Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'cowardly'

English Word: cowardly

Key Russian Translations:

• трусливый [ˈtruslʲɪvɨj] - [Informal, Common]
• малодушный [məlɐˈduʂnɨj] - [Formal, Literary]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "трусливый"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "малодушный"

Pronunciation (Russian):

трусливый: [ˈtruslʲɪvɨj]

Note on трусливый: Stress falls on the first syllable. The "л" sound is soft, pronounced with the tongue touching the palate.

малодушный: [məlɐˈduʂnɨj]

Note on малодушный: Stress on the third syllable. The "ш" sound is a retroflex fricative, similar to "sh" in English but harder.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Lacking courage (General sense of being afraid)

Translation(s) & Context:

• трусливый - Used in everyday speech to describe someone who avoids danger or responsibility due to fear.

Usage Examples:

• Он такой трусливый, что даже не вышел на улицу во время грозы.

  He is so cowardly that he didn’t even go outside during the storm.

• Трусливый щенок спрятался под диван, услышав громкий звук.

  The cowardly puppy hid under the couch after hearing a loud noise.

• Не будь таким трусливым, это всего лишь паук!

  Don’t be so cowardly, it’s just a spider!

2. Morally weak or lacking resolve (Formal or literary)

Translation(s) & Context:

• малодушный - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe a lack of moral courage or inner strength.

Usage Examples:

• Его малодушный поступок разочаровал всех друзей.

  His cowardly act disappointed all his friends.

• В трудный момент он оказался малодушным и сдался.

  In a difficult moment, he turned out to be cowardly and gave up.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

трусливый (Adjective): Follows standard adjective declension rules in Russian, agreeing with the noun in gender, number, and case.

Note: Other cases follow similar patterns. Comparative form: трусливее (more cowardly).

малодушный (Adjective): Follows similar declension rules as "трусливый".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "трусливый":

• боязливый (timid, fearful)
• пугливый (easily scared)

Note: "боязливый" often implies a general fearfulness, while "пугливый" suggests being easily startled.

Antonyms for "трусливый":

• смелый (brave)
• отважный (courageous)

Related Phrases:

• трусливый, как заяц - "cowardly as a hare" (used to describe extreme cowardice).
• малодушный поступок - "a cowardly act" (used in formal contexts to describe a morally weak action).

Usage Notes:

• "трусливый" is the most common and versatile translation for "cowardly", suitable for both people and animals in informal and neutral contexts.
• "малодушный" is more formal and often carries a connotation of moral weakness or lack of resolve, rather than just physical fear. It is less common in everyday speech.
• Be mindful of adjective agreement in Russian; the form must match the noun it describes in gender, number, and case.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "малодушный" in casual conversation to describe simple fearfulness (e.g., of a dog or child).
  Wrong: Этот щенок малодушный.
  Correct: Этот щенок трусливый.
  Explanation: "малодушный" implies a moral failing, which doesn’t suit animals or non-moral contexts.
• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement.
  Wrong: Она трусливый.
  Correct: Она трусливая.
  Explanation: The feminine form "трусливая" must be used for female subjects.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, being labeled as "трусливый" or "малодушный" can carry a strong negative connotation, especially for men, as courage and resilience are highly valued traits historically tied to notions of honor and duty. The term "малодушный" may evoke associations with literary or historical contexts, such as descriptions of characters in classic Russian novels who fail to uphold moral ideals.

Related Concepts:

• страх (fear)
• трусость (cowardice)
• смелость (bravery)