Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'tacky'

English Word: tacky

Key Russian Translations:

• липкий [lʲipˈkʲij] - [Informal, used for physical stickiness]
• вульгарный [vʊlʲˈɡarnɨj] - [Formal, used for tasteless or vulgar connotations]
• пошлый [poʃˈlɨj] - [Informal, used in everyday contexts for cheap or tacky appearance]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday Russian speech, especially in descriptive contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjectives and their inflections, with some translations varying by context)

Pronunciation (Russian):

липкий: [lʲipˈkʲij]

вульгарный: [vʊlʲˈɡarnɨj]

пошлый: [poʃˈlɨj]

Note on липкий: The stress falls on the second syllable; be careful with the soft 'л' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers.

Note on вульгарный: The 'г' is pronounced as a voiced velar fricative; it may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Adhesive or sticky (Referring to something that sticks or adheres)

Translation(s) & Context:

• липкий - Used in physical or literal contexts, such as describing glue or surfaces; common in informal, everyday conversations.

Usage Examples:

• Эта клейкая лента не отходит от стены.

  This tacky tape won't come off the wall.

• После дождя дорожка становится липкой и скользкой.

  After the rain, the path becomes tacky and slippery.

• Липкий материал на обуви мешает ходить по чистому полу.

  The tacky material on the shoes makes it hard to walk on a clean floor.

• Дети любят играть с липкими веществами, как пластилин.

  Kids love playing with tacky substances like modeling clay.

Meaning 2: Tasteless or vulgar (Referring to something cheap, gaudy, or in poor taste)

Translation(s) & Context:

• вульгарный - Used in formal or critical contexts, such as fashion or decor; implies a sense of offensiveness.
• пошлый - Used in informal settings for everyday items that are tacky or lacking refinement.

Usage Examples:

• Её платье было слишком вульгарным для такой вечеринки.

  Her dress was too tacky for such a party.

• Этот дизайн интерьера кажется пошлым и неуместным.

  This interior design seems tacky and out of place.

• Вульгарные украшения на витрине отпугивают покупателей.

  The tacky jewelry in the display window scares off customers.

• Пошлый юмор в фильме не всем приходится по вкусу.

  The tacky humor in the movie isn't to everyone's taste.

• Он выбрал вульгарный подарок, который выглядел дешево.

  He picked a tacky gift that looked cheap.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. They follow standard adjective patterns with some irregularities.

For липкий (adjective):

For вульгарный and пошлый, they follow similar patterns but are less commonly inflected in modern usage. These adjectives do not have irregular forms and change endings based on standard rules.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • липкий: клейкий (sticky, more specific to glue)
  • вульгарный: вульгарный can be synonymous with пошлый in informal contexts, but вульгарный implies more offense.
  • пошлый: банальный (banal, for tastelessness)
• Antonyms:
  • липкий: гладкий (smooth)
  • вульгарный: изысканный (elegant)
  • пошлый: утонченный (refined)

Related Phrases:

• липкий как смола - Sticky like resin; used to describe something extremely adhesive.
• вульгарный вкус - Tacky taste; refers to poor aesthetic judgment in fashion or art.
• пошлый стиль - Tacky style; common in discussions of outdated or cheap trends.

Usage Notes:

"Tacky" in English often carries a negative connotation, similar to its Russian translations. Choose "липкий" for literal stickiness and "вульгарный" or "пошлый" for figurative meanings. Be mindful of context: "вульгарный" is more formal and might imply moral judgment, while "пошлый" is informal and everyday. In Russian, adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, which has no direct equivalent in English. For learners, start with simple sentences to practice inflections.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "липкий" in a figurative sense for tastelessness. Correct: This is incorrect because "липкий" is strictly for physical stickiness. Instead, use "вульгарный" for tacky items, e.g., Wrong: "Это липкий дизайн" (This tacky design) | Correct: "Это вульгарный дизайн" (This tacky design). Explanation: Confusing literal and figurative meanings can lead to misunderstandings in communication.

• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "липкий книга" instead of "липкая книга" for a feminine noun. Correct: Always match the adjective ending to the noun's gender and case. Explanation: Russian grammar requires this, unlike English, so English speakers often overlook it.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "вульгарный" often reflect societal values around refinement and modesty, influenced by historical contexts such as Soviet-era aesthetics. For instance, what might be seen as "tacky" in urban Russian settings could be everyday in rural areas, highlighting class and regional differences.

Related Concepts:

• клейкий (another term for sticky)
• изысканный (elegant, as an opposite)
• банальный (banal, related to tastelessness)