Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sweaty'

English Word: sweaty

Key Russian Translations:

• потный /pɐtˈnɨj/ - [Informal, Everyday language]
• влажный /ˈvlɑʒnɨj/ - [Formal, Less direct; used when emphasizing moisture rather than sweat specifically]

Frequency: Medium (Common in casual conversations about physical activity or weather, but not as frequent as basic adjectives like "big" or "small").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjective declensions and everyday vocabulary. For "потный", it's straightforward; for "влажный", it may vary slightly in nuance.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

потный: /pɐtˈnɨj/ (Stress on the second syllable; the "о" is pronounced as a short "a" sound.)

влажный: /ˈvlɑʒnɨj/ (Stress on the first syllable; note the soft "ж" sound, which can be tricky for beginners.)

Note on потный: This word has a clear, guttural "т" sound; be careful not to soften it in formal speech. Variations may occur in dialects, but standard Russian uses this pronunciation.

Note on влажный: The "ж" is a voiced fricative; practice with native speakers to avoid confusing it with "sh" sounds in English.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Covered in sweat (Referring to a person or object that is moist due to perspiration)

Translation(s) & Context:

• потный - Used in informal settings like sports or daily life to describe someone sweating after exercise; common in spoken Russian.
• влажный - Applied in more neutral or formal contexts, such as describing sweaty hands in a professional setting, but less specific to sweat.

Usage Examples:

• После тренировки он был весь потный и усталый.

  After the workout, he was all sweaty and tired. (This example shows the adjective in a nominative context with a person as the subject.)

• Летом в жару люди становятся потными на улице.

  In the summer heat, people get sweaty on the street. (Illustrates usage in a plural, environmental context.)

• Её ладони были влажными от нервов перед экзаменом.

  Her palms were sweaty from nerves before the exam. (Here, "влажный" is used for a more subtle, emotional scenario.)

• Потный футболист вытер лоб во время матча.

  The sweaty footballer wiped his forehead during the match. (Demonstrates the word in a sports-related, action-oriented sentence.)

• В сауне все становятся влажными, но это полезно для здоровья.

  In the sauna, everyone gets sweaty, but it's good for health. (Shows "влажный" in a wellness context, highlighting its broader applicability.)

Meaning 2: Causing sweat (Referring to something that induces perspiration, like hot weather or intense activity)

Translation(s) & Context:

• потный - Informal; used metaphorically for situations that make one sweat, e.g., hard work.
• влажный - Less common; might imply a humid environment causing sweat.

Usage Examples:

• Эта работа такая потная, что нужно часто переодеваться.

  This job is so sweaty that you need to change clothes often. (Emphasizes the inducing aspect in a professional context.)

• В тропиках климат влажный и потный круглый год.

  In the tropics, the climate is humid and sweaty all year round. (Combines both translations to describe weather.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "потный" and "влажный" are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern for most words, but "потный" is regular, while "влажный" has no irregularities.

Note: These adjectives do not change in short form or have special verbal aspects, as they are not verbs. They remain invariant in comparative forms (e.g., потнее for more sweaty).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • мокрый (mokryy) - Wetter connotation, often used interchangeably in casual speech; more general for moisture.
  • испитанный (ispitannyj) - Literary; implies exhaustion from sweat, with a poetic nuance.
• Antonyms:
  • сухой (sukhoy) - Dry; directly opposite, used for lack of moisture.
  • прохладный (prokhladnyy) - Cool; implies no sweat due to comfortable temperature.

Related Phrases:

• Потный от усилий - Sweaty from effort; used to describe physical exertion in workouts or labor.
• Влажные ладони - Sweaty palms; common in contexts of anxiety or nervousness.
• Потеть как мышь - To sweat like a mouse; an idiomatic expression meaning to sweat profusely, often humorously.

Usage Notes:

"Sweaty" directly corresponds to "потный" in most informal English-Russian translations, but choose "влажный" for contexts involving general moisture without emphasizing sweat. In Russian, these adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, which is a key grammatical difference from English. For example, use "потный" in everyday speech but opt for "влажный" in formal writing. Be aware of regional variations; in some dialects, "потный" might sound more colloquial.

• Grammar tip: Always decline the adjective based on the noun (e.g., потный дом for a sweaty house in masculine nominative).
• Context guidance: "Потный" is ideal for sports or health discussions, while "влажный" fits environmental or scientific descriptions.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "потный" without proper declension, e.g., saying "потный женщина" instead of "потная женщина".
  Correct: потная женщина (feminine form). Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender; this mistake often comes from direct English translation habits.
• Error: Confusing "потный" with "влажный" in physical activity contexts, leading to understatement (e.g., using "влажный" for a visibly sweating person).
  Correct: Use "потный" for sweat-specific scenarios. Explanation: "Влажный" implies general dampness, which can dilute the intended meaning in vivid descriptions.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like "потный" are often linked to stoic endurance in physical labor or sports, reflecting historical values of hard work in rural or Soviet-era contexts. For instance, sweating during exercise is sometimes seen as a sign of health and resilience, as in traditional banyas (saunas), where getting "потный" is a communal, therapeutic experience.

Related Concepts:

• потеет (sweats, as a verb)
• влажность (humidity)
• усталость (fatigue, often accompanying sweat)