Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'vulgar'

English Word: vulgar

Key Russian Translations:

• вульгарный /vʊlˈɡarnɨj/ - [Informal, often used in everyday conversations to describe something tasteless or crude]
• грубый /ˈɡrubɨj/ - [Formal, broader term for rude or coarse, but less specifically tied to tastelessness]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literature, media, and casual discussions, but not as frequent as everyday words like "good" or "bad")

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjectives and their inflections, but not overly complex for learners at this level)

Pronunciation (Russian):

вульгарный: /vʊlˈɡarnɨj/

Note on вульгарный: The stress falls on the second syllable ("ɡar"). Pay attention to the soft sign (ь) which softens the preceding consonant, making it sound more fluid. Variations in regional accents may slightly alter vowel sounds.

Audio: []

грубый: /ˈɡrubɨj/

Note on грубый: The initial "г" is a hard guttural sound. This word has minimal regional variation but can sound harsher in fast speech.

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Relating to something crude, tasteless, or lacking refinement (e.g., in behavior, style, or language)

Translation(s) & Context:

• вульгарный - Used in informal contexts to criticize something ostentatious or low-class, such as vulgar humor in social settings.
• грубый - Applied in more formal or neutral contexts, like describing rude manners in professional environments.

Usage Examples:

• Его шутки были слишком вульгарными для семейного ужина. (His jokes were too vulgar for a family dinner.)

  Translation: His jokes were too vulgar for a family dinner. (This example shows the adjective in a casual, negative context, highlighting social inappropriateness.)

• Эта вульгарная одежда не подходит для деловой встречи. (This vulgar clothing is not suitable for a business meeting.)

  Translation: This vulgar clothing is not suitable for a business meeting. (Demonstrates usage with material objects, emphasizing poor taste.)

• Грубый тон его голоса отпугивал собеседников. (His vulgar tone of voice scared off conversation partners.)

  Translation: His vulgar tone of voice scared off conversation partners. (Here, "грубый" is used interchangeably but with a focus on rudeness in speech.)

• Вульгарные выражения в литературе часто используются для создания реалистичного образа. (Vulgar expressions in literature are often used to create a realistic image.)

  Translation: Vulgar expressions in literature are often used to create a realistic image. (Illustrates a more neutral, artistic context.)

• Грубый юмор не всегда воспринимается положительно. (Vulgar humor is not always perceived positively.)

  Translation: Vulgar humor is not always perceived positively. (Shows variation in word choice based on context.)

Meaning 2: Pertaining to common or ordinary people (less common in modern usage)

Translation(s) & Context:

• вульгарный - Rarely used in this sense today; more historical or literary, implying something populist.

Usage Examples:

• Вульгарная литература XIX века отражала жизнь простого народа. (Vulgar literature of the 19th century reflected the life of the common people.)

  Translation: Vulgar literature of the 19th century reflected the life of the common people. (This example highlights a historical usage in cultural discussions.)

• Грубый фольклор сохраняет традиции. (Vulgar folklore preserves traditions.)

  Translation: Vulgar folklore preserves traditions. (Less direct, but shows how "грубый" can imply simplicity in folk contexts.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "вульгарный" and "грубый" are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern for most words, but "вульгарный" is a borrowed word and inflects regularly.

Note: These adjectives do not have irregular inflections, making them straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • неприличный (nepri'lichnyy) - Slightly more formal, emphasizing impropriety.
  • вульгарный синоним: пошлый (poshlyy) - Often used for tacky or banal things, with a nuance of superficiality.
• Antonyms:
  • элегантный (elegantnyy)
  • изысканный (izys'kannyy) - Conveys refinement and sophistication.

Related Phrases:

• вульгарный юмор (vulgar humor) - Refers to crude jokes; often used in comedic contexts to denote low-brow entertainment.
• грубый стиль (rude style) - Describes an unrefined artistic or fashion approach; commonly in critiques of design.
• пошлая мода (tacky fashion) - A phrase implying vulgar trends; used in discussions about cultural tastes.

Usage Notes:

"Вульгарный" directly corresponds to the English "vulgar" in terms of tastelessness, but it's more commonly used in informal Russian speech to avoid offense, whereas "грубый" is broader and can mean simply "rude." Be cautious with context: in formal writing, opt for "грубый" to sound more neutral. For learners, remember that Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify, which is a key grammatical difference from English.

• When choosing between translations, use "вульгарный" for aesthetic or cultural crassness and "грубый" for behavioral rudeness.
• In spoken Russian, these words can carry strong negative connotations, so they're best avoided in polite conversations.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse "вульгарный" by confusing it with "грубый," leading to incorrect emphasis. For example:

• Error: Saying "Он грубый в одежде" when meaning tasteless clothing (implies rudeness rather than tackiness).
• Correct: "Он вульгарный в одежде" - This accurately conveys the vulgar aspect. Explanation: "Грубый" focuses on harshness, while "вульгарный" targets poor taste.
• Another common mistake is forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., using "вульгарный" with a feminine noun without changing to "вульгарная." Always check the noun's gender for proper inflection.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "вульгарный" often carry echoes of Soviet-era critiques of Western consumerism, implying a lack of sophistication associated with materialism. This reflects historical values emphasizing intellectual depth over ostentation, which can help English speakers understand nuances in modern Russian media and literature.

Related Concepts:

• пошлость (poshlost') - Tackiness or banality.
• непристойность (nepri'stoynost') - Indecency.
• эстетика (estetika) - Aesthetics, often contrasted with vulgarity in artistic discussions.