Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'slouching'

English Word: slouching

Key Russian Translations:

• горбиться [ɡɐrˈbʲit͡ɕɪsʲə] - [Informal, Verb, Used in everyday contexts to describe poor posture]
• сгорбленный [sɡɐrˈblʲɛnnɨj] - [Adjective, Formal, Describes a person or object with a hunched posture]

Frequency: Medium (Common in discussions about health, ergonomics, or daily habits, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "идти" – to go)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; Involves reflexive verb conjugation for "горбиться" and adjective agreement for "сгорбленный". For "сгорбленный", difficulty may vary to A2 for basic forms.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

горбиться: [ɡɐrˈbʲit͡ɕɪsʲə]

сгорбленный: [sɡɐrˈblʲɛnnɨj]

Note on горбиться: The reflexive suffix "-ся" can be tricky for English speakers; it's pronounced with a soft "s" sound, and stress falls on the second syllable. Variations may occur in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: To sit or stand with a drooping posture, often implying laziness or poor ergonomics.

Translation(s) & Context:

• горбиться - Used in informal, everyday contexts, such as describing someone at a desk or while walking; common in casual conversations about health.
• сгорбленный - Applied in more descriptive or formal settings, like literature or medical discussions, to describe a state of being hunched.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда горбится за компьютером, что вредно для спины.

  He always slouches at the computer, which is bad for his back.

• Не горбись, выпрямись, как следует!

  Don't slouch; stand up straight, as you should!

• Сгорбленный старик медленно шел по улице.

  The slouched old man walked slowly down the street.

• Дети часто горбятся во время уроков, из-за чего возникают проблемы с осанкой.

  Children often slouch during lessons, which leads to posture problems.

• После долгого дня работы она вернулась домой сгорбленной и усталой.

  After a long day at work, she came home slouched and tired.

Meaning: (Secondary) A habitual or characteristic way of moving with poor posture.

Translation(s) & Context:

• горбиться - In habitual contexts, often with adverbs like "всегда" (always) to indicate routine.

Usage Examples:

• Молодой человек привык горбиться, но врач посоветовал ему исправить осанку.

  The young man was used to slouching, but the doctor advised him to correct his posture.

• В школьном возрасте многие дети начинают горбиться из-за ранцев.

  Many children start slouching in school age because of backpacks.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"горбиться" is a reflexive verb (from "горбить" + reflexive suffix "-ся"), which means it changes based on tense, person, and number. It follows standard Russian verb conjugation patterns for imperfective verbs. "сгорбленный" is an adjective that agrees in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies.

Note: "горбиться" is irregular in its stem changes in some forms, but it generally follows first-conjugation patterns. "сгорбленный" remains unchanged in its root but must agree with nouns (e.g., сгорбленный человек - a slouched person).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: сутулиться (to stoop), ссутулившийся (stooped)
• Synonyms: нагибаться (to bend over, with a slight difference in implying more deliberate action)
• Antonyms: выпрямляться (to straighten up), стоять прямо (to stand straight)

Note: "сутулиться" is often interchangeable with "горбиться" but may emphasize shoulder drooping more specifically.

Related Phrases:

• горбиться от усталости - (To slouch from fatigue; Used to describe exhaustion leading to poor posture)
• сгорбленный силуэт - (A slouched silhouette; Common in literary descriptions of figures)
• горбиться за столом - (To slouch at the table; Often in contexts of work or eating habits)

Usage Notes:

Slouching translates most directly to "горбиться" in dynamic contexts and "сгорбленный" as a state. English speakers should note that Russian verbs like "горбиться" are reflexive, requiring the "-ся" suffix, which doesn't have a direct English equivalent. Use "горбиться" in informal settings, such as daily conversations, and "сгорбленный" in formal or descriptive writing. Be mindful of adjective agreement: for example, choose the correct gender and case based on the subject (e.g., сгорбленная женщина for a slouched woman). When multiple translations exist, opt for "горбиться" if emphasizing action, and "сгорбленный" for descriptions.

Common Errors:

• Error: Forgetting the reflexive suffix, e.g., saying "горбить" instead of "горбиться". Correct: Use "горбиться" to convey the reflexive meaning; Explanation: In Russian, reflexive verbs like this require "-ся" to indicate the action is upon oneself, unlike English where "slouch" is not explicitly reflexive.

• Error: Incorrect adjective agreement, e.g., using "сгорбленный" with a feminine noun without changing to "сгорбленная". Correct: Match the adjective to the noun's gender, number, and case; Explanation: This is a common grammar mistake for English learners due to the lack of similar rules in English.

• Error: Overusing in formal contexts, e.g., using "горбиться" in professional medical reports. Correct: Prefer "сгорбленный" or more precise terms like "с утратой осанки"; Explanation: "горбиться" sounds too casual for formal writing, potentially undermining the tone.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, posture is often linked to discipline and health, influenced by historical military traditions and Soviet-era physical education. Words like "горбиться" may carry connotations of laziness or neglect, reflecting a cultural emphasis on "осанка" (posture) as a sign of strength and propriety. For instance, in literature by authors like Tolstoy, slouching characters are depicted as morally weak, highlighting societal values.

Related Concepts:

• осанка (posture)
• выпрямляться (to straighten)
• спина (back, as in spinal health)