Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Affront'

English Word: Affront

Key Russian Translations:

• оскорбление [ɐskɐrˈblʲenʲɪjə] - [Neutral, Formal/Informal]
• обида [ɐˈbʲidə] - [Informal, Emotional]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "оскорбление"; A2 (Elementary) for "обида"

Pronunciation (Russian):

оскорбление: [ɐskɐrˈblʲenʲɪjə]

Note on оскорбление: Stress falls on the third syllable. The "е" is pronounced as a soft "ye" sound due to palatalization.

обида: [ɐˈbʲidə]

Note on обида: Stress on the second syllable. Simple pronunciation for learners.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. An Insult or Offense (Deliberate Action)

Translation(s) & Context:

• оскорбление - Used for a deliberate insult or offensive action, often in formal or legal contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Его слова были явным оскорблением её достоинства.

  His words were a clear affront to her dignity.

• Оскорбление в общественном месте может повлечь штраф.

  An affront in a public place can result in a fine.

• Она восприняла его взгляд как оскорбление.

  She took his look as an affront.

2. A Feeling of Being Offended (Emotional Response)

Translation(s) & Context:

• обида - Refers to the emotional reaction of feeling hurt or offended, more personal and informal.

Usage Examples:

• На её лице читалась глубокая обида.

  A deep sense of affront was visible on her face.

• Он ушёл, полный обиды на её слова.

  He left, full of affront at her words.

• Обида быстро прошла после извинений.

  The affront quickly faded after the apology.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

оскорбление (Noun, Neuter): Regular declension for neuter nouns in Russian.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	оскорбление	оскорбления
Genitive	оскорбления	оскорблений
Dative	оскорблению	оскорблениям
Accusative	оскорбление	оскорбления
Instrumental	оскорблением	оскорблениями
Prepositional	оскорблении	оскорблениях

обида (Noun, Feminine): Regular declension for feminine nouns ending in -а.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	обида	обиды
Genitive	обиды	обид
Dative	обиде	обидам
Accusative	обиду	обиды
Instrumental	обидой	обидами
Prepositional	обиде	обидах

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for оскорбление:

• унижение
• позор

Note: "унижение" often implies humiliation, while "позор" can mean disgrace or shame.

Synonyms for обида:

• горечь
• негодование

Antonyms for оскорбление/обида:

• комплимент
• похвала

Related Phrases:

• нанести оскорбление - To inflict an affront/insult.
• затаить обиду - To harbor a grudge or sense of affront.
• проглотить обиду - To swallow an affront (to endure it silently).

Usage Notes:

• "оскорбление" is more formal and often used in contexts of deliberate insult or legal matters, while "обида" focuses on the personal, emotional response to being offended.
• Choose "оскорбление" when describing an action or event, and "обида" when describing the resulting feeling.
• Both terms can be used in informal speech, but "обида" is more common in everyday conversations about personal grievances.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "обида" to describe a deliberate insult in a formal context. Incorrect: "Это было обидой в мой адрес." Correct: "Это было оскорблением в мой адрес." (This was an affront to me.)
• Error: Misusing cases with "оскорбление" or "обида." Ensure proper declension based on sentence structure.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, personal honor and dignity are highly valued, so an "оскорбление" (affront) can be taken very seriously, especially in formal or public settings. Expressing "обида" (feeling offended) is often seen as a sign of vulnerability, and Russians may not always vocalize it directly.

Related Concepts:

• честь (honor)
• достоинство (dignity)
• унижение (humiliation)