Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'tomfool'

English Word: tomfool

Key Russian Translations:

• дурак [ˈdurək] - [Informal, Masculine]
• дура [ˈdurə] - [Informal, Feminine]
• глупец [ˈɡlupʲɛts] - [Formal, Neutral]

Frequency: Low (This word and its translations are not commonly used in everyday modern Russian; more prevalent in literary or archaic contexts.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, as it involves basic noun inflections and contextual usage, but requires understanding of gender and formality.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

дурак: [ˈdurək]

дура: [ˈdurə]

глупец: [ˈɡlupʲɛts]

Note on дурак: The stress is on the first syllable; be careful with the rolled 'r' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers. Variations in fast speech may soften the vowels.

Note on глупец: Pronounce the 'г' as a voiced velar fricative, similar to the 'g' in "go," but ensure the 'л' is palatalized.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A foolish or silly person (often implying playful or harmless stupidity)

Translation(s) & Context:

• дурак - Used in informal, everyday conversations to describe a man acting foolishly, often with affection or mild criticism.
• дура - Applied to a woman in similar informal contexts; avoid in formal settings due to potential offensiveness.
• глупец - A more neutral or formal term, suitable for written language or polite discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Он такой дурак, что забыл ключи в машине! (He is such a tomfool that he left the keys in the car!)

  He is such a fool that he left the keys in the car!

• Не будь дураком и послушай мой совет. (Don't be a tomfool and listen to my advice.)

  Don't be a fool and listen to my advice. (This shows imperative use in advice-giving.)

• Её друзья называют её дурой за эти глупые шутки. (Her friends call her a tomfool for these silly jokes.)

  Her friends call her a fool for these silly jokes. (Illustrates feminine form in social contexts.)

• В старой сказке глупец в конце становится героем. (In the old fairy tale, the tomfool becomes the hero in the end.)

  In the old fairy tale, the fool becomes the hero in the end. (Demonstrates literary or narrative usage.)

• Глупец, который игнорирует правила, всегда в беде. (The tomfool who ignores the rules is always in trouble.)

  The fool who ignores the rules is always in trouble. (Shows formal tone in moral or advisory contexts.)

Meaning 2: Playful or mischievous behavior (less common, implying light-hearted folly)

Translation(s) & Context:

• дурак - In playful contexts, like games or teasing, to denote someone acting mischievously.
• глупец - Rarely used for this meaning; prefer in educational or reflective discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Дети играют в дурака, чтобы развлечься. (The kids are playing tomfool to have fun.)

  The kids are playing the fool to have fun. (Refers to a game or activity.)

• Он дурит как глупец на вечеринке. (He is acting like a tomfool at the party.)

  He is acting like a fool at the party. (Highlights behavioral aspect.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily nouns and follow standard Russian inflection patterns. "Дурак" and "дура" are irregular in some ways due to their common usage, while "глупец" is more regular.

Note: These nouns decline based on case, number, and gender. "Дурак" and "дура" have some irregular forms in colloquial speech but follow standard patterns in writing.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • глупый (glupyj) - More of an adjective, meaning "foolish," with subtle differences in implying temporary behavior.
  • идиот (idiot) - Stronger, more derogatory term for extreme foolishness.
  • болван (bolvan) - Informal, emphasizing stupidity in a humorous way.
• Antonyms:
  • умный (umnyj) - Meaning "smart" or "intelligent."
  • мудрый (mudryj) - Meaning "wise," often with a connotation of experience.

Related Phrases:

• Дурак на работе (Duraak na rabote) - Meaning: A fool at work; refers to someone making silly mistakes professionally.
• Не будь дураком (Ne bud' duraakom) - Meaning: Don't be a fool; a common admonition in casual advice.
• Глупец в сказке (Glupets v skazke) - Meaning: The fool in the fairy tale; often used in literary contexts to describe archetypal characters.

Usage Notes:

"Tomfool" corresponds most directly to "дурак" in informal Russian, but English speakers should note that this term can be offensive if used carelessly—it's affectionate in some contexts but insulting in others. Choose "глупец" for formal or written English, as it avoids gender specificity. Be mindful of Russian's grammatical gender: use "дурак" for males and "дура" for females. In sentences, inflect based on case (e.g., after prepositions). When translating, consider the tone—Russian often amplifies emotional weight.

• Always check the context: "Дурак" is common in spoken language but rare in official documents.
• For multiple translations, prefer "глупец" when neutrality is needed to avoid gender assumptions.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse the gender forms, e.g., using "дурак" for a female subject, which sounds incorrect or sexist. Incorrect: "Она дурак" (She is tomfool) – Right: "Она дура". Another error is forgetting inflections, like saying "Я видел дурак" instead of "Я видел дурака" (I saw the fool). Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, so always adjust the ending based on the sentence structure to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "дурак" often appear in folklore and proverbs, such as in fairy tales where the "fool" (e.g., Ivan the Fool) ultimately triumphs through cleverness. This reflects a cultural trope of hidden wisdom in apparent foolishness, contrasting with English perceptions of "tomfool" as purely silly.

Related Concepts:

• идиот
• болван
• умник