глу́пый
glúpyj
The English word 'silly' can be translated into Russian as глу́пый (glúpyj). Wiktionary also lists дурно́й (durnój) and тупо́й (tupój).
Meaning: foolish, showing a lack of good sense and wisdom (adj)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| глу́пый | glúpyj |
| дурно́й | durnój |
| тупо́й | tupój |
The primary meaning is to describe someone or something as foolish, showing a lack of good sense and wisdom. If you want to say 'It is silly' or 'That is foolish,' use the adverbial form глу́по.
Which one should you use?
While глу́пый means foolish or silly, тупо́й is a much harsher, more insulting way to call someone stupid or dim-witted. Other forms include дурно́й, тупо́й and the formal Нелепый, which touches upon absurdity.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective глу́пый must change its ending to глу́пая when describing a feminine noun, глу́пое when describing a neuter noun and глу́пые when describing plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
glúpyj
Did you know?
- While глупый means foolish, the related word глухо́й means 'deaf'. Historically, the two were linked by the idea that someone who cannot hear is also perceived as unable to understand.
- When calling someone 'silly' as a joke, Russians often use the diminutive глупо́чка, which softens the blow and turns the insult into a flirtatious or caring remark.
- The word дурно́й is closely tied to the word душа, meaning 'soul'. In old Russian contexts, being 'silly' or 'bad' was often framed as having a troubled or sick soul.
Examples in context
- Ты выглядишь глупо!You look silly!
- Это нелепо!This is silly!
- Это был глу́пый поступок.Eto byl glupyy postupok.It was a silly act.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “silly” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
