Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'acrimonious'

English Word: acrimonious

Key Russian Translations:

• сварливый /svɐrʲˈlʲivɨj/ - [Adjective, Formal]
• раздражительный /rɐzdrɐʐɨˈtʲelʲnɨj/ - [Adjective, Informal]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in discussions, debates, or literature, but not in everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjectival forms and nuanced emotional vocabulary; 'сварливый' may be slightly easier, while 'раздражительный' aligns with more advanced contexts)

Pronunciation (Russian):

сварливый: /svɐrʲˈlʲivɨj/ (Stress on the third syllable; the 'рʲ' is a palatalized 'r', which can be challenging for English speakers.)

раздражительный: /rɐzdrɐʐɨˈtʲelʲnɨj/ (Stress on the fourth syllable; note the soft 'ж' sound, similar to 'zh' in 'measure', and palatalization in 'тʲ'.)

Note on сварливый: This word has a rolling 'r' that may vary in speed based on regional dialects; in formal speech, enunciate clearly to avoid confusion with similar words.

Note on раздражительный: The 'ж' sound is key; mispronouncing it as a hard 'j' can alter the meaning.

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Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Bitter, angry, or sharp in manner, often in arguments or interpersonal relations (e.g., describing heated disputes).

Translation(s) & Context:

• сварливый - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe someone with a habitually bitter temperament, such as in professional or familial disputes.
• раздражительный - Applied in informal settings for temporary irritability, like in everyday conversations about stress or conflicts.

Usage Examples:

• Его сварливый тон во время дебатов отпугивал слушателей.

  His acrimonious tone during the debates repelled the listeners.

• Она становится раздражительной, когда устает от работы.

  She becomes acrimonious when she's tired from work.

• Сварливый спор между коллегами перерос в открытый конфликт.

  The acrimonious argument between colleagues escalated into an open conflict.

• Раздражительный ответ на критику только ухудшил ситуацию.

  The acrimonious response to criticism only worsened the situation.

• В сварливом письме он выразил все накопившиеся обиды.

  In his acrimonious letter, he expressed all the accumulated grievances.

Meaning 2: Sharp or caustic in language, often implying verbal hostility (e.g., in writing or speech).

Translation(s) & Context:

• сварливый - In contexts like literature or formal criticism, to denote biting sarcasm.
• раздражительный - In casual speech, for quick-tempered retorts in arguments.

Usage Examples:

• Его сварливый комментарий в статье разозлил читателей.

  His acrimonious comment in the article angered the readers.

• Раздражительный обмен репликами на встрече не привел к решению.

  The acrimonious exchange of remarks at the meeting didn't lead to a resolution.

• Сварливый диалог в фильме подчеркивал напряженность отношений.

  The acrimonious dialogue in the film highlighted the tension in the relationship.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'сварливый' and 'раздражительный' are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern of agreement with the nouns they modify. They are not irregular but require attention to endings.

Note: These adjectives do not change in comparative forms without additional suffixes (e.g., сварливее for 'more acrimonious'). They remain invariant in certain fixed phrases.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • гневный (gnevnyy) - More intense, implying rage; used for stronger emotional outbursts.
  • яростный (yarostnyy) - Similar to acrimonious but often for physical anger.
• Antonyms:
  • дружелюбный (druzhelyubnyy)
  • спокойный (spokoynyy) - Calm and composed, contrasting with irritability.

Related Phrases:

• сварливый характер - A bitter disposition; used to describe someone's inherent acrimonious nature.
• раздражительный настрой - An irritable mood; common in contexts of temporary emotional states.
• вести сварливый разговор - To engage in an acrimonious conversation; implies heated debate.

Usage Notes:

'Acrimonious' translates most directly to 'сварливый' in formal contexts, such as legal or literary discussions, where a sense of ongoing bitterness is implied. 'Раздражительный' is better for informal, everyday situations involving quick temper. Be mindful of gender agreement in Russian sentences; for example, use 'сварливая' for feminine subjects. In comparisons, Russian often requires additional words like 'более' (more). Choose based on context: 'сварливый' for deep-seated traits, 'раздражительный' for situational ones.

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'сварливый' with 'сварлив' (an incorrect form) - Correct: Always use the full adjective form; e.g., Incorrect: "Он сварлив." Correct: "Он сварливый." This error stems from over-simplifying English adjectives.
• Misapplying case endings - e.g., Using nominative in genitive contexts: Incorrect: "Из-за сварливый человек" (should be "сварливого человека"). Explanation: Russian requires adjective-noun agreement; always check the noun's case.
• Overusing in casual speech - e.g., Treating 'раздражительный' as synonymous with 'гневный'; this can make speech sound overly dramatic. Correct approach: Reserve for genuine irritability to maintain natural tone.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'сварливый' often appear in literature (e.g., Dostoevsky's characters) to depict the intense emotional depth of interpersonal relationships, reflecting a historical emphasis on passion and conflict in Slavic narratives. This can help English users understand why Russian expressions of anger might seem more poetic or exaggerated compared to Anglo-American styles.

Related Concepts:

• гнев (gnev) - Anger
• конфликт (konflikt) - Conflict
• эмоциональный (emotsional'nyy) - Emotional