Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| чувстви́тельный к щеко́тке | čuvstvítelʹnyj k ščekótke |
| боя́щийся щеко́тки | bojáščijsja ščekótki |
The term describes someone who is sensitive or susceptible to tickling (adj).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase чувстви́тельный к щеко́тке is a literal construction where чувстви́тельный means 'sensitive' and к щеко́тке means 'to tickling'. The phrase боя́щийся щеко́тки is a participial construction that literally translates to 'one who fears tickling'.
Which one should you use?
чувстви́тельный к щеко́тке is a more descriptive, clinical or neutral way to say someone is ticklish, whereas боя́щийся щеко́тки emphasizes the person's aversion or fear of the sensation.
How does it change in a sentence?
When describing a female, the adjective чувстви́тельный must change to the feminine form чувстви́тельная. The plural form of the adjective is чувстви́тельные.
How do you pronounce it?
čuvstvítelʹnyj k ščekótke
Did you know?
- The word чувстви́тельный used in чувстви́тельный к щеко́тке is the same term used to describe someone who is emotionally fragile or empathetic.
- The phrase боя́щийся щеко́тки literally describes someone as 'fearing tickling'. This suggests that being ticklish is framed as a phobia or a vulnerability rather than just a physical sensation.
- To say someone is 'very ticklish', Russians use the adverb си́льно, which means 'strongly', instead of a word for 'very'.
Examples in context
- Этот ребенок чувствителен к щекотке.This child is ticklish.
- Он не любит быть щекотанным, потому что он очень чувствителен к щекотке.He doesn't like being tickled because he is very ticklish.
- Он не хочет, чтобы его щекоталоHe doesn't want to be tickled.
- Он очень чувстви́тельный к щеко́тке.On ochen' chuvstvitel'nyy k shchekotke.He is very ticklish.
- Твой ребёнок чувстви́тельный к щеко́тке?Tvoy rebyonok chuvstvitel'nyy k shchekotke?Is your child ticklish?
Example conversation
Maria and Andrey are joking around at home.
- Мария MariaНе трогай меня, я очень чувстви́тельный к щеко́тке!Ne trogay menya, ya ochen' chuvstvitel'nyy k shchekotke!Don't touch me, I'm very ticklish!
- Андрей AndreyПравда? Я совсем не чувствую щекотки.Pravda? Ya sovsem ne chuvstvuyu shchekotki.Really? I don't feel tickles at all.
- Мария MariaТогда попробуй пощекотать меня.Togda poprobuy poshchekotat' menya.Then try to tickle me.
- Андрей AndreyХорошо, Мария, приготовься!Khorosho, Mariya, prigotov'sya!Okay, Maria, get ready!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ticklish” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
