Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'cantankerous'

English Word: cantankerous

Key Russian Translations:

• раздражительный /rəzˈdraʒɪtʲɪlʲnɨj/ - [Informal; used in everyday contexts for someone easily irritated]
• сварливый /svɐrˈlʲivɨj/ - [Formal; often applied in literary or descriptive settings for argumentative behavior]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are encountered in standard Russian texts and conversations, but not as common as basic adjectives.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective inflections and nuanced emotional vocabulary, based on CEFR standards.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

раздражительный: /rəzˈdraʒɪtʲɪlʲnɨj/

Note on раздражительный: The stress falls on the third syllable ("dra"), which is a common challenge for English speakers due to Russian's variable stress patterns.

сварливый: /svɐrˈlʲivɨj/

Note on сварливый: Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech, with the initial "s" sounding softer; pay attention to the palatalized "lʲ".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Irritable or bad-tempered (The primary meaning of 'cantankerous', referring to someone who is argumentative or easily annoyed.)

Translation(s) & Context:

• раздражительный - Typically used in informal settings to describe temporary irritability, such as in family or work environments.
• сварливый - Applied in more formal or narrative contexts, often implying chronic quarrelsome behavior.

Usage Examples:

• Он был раздражительным весь день из-за плохой погоды.

  He was cantankerous all day because of the bad weather.

• Её сварливый характер отпугивал друзей на вечеринках.

  Her cantankerous nature scared off friends at parties.

• Дедушка становится раздражительным, когда устаёт, но это быстро проходит.

  Grandfather becomes cantankerous when he's tired, but it passes quickly.

• В офисе сварливый коллега всегда спорит о мелких деталях.

  In the office, the cantankerous colleague always argues about minor details.

• Ребёнок был раздражительным во время долгой поездки, но игрушки помогли успокоить его.

  The child was cantankerous during the long trip, but toys helped calm him down.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are adjectives, which in Russian undergo inflections for gender, number, and case. They follow standard first-declension adjective patterns with no irregularities.

For other cases, the adjectives inflect regularly. These forms do not change in predicative positions (e.g., after "to be").

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • вспыльчивый (impulsive; differs by implying sudden outbursts rather than sustained irritability)
  • капризный (capricious; used for whimsical or picky behavior in informal contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • спокойный (calm)
  • терпеливый (patient)

Related Phrases:

• раздражительный характер - A cantankerous nature; refers to a person's inherent temperament.
• сварливый спор - A cantankerous argument; used for heated, unproductive debates.
• быть раздражительным по утрам - To be cantankerous in the mornings; common for describing morning grumpiness.

Usage Notes:

'Cantankerous' aligns closely with 'раздражительный' in informal English-Russian correspondence, but 'сварливый' is preferred for more persistent traits. Use 'раздражительный' in everyday speech to avoid sounding overly formal. Be mindful of context: in Russian, these adjectives often require agreement in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify. When choosing between translations, opt for 'сварливый' in literary or professional descriptions for a stronger connotation of argumentativeness.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'раздражительный' interchangeably with 'сварливый' without considering formality. For example, an English learner might say "Он сварливый" in a casual chat, which sounds stiff; correct: "Он раздражительный".

• Error: Forgetting adjective inflections, e.g., saying "раздражительный женщина" instead of "раздражительная женщина". Correct form: Ensure gender agreement, as in the inflections table above. This mistake can make sentences grammatically incorrect and confusing.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'сварливый' may evoke stereotypes of traditional family dynamics, such as a stern grandparent, reflecting historical influences from literature like Chekhov's works. This can add a layer of humor or affection in contexts where 'cantankerous' behavior is seen as endearing rather than negative.

Related Concepts:

• гневливый (angry)
• нервный (nervous)
• взрывной (explosive temperament)