Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'stink'

English Word: stink

Key Russian Translations:

• вонь (/vonʲ/) - [Informal, Noun]
• вонять (/vɐˈnʲætʲ/) - [Informal, Verb, Used in everyday descriptions of odors]

Frequency: Medium (These words are commonly encountered in casual conversations about smells, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary like "еда" (food)).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires familiarity with noun declensions for "вонь" and verb conjugations for "вонять", suitable for learners with some grasp of Russian grammar).

Pronunciation (Russian):

вонь: /vonʲ/ (The "ь" indicates a soft "n" sound, which can be tricky for English speakers; it's pronounced with a palatalized ending, like "von-y" but softer).

Note on вонь: Pay attention to the soft sign (ь), which affects the pronunciation by softening the preceding consonant. This is a common feature in Russian nouns.

вонять: /vɐˈnʲætʲ/ (Stress on the second syllable; the "я" sound is like "ya" in "yard", and the final "tʲ" is palatalized).

Note on вонять: The verb has variations in stress across conjugations, which might lead to mispronunciations for beginners.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: As a noun, referring to a foul or unpleasant odor.

Translation(s) & Context:

• вонь - Used in informal contexts to describe a strong, repulsive smell, such as in everyday complaints about garbage or spoiled food.

Usage Examples:

• Вонь от мусора разносится по всему кварталу.

  The stink from the garbage spreads throughout the neighborhood.

• Эта вонь в подвале просто невыносимая.

  This stink in the basement is simply unbearable.

• После дождя вонь от луж на улице стала сильнее.

  After the rain, the stink from the puddles on the street became stronger.

• Вонь в старом холодильнике указывает на испорченные продукты.

  The stink in the old refrigerator indicates spoiled products.

Meaning 2: As a verb, meaning to emit a foul or unpleasant odor.

Translation(s) & Context:

• вонять - Commonly used in informal speech to describe something that gives off a bad smell, often in humorous or frustrated contexts, like commenting on food or personal hygiene.

Usage Examples:

• Этот сыр уже начинает вонять, пора его выкинуть.

  This cheese is starting to stink; it's time to throw it out.

• После пробежки мои кроссовки ужасно воняют.

  After the run, my sneakers stink terribly.

• В жару старые рыбы воняют на рынке.

  In the heat, the old fish stinks at the market.

• Если не мыть посуду, она будет вонять на всю кухню.

  If you don't wash the dishes, they will stink up the whole kitchen.

• Мой старый шкаф воняет плесенью из-за влажности.

  My old wardrobe stinks of mold due to the humidity.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "вонь" (feminine noun, third declension), it follows standard Russian noun declension patterns. It is invariable in plural forms as it typically refers to a mass or abstract concept.

For "вонять" (imperfective verb, first conjugation), it conjugates regularly across tenses and persons.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • зловоние (zlovoenie) - More formal synonym for "вонь", implying a noxious or poisonous smell.
  • дух (dukh) - General term for odor, but can be a milder synonym in certain contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • аромат (aromat) - Pleasant smell, opposite of "вонь".
  • не пахнуть (ne pakhnot') - Not to smell at all, as an antonym for "вонять".

Related Phrases:

• Воняет, как от помойки - Smells like a dumpster (used to describe an extremely foul odor in informal settings).
• Вонь гнилого мяса - The stink of rotten meat (a common phrase for emphasizing decay).
• Всё воняет сигаретами - Everything stinks of cigarettes (refers to pervasive smoke odor in enclosed spaces).

Usage Notes:

"Stink" as a noun corresponds closely to "вонь", which is informal and often used in spoken Russian to express disgust. As a verb, "вонять" aligns with "stink" but carries a more vivid, sensory connotation in Russian. Be cautious with these words in formal contexts; opt for "зловоние" instead. Grammatically, "вонь" requires feminine agreement, e.g., "эта вонь" (this stink). When choosing between translations, use "вонять" for ongoing actions and pair it with adverbs like "ужасно" (terribly) for emphasis.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "вонь" in formal writing without alternatives. Correct: Replace with "неприятный запах" in professional contexts. Example of error: "В офисе вонь от еды." (In the office, stink from food.) Correct: "В офисе неприятный запах от еды." Explanation: "Вонь" is too casual and might offend.
• Mistake: Incorrect conjugation of "вонять", e.g., saying "я воняю" as "я вонею". Correct: "я воняю". Explanation: Follow standard first-conjugation patterns; common for English speakers who over-simplify Russian verbs.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "вонь" and "вонять" often appear in humor or folk tales to exaggerate unpleasant situations, such as in stories about lazy characters or poor hygiene. This reflects a broader cultural tendency to use vivid language for everyday annoyances, emphasizing resilience and practicality in dealing with discomfort.

Related Concepts:

• запах (zapakh) - General smell
• пахнуть (pakhnot') - To smell (neutral or positive)
• гниение (gnieniye) - Decay or rotting