Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'covetous'

English Word: covetous

Key Russian Translations:

• жадный [ʒɑd.nɨj] - [Informal; commonly used in everyday contexts to describe greed]
• завистливый [zɐ.'vʲist.lʲi.vɨj] - [Informal; specifically for envious aspects, often in social or emotional contexts]

Frequency: Medium (The word and its translations are encountered in literature, conversations, and media, but not as ubiquitous as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; learners at this level can grasp the concept with some practice, as it involves understanding nuances of emotion and adjective usage.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

жадный: [ʒɑd.nɨj]

Note on жадный: The initial 'ж' sound is a voiced palatal fricative, similar to the 's' in 'measure' in English. Stress falls on the first syllable, and the ending '-ный' softens in informal speech.

завистливый: [zɐ.'vʲist.lʲi.vɨj]

Note on завистливый: Pay attention to the palatalized 'вʲ' and 'лʲ' sounds, which are common in Russian adjectives; these can be challenging for English speakers due to the lack of direct equivalents.

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Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Greedy or desirous of wealth or possessions, often with a negative connotation of envy.

Translation(s) & Context:

• жадный - Used in informal or neutral contexts to describe someone who is stingy or overly possessive, e.g., in financial discussions.
• завистливый - Applied in emotional or social contexts where envy is the primary driver, such as rivalries or comparisons.

Usage Examples:

• Его жадный характер не позволяет ему делиться с друзьями.

  His covetous nature doesn't allow him to share with friends.

• Она всегда завистливая, когда видит чужие успехи.

  She is always covetous when she sees others' successes.

• В этом обществе жадные люди часто игнорируют нужды других.

  In this society, covetous people often ignore the needs of others.

• Он стал завистливым после того, как потерял свою работу.

  He became covetous after losing his job.

• Жадный коллекционер не продаст ни одну из своих редких монет.

  The covetous collector won't sell any of his rare coins.

Meaning 2: Envious in a broader sense, implying a desire for what others have without direct greed.

Translation(s) & Context:

• завистливый - Best for contexts involving jealousy in relationships or achievements, where 'covetous' leans more toward emotional envy.

Usage Examples:

• Её завистливый взгляд на новую машину соседа был очевидным.

  Her covetous glance at the neighbor's new car was obvious.

• Зависливый коллега всегда критикует чужие идеи.

  The covetous colleague always criticizes others' ideas.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations, 'жадный' and 'завистливый', are adjectives in Russian, which inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow regular patterns for most forms.

Note: These are regular adjective inflections. There are no irregular forms for these words, making them straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • скупой (skupoy) - More focused on stinginess with money, slightly less emotional than жадный.
  • алчный (alchnyy) - Emphasizes greed for power or wealth, often in formal or literary contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • щедрый (shchedryy) - Generous, directly opposite in meaning.
  • бескорыстный (beskorystnyy) - Selfless, highlighting the lack of greed.

Related Phrases:

• жадность до денег - Greed for money; used to describe excessive desire for wealth in financial contexts.
• завистливый взгляд - Covetous glance; refers to an envious look, often in interpersonal situations.
• быть жадным как... - To be as covetous as...; a comparative phrase for emphasizing greed, e.g., in stories or idioms.

Usage Notes:

'Covetous' translates most directly to 'жадный' when emphasizing material greed, but 'завистливый' is better for emotional envy. In Russian, these adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they describe, which is a key grammatical difference from English. Use 'жадный' in informal settings like conversations about possessions, and opt for 'завистливый' in social or psychological contexts. Be cautious with tone, as both can carry strong negative connotations in Russian culture.

• When choosing between translations, consider the context: if it's about wealth, go with 'жадный'; for jealousy in relationships, 'завистливый' fits better.
• Grammar note: Always inflect the adjective to match the noun, e.g., 'жадный человек' vs. 'жадная женщина'.

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'жадный' with 'скупой': Learners might use 'жадный' when 'скупой' (stingy) is more accurate for hoarding money. Correct usage: "Он жадный" (he is greedy) vs. Error: "Он скупой" if the context is about not sharing emotions.
• Overusing 'завистливый' in non-emotional contexts: English speakers might mistakenly apply it to material greed. Correct: Use 'жадный' for possessions; Error example: Saying "Он завистливый к деньгам" instead of "Он жадный к деньгам", which implies emotional envy rather than greed.
• Forgetting inflections: A common mistake is using the base form everywhere, e.g., saying "жадный женщина" instead of "жадная женщина". Explanation: Russian requires agreement, so always adjust the ending.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'жадный' and 'завистливый' often reflect themes from literature and folklore, such as in folktales where greed leads to downfall (e.g., in stories by Pushkin). Envy is a common motif in Russian proverbs, symbolizing moral weaknesses, which can help English learners understand the deeper social critiques embedded in everyday language.

Related Concepts:

• зависть (envy)
• алчность (greed)
• скупость (stinginess)