Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'ungainly'

English Word: ungainly

Key Russian Translations:

• неуклюжий /nʲɪʊˈkluʐɨj/ - [Informal, commonly used for describing physical awkwardness]
• незграбный /nʲɪzˈɡrabnɨj/ - [Formal, often in literary or descriptive contexts]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are encountered in everyday conversation, literature, and descriptions, but not as frequently as basic adjectives like "big" or "small").

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjective inflections and contextual usage. For 'неуклюжий', it's B2 due to common forms; for 'незграбный', it may lean toward B2-C1 for more formal applications).

Pronunciation (Russian):

неуклюжий: /nʲɪʊˈkluʐɨj/ (Note the soft 'н' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers; it starts with a palatalized 'n' as in 'new'.)

незграбный: /nʲɪzˈɡrabnɨj/ (Emphasize the 'з' sound, similar to 'z' in 'zebra', and the stress on the second syllable.)

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Clumsy or awkward in movement, shape, or appearance (the primary sense of 'ungainly').

Translation(s) & Context:

• неуклюжий - Used in informal everyday contexts to describe a person or object that is physically awkward or uncoordinated, such as in casual conversations.
• незграбный - Applied in more formal or literary settings to convey a sense of clumsiness with a hint of inelegance, often in descriptions or narratives.

Usage Examples:

• Он неуклюжий, когда пытается танцевать.

  He is ungainly when he tries to dance. (This example shows the adjective in a simple predicate structure, highlighting physical awkwardness in an informal context.)

• Эта мебель неуклюжая и занимает слишком много места.

  This furniture is ungainly and takes up too much space. (Illustrates use with inanimate objects, demonstrating agreement in gender and number.)

• Её движения были незграбными во время представления.

  Her movements were ungainly during the performance. (Shows 'незграбный' in a formal context, such as a theatrical or artistic setting.)

• Неуклюжий подросток споткнулся о собственные ноги.

  The ungainly teenager tripped over his own feet. (Emphasizes the adjective in a narrative, capturing youthful clumsiness.)

• Незграбный дизайн здания отпугивает посетителей.

  The ungainly design of the building deters visitors. (Demonstrates use in a metaphorical sense, common in formal critiques.)

Meaning 2: Awkward or ungraceful in a figurative sense (e.g., socially or intellectually).

Translation(s) & Context:

• неуклюжий - Used informally for social awkwardness, like in conversations about behavior.
• незграбный - Less common but applicable in formal writing for intellectual or emotional clumsiness.

Usage Examples:

• Его неуклюжий юмор не всегда понятен друзьям.

  His ungainly humor isn't always understood by friends. (This shows figurative use in social contexts.)

• Незграбная попытка извинения только ухудшила ситуацию.

  The ungainly attempt at an apology only made things worse. (Highlights emotional awkwardness in a formal narrative.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'неуклюжий' and 'незграбный' are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow standard patterns for short and long forms.

These adjectives follow regular patterns without irregularities, but always ensure agreement with the noun's gender, number, and case. If used predicatively, short forms like 'неуклюж' (for masculine) may apply in some contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • неуклюжий - Similar to 'неловкий' (more about social awkwardness)
  • незграбный - Close to 'топорный' (clumsy in a rough, unrefined way)
• Antonyms:
  • грациозный (graceful, elegant)
  • ловкий (skillful, agile)

Related Phrases:

• неуклюжий жест - An awkward gesture (used to describe uncoordinated body language in social interactions).
• незграбная походка - An ungainly gait (refers to an awkward way of walking, often in literary descriptions).
• неуклюжий попытка - A clumsy attempt (common in everyday language for failed efforts).

Usage Notes:

'Ungainly' directly corresponds to 'неуклюжий' in informal settings and 'незграбный' in formal ones. Choose 'неуклюжий' for everyday conversations about physical clumsiness, as it's more neutral and widely used. Be mindful of adjective agreement: always match gender, number, and case with the noun (e.g., 'неуклюжая девушка' for 'ungainly girl'). In Russian, these words can carry a slightly humorous or pejorative tone, so context matters to avoid offense. If the awkwardness is intellectual, 'незграбный' might be preferable in writing.

Common Errors:

• Error: Forgetting to inflect the adjective, e.g., saying 'неуклюжий дом' for a feminine noun like 'девушка' (girl), resulting in 'неуклюжий девушка' instead of 'неуклюжая девушка'.

  Correct: 'неуклюжая девушка' - Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree in gender; using the wrong form can make the sentence grammatically incorrect and confusing.

• Error: Overusing 'неуклюжий' in formal contexts, where 'незграбный' is more appropriate, e.g., in academic writing.

  Correct: Opt for 'незграбный' in formal texts - Explanation: This maintains the right tone; 'неуклюжий' may sound too casual or diminutive.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'неуклюжий' often appear in literature and folklore to humorously depict characters, such as in folktales where protagonists overcome their awkwardness. This reflects a cultural appreciation for self-deprecating humor and personal growth, similar to how 'ungainly' might be used in English stories.

Related Concepts:

• неловкий (awkward in a social sense)
• топорный (clumsy in execution)
• грациозный (graceful, as an opposite concept)