Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'abhorrent'

English Word: abhorrent

Key Russian Translations:

• отвратительный [ɐtvrɐˈtʲitʲɪlʲnɨj] - [Formal]
• противный [prɐˈtʲivnɨj] - [Informal]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in descriptive contexts, especially in literature and everyday discussions about morality or disgust).

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) - Involves understanding adjectives and emotional nuances; for "отвратительный", it's B2, while "противный" might be A2 for basic learners due to its simpler form.

Pronunciation (Russian):

отвратительный: [ɐtvrɐˈtʲitʲɪlʲnɨj]

Note on отвратительный: Stress on the third syllable; the "тʲ" sound is palatalized, which can be challenging for English speakers. Pronunciation may vary slightly in rapid speech.

противный: [prɐˈtʲivnɨj]

Note on противный: Stress on the second syllable; the word is often softened in informal contexts, making the "тʲ" less pronounced.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Causing strong moral repulsion or disgust (e.g., something ethically offensive or physically repulsive).

Translation(s) & Context:

• отвратительный - Used in formal contexts, such as describing immoral actions or unpleasant situations in literature or debates.
• противный - Applied in informal, everyday scenarios, like describing something annoying or distasteful in casual conversation.

Usage Examples:

• Его поведение было отвратительным, и никто не мог это терпеть.

  His behavior was abhorrent, and no one could tolerate it.

• Этот фильм показывает отвратительные преступления, которые потрясают зрителей.

  This film depicts abhorrent crimes that shock the viewers.

• Противный запах из канализации сделал прогулку невыносимой.

  The abhorrent smell from the sewer made the walk unbearable.

• Она сочла его шутки противными и отказалась продолжать разговор.

  She found his jokes abhorrent and refused to continue the conversation.

• В обществе отвратительных неравенств люди борются за справедливость.

  In a society of abhorrent inequalities, people fight for justice.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "отвратительный" and "противный" are adjectives, which in Russian inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow regular patterns for most cases.

Note: These adjectives follow the standard first-declension pattern. "противный" is simpler and doesn't have irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • омерзительный (slightly more intense, often used for physical disgust)
  • гадкий (implies something sneaky or morally repulsive)
• Antonyms:
  • приятный (pleasant)
  • привлекательный (attractive)

Related Phrases:

• Отвратительный вкус - An abhorrent taste (refers to something unpalatable in food or experiences).
• Противный характер - An abhorrent character (describes a person's unpleasant personality traits).
• Отвратительная правда - The abhorrent truth (used in contexts of revealing uncomfortable realities).

Usage Notes:

"Abhorrent" typically translates to "отвратительный" in formal or written Russian, emphasizing moral or ethical disgust, while "противный" is better for everyday, informal situations involving personal annoyance. Be mindful of context: in Russian, adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they describe. For example, choose "отвратительный" for serious discussions and "противный" for casual chats. If the disgust is physical, "омерзительный" might be a closer synonym.

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse "отвратительный" with "ужасный" (terrible), using it interchangeably. Error: Saying "ужасный" when meaning moral abhorrence. Correct: Use "отвратительный" for ethical repulsion, as in "Его действия отвратительны" (His actions are abhorrent) instead of "Его действия ужасны" (which implies general horror).

• Misapplying case: Forgetting to decline the adjective, e.g., saying "отвратительный дом" in genitive case as "отвратительный дома" instead of "отвратительного дома". Explanation: Always match the adjective's ending to the noun's case for grammatical accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "отвратительный" often carry a strong emotional weight, reflecting the society's emphasis on moral integrity and collective disdain for corruption or injustice. For instance, during historical events like the Soviet era, such terms were used in literature to critique societal flaws, highlighting a cultural norm of expressing disgust openly in art and media.

Related Concepts:

• ужасный (terrible)
• отталкивающий (repulsive)
• неприятный (unpleasant)