Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'tatty'

English Word: tatty

Key Russian Translations:

• зашарпанный [zəʃɐrɐˈpanːɨj] - [Informal, often used for clothing or everyday objects]
• потрёпанный [pɐˈtrʲɵpənːɨj] - [Informal, commonly applied to books, items, or materials that are worn from use]

Frequency: Low (This word and its translations are not commonly used in everyday Russian conversation; more prevalent in descriptive literature or casual descriptions.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for зашарпанный; B2 (Upper Intermediate) for потрёпанный (due to subtle contextual nuances and adjective inflections).

Pronunciation (Russian):

зашарпанный: [zəʃɐrɐˈpanːɨj]

Note on зашарпанный: The stress falls on the third syllable ("pa"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft 'sh' sound. It may vary slightly in rapid speech.

потрёпанный: [pɐˈtrʲɵpənːɨj]

Note on потрёпанный: The 'ё' sound is a distinct mid-front rounded vowel; pronounce it like "yo" in "yonder," and note the palatalized 'r' which softens the consonant.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Worn out, shabby, or in a state of disrepair, typically describing appearance.

Translation(s) & Context:

• зашарпанный - Used in informal contexts to describe clothing, furniture, or personal items that look unkempt or aged from wear.
• потрёпанный - Applied in scenarios involving books, documents, or objects that have endured physical handling, often implying a sense of charm or history.

Usage Examples:

• Эта старая куртка уже зашарпанная, но я всё равно её ношу.

  This old jacket is already tatty, but I still wear it.

• Книга была потрёпанной, с загнутыми страницами от частого чтения.

  The book was tatty, with dog-eared pages from frequent reading.

• В магазине я увидел зашарпанный диван, который явно нуждался в ремонте.

  In the store, I saw a tatty sofa that clearly needed repairing.

• Её потрёпанные ботинки свидетельствовали о долгих прогулках по горам.

  Her tatty boots were evidence of long walks in the mountains.

• Зашарпанный вид комнаты говорил о том, что хозяева не заботятся о доме.

  The tatty appearance of the room suggested that the owners didn't care for the house.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "зашарпанный" and "потрёпанный" are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern for most cases, but these words are regular in their inflections. Below is a table outlining the key inflections for each:

Note: These adjectives do not have irregular forms, making them straightforward for learners. Always agree the adjective with the noun it modifies in gender, number, and case.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • старый (old) - More general, often implying age rather than wear.
  • изношенный (worn out) - Emphasizes physical deterioration from use.
  • обветшалый (decrepit) - Used for buildings or long-term neglect, with a slightly more formal tone.
• Antonyms:
  • новый (new) - Directly opposite, indicating freshness or modernity.
  • свежий (fresh) - Applies to appearance, especially in contexts like clothing.

Related Phrases:

• зашарпанный вид - A tatty appearance; used to describe something that looks unkempt overall.
• потрёпанный жизнью - Battered by life; a metaphorical phrase implying wear from experiences, often in literary contexts.
• изношенный и зашарпанный - Worn out and tatty; a common combination for emphasizing severe condition.

Usage Notes:

• "Tatty" corresponds most closely to "зашарпанный" in informal, everyday Russian, but "потрёпанный" is preferred for items with a history of use, like books. Choose based on context: use "зашарпанный" for fashion or personal items, and "потрёпанный" for durable goods.
• These words are typically informal; in formal writing, opt for "изношенный" to avoid sounding colloquial.
• Grammatically, ensure the adjective agrees with the noun in gender, number, and case, as per Russian rules—this is a common point of confusion for English speakers used to invariant adjectives.
• In spoken Russian, these words can carry a humorous or affectionate tone, similar to "tatty" in English, so they're great for casual storytelling.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "зашарпанный" interchangeably with "старый" without considering context. Incorrect: "Эта машина старая и зашарпанный." (Grammatical error; adjective must agree.) Correct: "Эта машина старая и зашарпанная." Explanation: "Зашарпанный" must match the feminine noun "машина" in gender and case; this mix-up often stems from English's lack of agreement rules.
• Error: Overusing "потрёпанный" for new items. Incorrect: "Новый рюкзак потрёпанный." (Misapplication.) Correct: Avoid using it for new items; instead, say "новый рюкзак" and reserve "потрёпанный" for worn ones. Explanation: This can make your Russian sound unnatural, as it implies prior wear when none exists.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "зашарпанный" or "потрёпанный" often evoke a sense of nostalgia or resilience, especially in literature (e.g., in works by Chekhov). They can imply that something old and worn has character or history, reflecting a cultural appreciation for endurance over perfection, which contrasts with more consumerist attitudes in some English-speaking contexts.

Related Concepts:

• старый
• изношенный
• обветшалый
• ветхий