Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'trashy'

English Word: trashy

Key Russian Translations:

• вульгарный [vʊlʲˈɡarnɨj] - [Informal, often used for tasteless or low-quality items in everyday contexts]
• пошлый [ˈpoʂlɨj] - [Formal, typically for vulgar or tacky elements in literature or social commentary]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in discussions of culture, media, and fashion, but not as frequent as basic adjectives like "good" or "bad")

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate, as it involves nuanced cultural connotations; learners at this level should grasp the subtleties, though вульгарный might be easier than пошлый for beginners)

Pronunciation (Russian):

вульгарный: [vʊlʲˈɡarnɨj]

Note on вульгарный: The stress falls on the third syllable ("gar"), and the "л" is palatalized, which can be tricky for English speakers. Pronounce it with a soft "l" sound as in "million".

пошлый: [ˈpoʂlɨj]

Note on пошлый: The "ш" is a voiceless retroflex fricative, similar to the "sh" in "shoe" but more guttural; stress is on the first syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Describing something of poor taste, low quality, or vulgar in style (e.g., trashy novels, fashion, or behavior).

Translation(s) & Context:

• вульгарный - Used in informal contexts like criticizing cheap entertainment or gaudy appearances, often in everyday conversations.
• пошлый - Applied in more formal or literary settings, such as analyzing art or social norms, to denote something superficially appealing but fundamentally tacky.

Usage Examples:

• Эта вульгарная одежда не подходит для деловой встречи.

  This trashy clothing is not suitable for a business meeting.

• Фильм оказался пошлым, полный клише и безвкусицы.

  The movie turned out to be trashy, full of clichés and poor taste.

• Её вульгарный юмор раздражает на вечеринках.

  Her trashy humor is annoying at parties.

• Пошлый дизайн интерьера отпугивает потенциальных покупателей.

  The trashy interior design scares off potential buyers.

• Вульгарные украшения сделали её образ ещё более вызывающим.

  The trashy jewelry made her look even more provocative.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "вульгарный" and "пошлый" are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern for most cases, but they can have irregularities. Below is a table for "вульгарный" (as it is more commonly used); "пошлый" follows similar rules.

For "пошлый", the forms are identical in structure (e.g., Nominative: пошлый, пошлая, пошлое, пошлые). These adjectives do not have irregular inflections, making them straightforward for learners once the basic patterns are mastered.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • пошлый (similar to вульгарный but with a more intellectual connotation)
  • вульгарный (exact synonym, but often used interchangeably in casual speech)
  • Note: вульгарный is preferred in informal settings, while пошлый might imply a deeper cultural critique.
• Antonyms:
  • элегантный (elegant, refined)
  • изысканный (refined, sophisticated)

Related Phrases:

• вульгарный стиль - A trashy style; often used to describe overly flashy or tasteless fashion choices.
• пошлый юмор - Trashy humor; refers to crude or vulgar jokes in entertainment.
• вульгарная литература - Trashy literature; commonly for low-quality novels or pulp fiction.

Usage Notes:

"Trashy" in English often carries a light-hearted or judgmental tone, and its Russian equivalents like "вульгарный" or "пошлый" do the same, but with cultural nuances. For instance, "вульгарный" is more common in everyday speech for describing superficial trashiness, while "пошлый" is better for formal contexts like literary analysis. Be mindful of the adjective's agreement with nouns in gender, number, and case. When choosing between translations, opt for "вульгарный" in casual scenarios and "пошлый" for deeper critiques to avoid sounding overly harsh.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "вульгарный" in formal writing when "пошлый" is more appropriate. Incorrect: В фильме вульгарный сюжет. Correct: В фильме пошлый сюжет. Explanation: "Вульгарный" might sound too colloquial, while "пошлый" fits better for analyzing media.
• Mistake: Forgetting adjective inflections, e.g., saying "вульгарный книга" instead of "вульгарная книга". Incorrect: Эта вульгарный история. Correct: Эта вульгарная история. Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree with the noun's gender (here, feminine).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "вульгарный" often evoke memories of Soviet-era aesthetics, where anything overly extravagant was seen as bourgeois and trashy. Today, it's used in critiques of modern pop culture, reflecting a value for subtlety and refinement in art and daily life, which can help English speakers understand the deeper social judgments embedded in these terms.

Related Concepts:

• стиль (style)
• вкус (taste)
• элегантность (elegance)