Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'stupid'

English Word: stupid

Key Russian Translations:

• глупый /ɡlu.pɨj/ - [Informal, Adjective for describing someone or something lacking intelligence]
• дурак /du.'rak/ - [Informal, Noun for a foolish person; Used in casual or humorous contexts, but can be offensive]

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

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; Involves understanding adjective and noun inflections, which may vary by translation. For "глупый", it's B1; for "дурак", it's A2-B1.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

глупый: /ɡlu.pɨj/ (Stress on the first syllable; The 'ы' sound is a distinct Russian vowel, similar to a short 'i' in "bit".)

дурак: /du.'rak/ (Stress on the second syllable; The 'a' at the end is pronounced like 'ah' in "father".)

Note on глупый: Be cautious with the soft sign (ы); it's a common challenge for English speakers. Pronunciation can vary slightly in fast speech.

Note on дурак: In some dialects, the final 'k' may soften, but standard pronunciation is as above.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Lacking intelligence or common sense (Adjective form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• глупый - Used in everyday situations to describe a person, idea, or action that is foolish or unwise, often in informal settings.
• дурак - Applied to a person in a more direct, sometimes humorous or derogatory way, especially in storytelling or casual talk.

Usage Examples:

• Он такой глупый, что забыл ключи в машине.

  He is so stupid that he left the keys in the car. (This shows the adjective in a simple declarative sentence, highlighting a foolish action.)

• Не будь глупым и не трогай горячую плиту.

  Don't be stupid and don't touch the hot stove. (Illustrates imperative use, advising against unwise behavior.)

• Глупый план привел к провалу всей операции.

  The stupid plan led to the failure of the entire operation. (Demonstrates use in a narrative context, describing an idea.)

• Он всегда делает глупые ошибки в работе.

  He always makes stupid mistakes at work. (Shows plural form and habitual action.)

Meaning 2: A foolish person (Noun form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• дурак - Often used playfully among friends or in folklore, but can be insulting; Context is key to avoid offense.

Usage Examples:

• Не будь дураком, подумай перед тем, как действовать!

  Don't be a fool, think before you act! (Emphasizes direct address in an advisory context.)

• В русской сказке дурак часто оказывается героем.

  In Russian folktales, the fool often turns out to be the hero. (Illustrates cultural usage in literature.)

• Он чувствует себя дураком после этой ошибки.

  He feels like a fool after this mistake. (Shows emotional or self-reflective context.)

• Дураки не учатся на чужих ошибках.

  Fools don't learn from others' mistakes. (Uses plural form in a proverbial statement.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "глупый" (adjective), it follows standard Russian adjective declension patterns, which change based on gender, number, and case. It is a regular adjective.

For "дурак" (noun, masculine), it is a first-declension noun with regular inflections:

• Nominative: дурак
• Genitive: дурака
• Dative: дураку
• Accusative: дурака
• Instrumental: дураком
• Prepositional: дураке
• Plural forms vary: Nominative plural is дураки, etc.

Both words do not have irregular changes but require attention to case agreement in sentences.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • тупой (more blunt, often implying slowness; used for intellectual dullness)
  • неумный (less common, emphasizes lack of wisdom)
• Antonyms:
  • умный (intelligent, wise)
  • хитрый (clever, but with a cunning connotation)

Related Phrases:

• глупый вопрос - A stupid question (Literal phrase used to dismiss trivial inquiries.)
• дурак на работе - Fool at work (Common in casual discussions about workplace errors.)
• не будь глупым - Don't be stupid (An idiomatic expression for giving advice.)

Usage Notes:

"Глупый" directly corresponds to the adjective form of "stupid" in English and is versatile in Russian sentences, but always agree it with the noun's gender, number, and case. "Дурак" is more noun-based and can be seen as a stronger, more personal insult, so use it cautiously in formal contexts. In Russian, these words often appear in informal speech or humor; for polite alternatives, consider "неразумный" in professional settings. When choosing between translations, opt for "глупый" for general descriptions and "дурак" for character-based references.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "глупый" without proper case agreement, e.g., saying "Я вижу глупый человек" instead of "Я вижу глупого человека" (Genitive case required after "виде́ть"). Correct: Я вижу глупого человека. Explanation: Russian requires adjectives to match nouns in case, which English speakers often overlook.

• Error: Overusing "дурак" in formal writing, e.g., translating "He is stupid" as "Он дурак" in a business email. Correct: Use "Он глупый" or rephrase to "Он неразумен". Explanation: "Дурак" is highly informal and can offend, whereas English "stupid" is milder.

• Error: Mispronouncing the stress, e.g., stressing the wrong syllable in "дурак". Correct Pronunciation: /du.'rak/. Explanation: Incorrect stress can change perceived meaning or make you sound non-native.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "дурак" are prevalent in folklore and proverbs (e.g., "Дурак учится на своих ошибках" - A fool learns from his own mistakes), often portraying the "fool" as a clever underdog. This reflects a humorous take on intelligence, differing from English-speaking cultures where such terms might be more straightforwardly negative.

Related Concepts:

• умный (intelligent)
• интеллект (intellect)
• ошибка (mistake)