Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| гря́зный | grjáznyj |
| испа́чканный | ispáčkannyj |
The adjective гря́зный is used to describe something that is inherently dirty or characterized by dirt, such as a dirty street or a dirty person. While the adverb по́дло is related to the concept of being 'dirty' in a moral sense, it is used to mean acting in a low or despicable manner rather than physical dirtiness.
Which one should you use?
Use гря́зный to describe something that is inherently dirty or characterized by dirt. Use испа́чканный to describe something that has become dirty or stained, often implying a specific instance of getting something on it, like a soiled shirt.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective гря́зный changes its ending to гря́зная when describing a feminine noun, such as 'гря́зная у́лица' (dirty street), to гря́зное when describing a neuter noun, such as 'гря́зное бельё' (dirty laundry) and to гря́зные when describing plural nouns, such as 'гря́зные ру́ки' (dirty hands).
How do you pronounce it?
grjáznyj
Did you know?
- The word гря́зный is used to describe 'dirty' jokes or talk, but for 'dirty' money obtained illegally, Russians often use the word черный meaning 'black'.
- There is a specific Russian expression грязь разводить which literally means 'to stir up mud' but is used to describe someone who is spreading scandalous rumors about others.
- Russian has a unique word грязнули to describe a person who is habitually dirty, which cannot be translated by simply adding an adjective to a noun.
Examples in context
- Пожалуйста, не трогайте грязные стены.Please, do not touch the dirty walls.
- Он всегда выглядит неаккуратным.He always looks untidy.
- Мысли у меня грязные после той вечеринки.I have dirty thoughts after that party.
- Твоя рубашка запачканная.Your shirt is stained.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dirty” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
