Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sleazy'

English Word: sleazy

Key Russian Translations:

• мерзкий (mʲɛrzˈkʲij) - [Informal, often used for morally corrupt or unpleasant contexts]
• грязный (ɡrʲazˈnɨj) - [Informal, typically for physical dirtiness or shabbiness]
• неприличный (nʲɪprʲɪˈlʲit͡ɕnɨj) - [Formal, emphasizing indecency or impropriety]

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

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of nuanced adjectives and context, per CEFR standards. For 'мерзкий', it's B2; for 'грязный', it's B1 due to its more straightforward usage.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

мерзкий: mʲɛrzˈkʲij (The stress is on the second syllable; note the soft 'кʲ' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers due to the palatalization.)

грязный: ɡrʲazˈnɨj (Stress on the second syllable; the 'ɡrʲ' has a soft 'r' sound, common in Russian but absent in English.)

неприличный: nʲɪprʲɪˈlʲit͡ɕnɨj (Stress on the third syllable; pay attention to the 't͡ɕ' affricate, similar to 'ch' in 'church'.)

Note on мерзкий: This word has a strong negative connotation; variations in pronunciation may occur in dialects, where the 'ʲ' softens the preceding consonant more subtly.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Physically dirty, shabby, or of poor quality (e.g., referring to something unkempt or low-standard).

Translation(s) & Context:

• грязный - Used in everyday contexts for literal dirtiness, such as describing a room or clothing; informal and common in casual speech.

Usage Examples:

• Эта комната грязная и неубранная. (This room is dirty and unkempt.)

  English Translation: This room is sleazy and messy.

• Грязный отель с плохим обслуживанием. (A sleazy hotel with poor service.)

  English Translation: A sleazy hotel with terrible service.

• Его грязная одежда отпугивает людей. (His sleazy clothes repel people.)

  English Translation: His shabby clothes turn people away.

• Грязный квартал города полон мусора. (The sleazy neighborhood of the city is full of garbage.)

  English Translation: The rundown district of the city is littered with trash.

Meaning 2: Morally corrupt, indecent, or disreputable (e.g., referring to unethical behavior or people).

Translation(s) & Context:

• мерзкий - Applied to people or actions with a strong sense of disgust; informal and emotionally charged, often in interpersonal contexts.
• неприличный - More formal, used in professional or polite settings to describe inappropriate behavior without being overly vulgar.

Usage Examples:

• Его мерзкий характер делает его непопулярным. (His sleazy personality makes him unpopular.)

  English Translation: His sleazy character makes him unpopular.

• Мерзкий план обмана был раскрыт. (The sleazy scheme of deception was uncovered.)

  English Translation: The sleazy plan to deceive was exposed.

• Неприличный фильм не подходит для семейного просмотра. (This sleazy movie isn't suitable for family viewing.)

  English Translation: This indecent film isn't appropriate for family watching.

• Мерзкий тип пытался обмануть нас. (The sleazy guy tried to trick us.)

  English Translation: The disreputable person attempted to deceive us.

• Её неприличное поведение шокировало всех. (Her sleazy behavior shocked everyone.)

  English Translation: Her indecent conduct astonished everyone.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. They follow standard adjective declension patterns, which can be regular or irregular depending on the word.

Note: These adjectives are regular and do not have irregular forms, making them straightforward once the pattern is learned.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • отвратительный (otvratitel'nyy) - More intense, emphasizing revulsion.
  • гадкий (gadkiy) - Similar to 'sleazy' but often used for childish or petty unpleasantness.
• Antonyms:
  • чистый (chistyy) - Clean or pure, contrasting physical dirtiness.
  • честный (chestnyy) - Honest or moral, opposing moral corruption.

Related Phrases:

• Мерзкий тип (merzkiy tip) - Meaning: A sleazy or despicable person; used to describe someone untrustworthy in social contexts.
• Грязная история (gryaznaya istoriya) - Meaning: A sleazy story or scandal; often refers to tabloid gossip or unethical tales.
• Неприличное предложение (neprilichnoye predlozheniye) - Meaning: An indecent proposal; implies something morally questionable, like in business or relationships.

Usage Notes:

'Sleazy' translates variably in Russian based on context: use 'мерзкий' for emotional or moral judgments, 'грязный' for physical descriptions, and 'неприличный' in formal settings. Be cautious with register—'мерзкий' can sound harsh in polite conversation. English speakers might overgeneralize 'sleazy' to 'грязный', but always consider the specific nuance. For example, in grammar, these adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, which is a key difference from English adjectives.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'мерзкий' interchangeably with 'грязный' without context, e.g., saying "мерзкий комната" instead of "грязная комната" for a dirty room. Correct: "Грязная комната" – Explanation: 'Мерзкий' implies moral disgust, not just physical dirt, leading to misuse in literal descriptions.
• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., "мерзкий женщина" instead of "мерзкая женщина". Correct: Always match gender and case, as in "мерзкая женщина" for a sleazy woman. – Explanation: Russian requires this for grammatical accuracy, unlike English.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'мерзкий' often carry a deeper emotional weight, reflecting historical influences from literature (e.g., Dostoevsky's portrayal of moral decay). They can evoke strong societal judgments, especially in contexts like politics or daily life, where 'sleazy' behavior is frowned upon as a sign of moral weakness.

Related Concepts:

• подлый (podlyy)
• некрасивый (nekrassivyy)
• гнусный (gnusnyy)