Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'stuffy'

English Word: stuffy

Key Russian Translations:

• душный [ˈduʂnɨj] - [Informal; used for describing air or spaces that are poorly ventilated]
• снобский [ˈsnopskʲɪj] - [Formal; used in contexts implying stuffiness in behavior or attitude, e.g., overly rigid or pretentious]
• закладной [zɐˈkladnəj] - [Informal; specifically for nasal congestion, as in a stuffy nose]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday conversations about weather, rooms, or personal discomfort, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjectives and their inflections; for 'душный', it's straightforward, but 'снобский' may involve cultural nuances, making it slightly more challenging)

Pronunciation (Russian):

душный: [ˈduʂnɨj]

Note on душный: The 'ш' sound is similar to the 'sh' in English "shoe," but ensure the stress is on the first syllable. This word may vary slightly in rapid speech.

снобский: [ˈsnopskʲɪj]

Note on снобский: The 'сн' is pronounced as a soft 'sn' sound, and the final 'ий' is a palatalized 'y'. Be cautious with the soft sign for proper Russian pronunciation.

закладной: [zɐˈkladnəj]

Note on закладной: Stress falls on the second syllable; the 'з' is voiced, like 'z' in English "zoo."

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Not well-ventilated or stuffy air (e.g., a room that feels oppressive).

Translation(s) & Context:

• душный - Used in casual descriptions of indoor environments, such as a crowded room or hot weather; common in everyday informal speech.

Usage Examples:

• В комнате душно, откройте окно.

  In the room, it's stuffy; open the window. (This example shows the adjective in a simple declarative sentence, highlighting environmental discomfort.)

• Летом в городе часто бывает душно из-за жары.

  In the summer, the city often feels stuffy because of the heat. (Demonstrates use in a seasonal context with additional descriptors.)

• После дождя воздух стал душным и влажным.

  After the rain, the air became stuffy and humid. (Illustrates combination with other adjectives in a weather-related sentence.)

• Душный автобус заставил всех открыть окна.

  The stuffy bus made everyone open the windows. (Shows the word in a transportation context, emphasizing cause and effect.)

Meaning 2: Overly formal, rigid, or pretentious (e.g., stuffy behavior).

Translation(s) & Context:

• снобский - Applied in social or cultural contexts, such as describing people or events that are elitist; more formal and less common in daily talk.

Usage Examples:

• Его снобский тон раздражал гостей на вечере.

  His stuffy tone irritated the guests at the party. (This example uses the adjective to describe personality traits in a social setting.)

• Снобский этикет в этом клубе отпугивает молодых людей.

  The stuffy etiquette in this club scares away young people. (Demonstrates use with nouns, focusing on cultural exclusivity.)

• Книга полна снобских описаний высшего общества.

  The book is full of stuffy descriptions of high society. (Shows the word in a literary context, modifying a noun phrase.)

Meaning 3: Nasal congestion (e.g., a stuffy nose due to a cold).

Translation(s) & Context:

• закладной - Informal and medical contexts, often in health-related conversations; implies blockage or discomfort.

Usage Examples:

• У меня закладной нос из-за простуды.

  I have a stuffy nose because of a cold. (Basic personal health statement, common in casual dialogue.)

• Закладной нос мешает мне спать по ночам.

  My stuffy nose keeps me from sleeping at night. (Illustrates impact on daily life, with the adjective describing a symptom.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Below is a table for 'душный' as an example; similar patterns apply to others with variations.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: затхлый (zatkhlыy; stale-smelling, often for air); спертый (spertыy; used for confined, stale air; more poetic)
• Antonyms: свежий (svежij; fresh, as in fresh air); проветренный (prоvеtrеnnыy; ventilated, implying the opposite of stuffy)

Related Phrases:

• Душная комната - A stuffy room; used to describe enclosed spaces lacking fresh air.
• Снобский стиль - Stuffy style; refers to overly formal or pretentious fashion or behavior.
• Закладной нос от аллергии - Stuffy nose from allergies; common in health discussions.

Usage Notes:

'Душный' directly corresponds to the environmental sense of 'stuffy' and is ideal for informal contexts like weather talk, while 'снобский' better fits social or cultural descriptions, avoiding direct literal translations. Be mindful of gender agreement in sentences; for example, use 'душная' for feminine nouns. In formal writing, opt for 'снобский' over 'душный' for behavioral meanings. Multiple translations allow flexibility based on context, but 'душный' is the most versatile for English learners starting out.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'душный' interchangeably for all meanings of 'stuffy', such as in social contexts. Correct: Opt for 'снобский' to avoid confusion; e.g., Incorrect: "Он душный человек" (implies he's physically stuffy), Correct: "Он снобский человек" (means he's pretentious). Explanation: Russian adjectives are context-specific, so matching the exact nuance prevents miscommunication.
• Mistake: Forgetting inflections, e.g., saying "душный комната" instead of "душная комната". Correct: Always adjust for gender and case. Explanation: This is a common grammatical error for English speakers unfamiliar with Russian declensions.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'душный' often evoke the discomfort of long, harsh winters or overcrowded urban spaces, reflecting historical experiences with limited ventilation in traditional homes. 'Снобский' may carry connotations of Soviet-era elitism, where formality was critiqued, helping users understand subtle social undertones in modern Russian interactions.

Related Concepts:

• влажный (humid; related to stuffy air conditions)
• забитый (blocked; similar to nasal stuffiness)
• формальный (formal; ties into behavioral stuffiness)