Dowdies

/ˈdaʊdiz/ noun

Definition

Plural of dowdy; women or people considered unfashionable or dull in appearance; or plural of the surname Dowdy.

Etymology

From dowdy plus the plural -ies ending. Dowdy as a noun means an unfashionable person, from the adjective.

Kelly Says

Using 'dowdies' as a noun to mean unfashionable people was peak Victorian snobbery—women's fashion choices were constant targets of mean-spirited commentary!

Translations

AMአማርኛ
vecchia e brutta donna
ve-chia e brut-ta don-na
ARالعربية
نساء عجائز
nisaa ajayiz
BNবাংলা
বয়স্ক, অসুন্দর মহিলা
boy-sk, o-sun-dor mahi-la
CACatalà
donzelles velles i feies
don-zel-les ve-lles i fe-ies
CSČeština
staré, ošklivé ženy
sta-re, o-sh-kliv-e zje-ny
DADansk
gamle, grimme kvinder
gam-le, grim-me kv-i-der
DEDeutsch
verlorene
fer-loh-neh
ELΕλληνικά
παλιές, άσχημες γυναίκες
pa-lies, as-hee-mes gyna-ikes
ESEspañol
mujeres feas
mu-heres fe-as
FAفارسی
زنان پیر و زشت
za-nan pe-eer o zesh-t
FISuomi
vanhat, rumat naiset
van-hat, ru-mat nai-set
FRFrançais
vieilles
vee-yuh
GUGU
બોરી, નિર્દય
bo-ree, nir-day
HAHA
Mata, masu banza
ma-ta, ma-su ban-za
HEעברית
נשים מבוגרות ושפל
nishim me-vo-gro-t ve-she-pal
HIहिन्दी
बुढ़िया और बदसूरत महिलाएं
bu-dhiya aur bad-su-rat mahila-an
HUMagyar
örege, ronda asszonyok
o-re-ge, ron-da as-zon-yok
IDBahasa Indonesia
wanita yang tidak menarik
wa-ni-ta yang tidak me- tarik
IGIG
nwanyi ohi na-akpụ
n-wa-nyi o-hi na-ak-pu
ITItaliano
donne sgradevoli
don-neh sgra-deh-voh-lee
JA日本語
地味な女
jima na onna
KKKK
төртінші, жалпақ
to-r-tin-shi, jal-pak
KMKM
ស្ត្រីចាស់ៗនិងមិនស្រស់
s-trai cha-as-s-lor-n-ing mi-n sr-as
KO한국어
못난 여자
mot-nan yeoja
MRMR
वृद्ध आणि भयानक स्त्रिया
vr-ddh a-ni bhaya-nak sth-riya
MSBahasa Melayu
wanita tua dan tidak menarik
wa-ni-ta tua dan tidak me- tarik
MYမြန်မာ
အကျဆုံး လူမျိုး
a-ky-su-ng lu-myo
NLNederlands
verwaarloosde vrouwen
ver-war-loh-ste vo-men
NONorsk
gamle, stygge kvinner
gam-le, stygge kvin-ner
PAPA
ਬੁੱਢੀਆਂ, ਅਸੁੰਦਰ ਔਰਤਾਂ
bu-d-d-hi-an, as-un-dar au-rat-an
PLPolski
stare, brzydkie kobiety
stah-reh, bzh-dee-keh ksheh-meh-ty
PTPortuguês
mulheres desbotadas
mu-leh-res deh-sbo-tah-das
RORomână
femei bătrâne și urâte
fe-mei ba-tră-ne și u-râte
RUРусский
старые дуры
starye dur-y
SVSvenska
tråkiga kvinnor
trå-kee ku-mor
SWKiswahili
wanawake wazee na wasio wazuri
wa-na-a-ke wa-zee na wa-sio wa-zu-ri
TAதமிழ்
பழைய, அழகற்ற பெண்கள்
pa-lai-ya, a-zha-gat-ta per-en-gal
TEతెలుగు
వృద్ధులు, అందం లేని మహిళలు
vru-ddhulu, an-dam le-ni ma-hi-la-lu
THไทย
ผู้หญิงดูไม่ดี
phue-ying doo mai dee
TLTL
matandang babae at pangit
ma-tan-dang ba-bae at pang-it
TRTürkçe
solgun kadınlar
sol-gun ka-din-lar
UKУкраїнська
старі, потворні жінки
stary, pot-vor-ni zhinky
URاردو
بڑی، بدصورت عورتوں
ba-ree, bad-so-rat aw-ra-tohn
VITiếng Việt
những người phụ nữ xấu xí
nhu-eus nguoi phu nu xau-xi
YOYO
Obirin agba ati buruku
o-bi-rin ag-ba a-ti bu-ru-ku
ZH中文
老妇人
lao fu ren
ZUZU
izwi ezomdala nezinhle
i-zwi e-zom-da-la ne-zin-hle

Ethical Language Guidance

Gender History

Plural nominalization of dowdy—women themselves labeled by aesthetic judgment. Treats appearance-based dismissal as identity, a practice that disproportionately affects women.

Inclusive Usage

Avoid nominalization; describe clothing/style choices instead of labeling people. If historical reference needed, note the gendered nature of the judgment.

Inclusive Alternatives

["people with understated style","people with conventional fashion choices"]

Related Words

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