Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'unkempt'

English Word: unkempt

Key Russian Translations:

• неухоженный [nʲɪ.u.xɐ.ˈʐɛn.nɨj] - [Adjective, General use, Formal and Informal]
• непричесанный [nʲɪ.prʲɪ.ˈt͡ɕes.ən.nɨj] - [Adjective, Specifically for hair or appearance, Informal]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday descriptions of appearance, but not as frequent as basic adjectives like "хороший").

Difficulty: B1 Intermediate (Requires understanding of Russian adjectives and their inflections; for "неухоженный," it's straightforward, but for "непричесанный," context-specific usage may add slight complexity).

Pronunciation (Russian):

неухоженный: [nʲɪ.u.xɐ.ˈʐɛn.nɨj]

Note on неухоженный: The stress falls on the third syllable ("ʐɛn"), which is common for many Russian adjectives. Be careful with the soft "н" sound at the end.

Audio: []

непричесанный: [nʲɪ.prʲɪ.ˈt͡ɕes.ən.nɨj]

Note on непричесанный: The "ч" is a soft palatal fricative, similar to "ch" in "church," and the stress is on the third syllable. This word often varies slightly in casual speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Not neat or cared for in appearance, often referring to hair, clothing, or overall look.

Translation(s) & Context:

• неухоженный - Used in general contexts for anything unkempt, such as a person's appearance or a room; common in both formal writing and informal conversation.
• непричесанный - Specifically for untidy hair or personal grooming; more informal and conversational, often in everyday dialogue.

Usage Examples:

• Его волосы были неухоженными после долгого дня работы.

  His hair was unkempt after a long day at work.

• Она выглядела непричесанной, но это ей даже подходило.

  She looked unkempt, but it suited her anyway.

• Ветер сделал мои волосы неухоженными и растрепанными.

  The wind made my hair unkempt and disheveled.

• Неухоженный сад за домом нуждался в тщательном уходе.

  The unkempt garden behind the house needed thorough care.

• Дети часто бывают непричесанными после игр на улице.

  Children are often unkempt after playing outside.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "неухоженный" and "непричесанный" are Russian adjectives, which typically follow the standard adjective declension patterns. Russian adjectives agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify. They are inflected based on the noun's characteristics and do not have irregular forms in this case.

These adjectives are regular and follow the first declension pattern. If the noun is in a different case, the adjective changes accordingly to maintain agreement.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: запущенный (more severe neglect), неряшливый (sloppy or messy; often implies carelessness)
• Antonyms: аккуратный (neat), ухоженный (well-groomed; directly opposite in the context of appearance)

Related Phrases:

• неухоженный вид - Unkempt appearance; used to describe someone's overall look in a formal or descriptive context.
• непричесанный стиль - Unkempt style; often refers to a deliberate fashion choice, like in casual or artistic settings.
• запущенный и неухоженный - Neglected and unkempt; a phrase emphasizing severe disarray.

Usage Notes:

"Unkempt" translates most accurately to "неухоженный" in general contexts, but "непричесанный" is better for hair-specific scenarios. In Russian, these adjectives must agree with the noun in gender, number, and case, which differs from English. For formal writing, prefer "неухоженный" as it sounds more polished, while "непричесанный" is ideal for informal conversations. When choosing between translations, consider the exact context: if it's about personal grooming, "непричесанный" might be more precise. Avoid direct word-for-word translations; instead, focus on the nuance of neglect.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "неухоженный" interchangeably with "грязный" (dirty), assuming they mean the same thing. Correct: "Неухоженный" implies untidiness due to lack of care, not necessarily dirtiness. Example of error: "Он неухоженный" when meaning "he is dirty." Correct usage: "Он неухоженный" for "he is unkempt," and "он грязный" for "he is dirty." This confusion arises from overlapping connotations in English.

• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "неухоженный женщина" instead of "неухоженная женщина." Correct: Always inflect the adjective to match the noun's gender and case, as in "неухоженная женщина" (unkempt woman).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, appearance and grooming are often tied to social norms, especially in urban settings. Words like "неухоженный" can carry a subtle judgment, implying a lack of self-respect or social awareness, which is more pronounced in contexts like job interviews or public events. Historically, during the Soviet era, maintaining a "neat" appearance was emphasized in propaganda, so these terms might evoke ideas of personal discipline versus neglect.

Related Concepts:

• аккуратный
• ухоженный
• запущенный