Careless or sloppy in a broader sense (less common, but possible extension).

Translation(s) & Context:

• Небрежный - In this context, used for actions or work that is hastily done; more formal settings.

Usage Examples:

• Его небрежный подход к работе привёл к ошибкам.

  His scruffy approach to work led to mistakes.

• Неряшливый почерк затрудняет чтение документов.

  The scruffy handwriting makes documents hard to read.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "Небрежный" and "Неряшливый" are adjectives, which follow standard Russian adjective inflection patterns. Russian adjectives agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify. They are inflected based on the full paradigm, with no irregularities for these words.

For "Неряшливый", the inflections follow the same pattern: e.g., Nominative: Неряшливый (m.), Неряшливая (f.), etc.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: Неряшливый (similar but emphasizes habit), Запущенный (more for neglected or rundown states)
• Antonyms: Опрятный (neat, tidy; differs by implying cleanliness and order)

Related Phrases:

• Небрежный вид (nebrezhnyy vid) - Scruffy appearance; used to describe someone's overall unkempt look in casual or critical contexts.
• Неряшливый стиль (nerashlivyi stil') - Scruffy style; refers to a habitually sloppy fashion sense, often in fashion discussions.

Usage Notes:

"Scruffy" corresponds most closely to "небрежный" in Russian when describing visual untidiness, but "неряшливый" is preferred for ongoing or personal habits. Both are informal and best used in everyday speech rather than formal writing. Be mindful of gender, number, and case agreements in sentences. When choosing between translations, opt for "небрежный" for temporary states and "неряшливый" for chronic ones to ensure precision.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "небрежный" to mean only careless actions, not appearance. Correct: While it can mean both, in the context of "scruffy," focus on visual aspects. Example of error: "Он небрежный в работе" (implying sloppy work), but for appearance, say "Он выглядит небрежно." Explanation: English learners often overlook the adjective's agreement rules, leading to grammatical errors.

• Error: Forgetting to inflect the adjective. Correct: Say "небрежная одежда" for feminine nouns, not "небрежный одежда." Example of error: "Он в небрежный куртка" (wrong); correct: "Он в небрежной куртке."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, personal appearance and neatness are highly valued, especially in professional and social settings. Words like "небрежный" can carry subtle judgments about one's character or social status, implying a lack of discipline. This reflects historical influences from Soviet-era emphasis on uniformity and order.

Related Concepts:

• Опрятность (neatness or tidiness)
• Запущенность (neglect or rundown state)