(no subject)

[ex-bluejuly.livejournal.com]

Can жопа be used literally like how in English we can use "ass" in two different ways? ie, "you stupid ass" & "there's a gum sticking on your ass." Or is it зад in the latter case?

Comments

(frozen)

[object.livejournal.com]

Well, as you suspect, such words like "ass" ("жопа") can be used in more than way, and I believe "жопа" can have even broader interpretation than "ass" (Maybe I am somewhat underestimating "ass"). Some examples:

"Ну ты жопа!" - offensive, "You ass!"
"Хитрожопый" - "Smart ass".
"Мы в жопе" - "We're stuck", "We are in a big trouble".
"Иди в жопу" - "Fuck off"

etc.

I would say "зад" has more restrictive meaning, it is mostly used to represent a part of a body.

(frozen)

[dead-morose.livejournal.com]

Don't forget "задница". While "зад" has a broader literal meaning (зад машины - back of a car), "задница" can literally apply only to a human (or animal) body, but can be often used as a synonym for the figurative "жопа":

"полная задница" - "полная жопа" - similar to "мы в жопе"

[wolk-off.livejournal.com]

I would love to remind that in Russian, the social tolerance towards the usage of obscenities is usually far more strict than in English. Though you have right to know this word, I really doubt that it is a good idea to use it in front of the people you don't know - of course, if you are not intended to insult them. Using зад or задница is far more appropriate.
It would be also a good idea not to provoke people to discuss the obscenities topic: you must know that since somebody starts it, there always is plenty of people more than willing to demonstrate their rich knowledge of this sort of language, which really offends many others.

[wretched-girl.livejournal.com]

I would use "zadnitsu" for ass...but I could be wrong

[underain.livejournal.com]

Show me your "zadnitza", baby =)

[ex-evengar540.livejournal.com]

There are several types of Russians. One type can't tolerate any profanity; other can; and third understands only profanity. People are different; especially in the very diversed country named Russia. I personally won't mind, if you'd use some words from the "censored" vocabulary; someone will.

You may better "weigh" the meaning of the word "жопа" by comparing it to other words of the nearly same meaning:
"зад" - behind, can be used at any places (well... if you need to :-))
"задница" - butt, is more vulgar
"жопа" - ass, is the most vulgar meaning for this poor part of the human body. No politician will use this word in official speech, if he doesn't want to get a bad reputation. The difference between "задница" and "жопа" is that the first one can hardy be called profanity, and the second is profanity.

Russian language has a polite sissy substite for "жопа", it differs by only one, first letter. This word is "попа", it's not profanity by any means. It works almost as "sugar" instead of "shit" (or "what the heck?" instead of "whaddafuck?", if you wish), though it means the same as "жопа". If you wanna say that your butt hurts after riding a bycicle, you probably shouldn't use the ж-word (if you aren't in a company of the well-known friends).

I won't tell you how you can use the great ж-word because there'll probably be many, who'll tell you this without me. But remember, "жопа" is a great word, as many, when you use it appropriately.

When you're in Russia, don't use any profanity before you know the person you're talking to better. If you see that this person can be considered as so called intelligentsia (botanic-type guy or girl), don't even try to use it. Don't go into cursing without knowing Russian good, or you could look funny or even get into a trouble.

Runglish sure a great tongue, lords. Specially the slang.

[med99.livejournal.com]

You're on your own for explaining that 'botanic' to the non-MGIMO-finished.

Sorry.

[ex-evengar540.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I said it, re-read it and realized my commentary here is far too offensive. Didn't mean to.

Re: Sorry.

[ex-evengar540.livejournal.com]

I deleted it now. I need to start getting more sleep :-)

All I wanted to say is that it's easy to make a neologism. We saw the examples of perestroika and samizdat. Botanik is a smart-assed nerd student.

Good luck.

[cema.livejournal.com]

Бoтаник: a nerd.

heheh

[speedy-racer.livejournal.com]

жопа is just rude form of задница or зад

but it has far more meanings, as the first speaker wrote

for example, it can be used in old pals conversation like "ну ты жопа!" meaning smth like "I just can't believe you did that"

[wdraco.livejournal.com]

Indeed word "жопа" exactly means "asshole". Currently the exact meaning has been forgotten, but the word is same foul as "хуй", "пизда", "муди", "залупа".

Many people even in Russia hardly know the meanings of last two words using their deriatives "мудак" and "залупаться" without a shame.

As noticed above word "попа" is a better case, but it is more naive because mostly used to reference ass when talking to children. It references buttocks often and only is used to reference asshole when discussed between lovers those try not to insult the partner with word "жопа" :) Most would use "зад" or "попа" in this situation.

You should avoid using word "жопа" since using this word by foreign people is interpreted as foolness of the person: even Russian people do not use "looser" widely they will think of you as of "лох", and you will loose your authority if use such foul words without exact knowledge of contexts where they may be used.

So avoid using foul words in conversations.

If it is required for you to use it in some written conversation - explain in more details why you need this.

As it sad above the word "жопа" means exactly "asshole", is understood by many people as [definetely] vulgar "ass". Other meanings are not the meanings of these word really, but are figurative exressions. There is only ONE exact meaning for this word.

It is not like "стул" that haves two meanings:
1) chair, seat
2) stool
these meanings are really different. But there is only one such meaning of "жопа".