Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'tawdry'

English Word: tawdry

Key Russian Translations:

• Вульгарный [vʊlʲˈɡarnɨj] - [Informal; used for describing something showy and tasteless]
• Пошлый [ˈpoʂlɨj] - [Formal; often implies vulgarity with a sense of cheap ostentation]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are encountered in everyday conversations about appearance or culture, but not as common as basic adjectives.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjective inflections and nuanced vocabulary, per CEFR standards.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Вульгарный: [vʊlʲˈɡarnɨj]

Note on Вульгарный: The stress falls on the second syllable ("garn"), which can be tricky for learners due to the soft "l" sound. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Пошлый: [ˈpoʂlɨj]

Note on Пошлый: The "ш" sound is a retroflex, similar to the English "sh" but more palatalized; ensure emphasis on the first syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: Showy in a tasteless, cheap, or vulgar way (e.g., describing something gaudy and lacking refinement)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Вульгарный - Used in informal contexts to criticize something flashy but poor-quality, such as clothing or decor.
• Пошлый - Applied in more formal or literary settings to denote something ostentatious with undertones of moral vulgarity.

Usage Examples:

• Её платье было вульгарным, с яркими перьями и дешёвыми камнями.

  Her dress was tawdry, with bright feathers and cheap stones.

• Этот ювелирный магазин продаёт пошлое золото, которое выглядит дорого, но на самом деле низкого качества.

  This jewelry store sells tawdry gold that looks expensive but is actually of low quality.

• Вульгарный дизайн интерьера отпугивает покупателей, несмотря на низкую цену.

  The tawdry interior design scares off customers, despite the low price.

• Пошлый фестиваль моды показал, как легко переступить грань между элегантностью и вульгарностью.

  The tawdry fashion festival demonstrated how easily one can cross the line between elegance and vulgarity.

• Его вульгарный юмор не подходит для семейного ужина.

  His tawdry humor isn't suitable for a family dinner.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "Вульгарный" and "Пошлый" are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a regular pattern for most cases, but learners should note irregularities in certain forms.

These adjectives are regular and follow standard first-declension patterns. They do not change in short form (e.g., for predicates), but always agree with the noun they modify.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Кричащий (krichashchiy) - Louder and more attention-seeking, often used for colors or styles.
  • Дешёвый (deshevyy) - Emphasizes cheapness over tastelessness.
• Antonyms:
  • Элегантный (elegantnyy) - Refined and sophisticated.
  • Сдержанный (sderzhannyy) - Restrained and modest.

Related Phrases:

• Вульгарный стиль - A tawdry style; often used in fashion critiques to describe over-the-top designs.
• Пошлая мода - Tawdry fashion; refers to trends that are flashy but lacking depth.
• Кричаще-вульгарный дизайн - Overly tawdry design; a phrase highlighting extreme tastelessness in aesthetics.

Usage Notes:

"Tawdry" translates most accurately to "Вульгарный" in informal contexts and "Пошлый" in more formal or literary ones. Be cautious with "Вульгарный" as it can carry a stronger connotation of moral vulgarity in Russian, unlike the English word which focuses on visual cheapness. Use these adjectives to modify nouns directly, ensuring agreement in gender, number, and case. For example, choose "Вульгарный" for everyday speech and "Пошлый" in cultural discussions to avoid sounding overly harsh.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "Вульгарный" interchangeably with "Пошлый" without considering context. For instance, learners might say "Пошлый платье" (incorrect agreement) instead of "Пошлое платье" for neuter nouns.

  Correct: Ensure adjective agreement, e.g., "Её платье пошлое" (Her dress is tawdry). Explanation: Russian requires adjectives to match the noun's gender and case, which English speakers often overlook.

• Error: Overusing "Вульгарный" in formal writing, making text sound too casual. Example of error: "Этот пошлое искусство вульгарный" (grammatically incorrect mix).

  Correct: "Это пошлое искусство" (This is tawdry art). Explanation: Stick to one adjective per context to maintain clarity and avoid redundancy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "Вульгарный" and "Пошлый" often reflect attitudes toward Western influences or consumerism, stemming from historical critiques of materialism in Soviet times. For example, they might be used to describe imported goods perceived as flashy but low-quality, highlighting a cultural preference for understated elegance in traditional Russian aesthetics.

Related Concepts:

• Китч (kitsch)
• Яркий (yarkiy) - Bright or vivid
• Примитивный (primativnyy) - Primitive or unsophisticated