Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'thick'

English Word: thick

Key Russian Translations:

• Толстый [tɐlˈstɨj] - [Formal, used for physical thickness of objects or people]
• Густой [ˈɡustəj] - [Informal, used for density or viscosity, e.g., liquids]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday descriptions, but not as frequent as basic adjectives like "big")

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjective declensions, which can vary by translation)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Толстый: [tɐlˈstɨj]

Note on Толстый: The stress is on the second syllable; be careful with the soft 'ы' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers. It can vary slightly in fast speech.

Густой: [ˈɡustəj]

Note on Густой: Stress on the first syllable; the 'у' is pronounced like a short 'oo' in "book." This word is straightforward but may have regional variations in emphasis.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Having a large distance between opposite sides (e.g., referring to physical thickness)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Толстый - Used in formal or descriptive contexts for objects like books or walls, emphasizing physical dimensions.

Usage Examples:

• Эта книга толстая и тяжёлая. (Eta kniga tolstaya i tyazhelaya.)

  This book is thick and heavy. (Demonstrates basic descriptive use in a simple sentence.)

• Стены в этом доме очень толстые, чтобы сохранить тепло. (Steny v etom dome ochen' tolstye, chtoby sokhranit' teplo.)

  The walls in this house are very thick to retain heat. (Shows usage in a practical, everyday context.)

• Его пальто сделано из толстого материала. (Yego pal'to sdelano iz tolstogo materiala.)

  His coat is made of thick material. (Illustrates adjective agreement with nouns in a clothing context.)

• Толстый слой краски защищает дерево от дождя. (Tolstyy sloy kraski zashchishchaet derevo ot dozhdya.)

  The thick layer of paint protects the wood from rain. (Highlights usage in a metaphorical or protective sense.)

Meaning 2: Dense or viscous (e.g., referring to liquids or crowds)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Густой - Used in informal contexts for substances like soup or fog, emphasizing density rather than size.

Usage Examples:

• Суп сегодня густой и ароматный. (Sup segodnya gustoy i aromaticheskiy.)

  The soup today is thick and aromatic. (Shows common culinary usage.)

• Туман был таким густым, что ничего не видно. (Tuman byl takikh gustym, chto nichego ne vidno.)

  The fog was so thick that nothing was visible. (Demonstrates usage in weather descriptions.)

• Густой лес затрудняет путь. (Gustoy les zatudaet put'.)

  The thick forest makes the path difficult. (Illustrates application to natural environments.)

• Эта краска густая, её нужно развести водой. (Eta kraska gustaya, yeyo nuzhno razvesti vodoy.)

  This paint is thick; it needs to be diluted with water. (Highlights practical advice in a DIY context.)

• Густой crowd gathered at the square. (Corrected: Густая толпа собралась на площади.)

  A thick crowd gathered at the square. (Note: Adapted for crowds, showing flexibility.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "Толстый" and "Густой" are Russian adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow standard patterns for first-conjugation adjectives.

Note: These adjectives have regular inflections, but always check agreement with the noun's gender, number, and case. For irregular cases, consult a full grammar reference.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Толстый: Крепкий (krepkiy - sturdy, for objects)
  • Густой: Плотный (plotnyy - dense)
• Antonyms:
  • Тонкий (tonkiy - thin)
  • Жидкий (zhidkiy - liquid or thin, for viscosity)

Related Phrases:

• Толстая книга (Tolstaya kniga) - A thick book; used in literary or educational contexts to describe volume.
• Густой суп (Gustoy sup) - Thick soup; a common phrase in cooking, implying a hearty meal.
• Густой туман (Gustoy tuman) - Thick fog; often used in weather reports or storytelling for atmospheric effect.

Usage Notes:

"Thick" in English corresponds closely to "Толстый" for physical dimensions and "Густой" for density, but always consider context—use "Толстый" for solids and "Густой" for fluids to avoid confusion. In formal Russian, adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun. For example, choose "Толстый" over "Густой" when describing inanimate objects. Beginners should practice declensions to master this vocabulary effectively.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "Толстый" for liquids, e.g., saying "Толстый суп" instead of "Густой суп".

  Correct: Густой суп. Explanation: "Толстый" implies physical thickness, which doesn't fit liquids; this can sound unnatural or confusing to native speakers.

• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "Толстый книга" (incorrect feminine form).

  Correct: Толстая книга. Explanation: Russian adjectives change endings based on the noun's gender; English speakers often overlook this, leading to grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "Толстый" can carry subtle connotations; for instance, it might evoke Leo Tolstoy (the author), linking to literary heritage. "Густой" in contexts like food reflects the importance of hearty, traditional meals in Russian cuisine, such as in borscht, emphasizing community and warmth during winters.

Related Concepts:

• Плотный (Plotnyy - dense)
• Тонкий (Tonkiy - thin)
• Крепкий (Krepkiy - sturdy)