Thread: Крошка/Мужчина

Okay I have been arguing constantly with a native Russian speaker (who as I am with English, doesn't understand the rules, so when I say nominative, accusative its completely over her head). My argument was that Мужчина declines and acts like a female word in every way, but when you use adjectives you use the male versions. But at least this word can only ever refer to a man.

Now the word Крошка as far as I know just means Baby. and as with words like Врач can be used for both males and females.

So I'm asking is the phrase "Мой сладкий крошка" valid if you had a baby boy? I understand maybe it could sound weird and other words are available but I am just asking if it is valid/legal haha.

I would vote for "valid". Origin:

"Стала петь мышонку кошка:
Мяу, мяу, спи, мой крошка!
Мяу, мяу, ляжем спать
Мяу, мяу, на кровать."

I'd vote for non-valid.

"Крошка сын
к отцу пришел,
и спросила кроха:
- Что такое
хорошо
и что такое
плохо?"
_________________
Hence, I'd say cпросила моя сладкая кроха.

кроха=крошка

it does sound weird

i'd never use this word meaning a male person, even though a baby boy

i'd opt for малыш instead

but i can imagine it being said affectionately by a girl to a guy

Originally Posted by diogen_

I'd vote for non-valid. ...

+1
(Deleted. L.)

Originally Posted by Crocodile

I would vote for "valid". Origin:

"Стала петь мышонку кошка:
Мяу, мяу, спи, мой крошка!
...

+1

"...Ведёт кораблик утка,
Испытанный моряк.
- Земля! - сказала утка. -
Причаливайте! Кряк!"

С. Маршак

(Моряк/Женщина)

There are a few words with "-а" ending that can be used either as female or male nouns. There is even a special term for them. "Крошка" is one of that nouns. Nevertheless, male adjectives with these nouns do sound weird. "Мой крошка" or "крошка пришел/спросил" sound good. "Сладкий крошка"... I don't know.

"Врач" is a male noun. Although phrases like "хорошая врач посоветовала" are common in an informal language, you should avoid them in a formal text.

Имена существительные общего рода. Существует около ста пятидесяти существительных с колебанием по роду: http://russia-sng.iphil.ru/index.php...1&limitstart=4

So to collate all the above haha. Even though it sounds weird and in all likelyhood would never be used. It is legally possible to use male adjectives with female words such as крошка which can describe both sexes?

I mean if Мой крошка is valid then surely сладкий крошка must be.

Originally Posted by Полуношник

There are a few words with "-а" ending that can be used either as female or male nouns. There is even a special term for them. "Крошка" is one of that nouns.

Do you happen to know the special term?

Моё солнышко!
Мой сладкий сахар!
....
Моя крошка!

По-моему, так. Или применяем такие однозначные конструкции как "крошка-сын".

Originally Posted by ShakeyX

Do you happen to know the special term?

Lampada knows:

Имена существительные общего рода

Ahhhh cheers! Should of probably seen that.

Originally Posted by Полуношник

Lampada knows:

I just learned it.

"Мужчина" is a masculine gender (even though it has the -a ending), "крошка" is always feminine. You cannot use masculine adjective with a word of feminine gender.

Originally Posted by Lampada

Имена существительные общего рода. Существует около ста пятидесяти существительных с колебанием по роду: 偕髑褂 ?茆 - 令? 碆關鉐 鱚鉋蓙 ?髓繪 鞳?. 緋? 體?髓礦鱚譛邇?

крошка is not the case. It is always feminine.

Okay I'm getting mixed messages here :P

As the above poem uses мой крошка. Are you saying that only мой is allowed or just that using it at all is completely wrong.

Originally Posted by ShakeyX

Okay I'm getting mixed messages here :P

As the above poem uses мой крошка. Are you saying that only мой is allowed or just that using it at all is completely wrong.

The poet's grammar is correct. And it's not only you who is confused. This is a last thing we need here.

I think "мой крошка" is allowed, but is not the best choice in the normal speech. You should address a baby boy as "моя крошка", "моя утка", "мой селезень", "мой утёнок", "моё солнышко" and that would be the best. The usage of "сладкий" is usually avoided when addressing a baby for being overly-luscious. Those who address a baby that way in Russian are usually under a significant influence of a foreign language in which that would be a norm.

Originally Posted by Anixx

крошка is not the case. It is always feminine.

Грамота.ру:

2. КРОШКА, -и; м. и ж. Разг.