Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Craven'

English Word: craven

Key Russian Translations:

• трус [trus] - [Informal, Common]
• трусливый [ˈtruslʲɪvɨj] - [Adjective, Formal/Informal]

Frequency: Medium

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

Pronunciation (Russian):

трус: [trus]

Note on трус: The stress is on the single syllable, pronounced with a rolled 'r' sound, which may be challenging for non-native speakers.

трусливый: [ˈtruslʲɪvɨj]

Note on трусливый: Stress falls on the first syllable. The soft 'l' sound (indicated by 'ʲ') requires practice to distinguish from a hard 'l'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A cowardly person (noun)

Translation(s) & Context:

• трус - Used to describe a person who lacks courage, often in a derogatory or mocking tone.

Usage Examples:

• Он такой трус, что даже не вышел на улицу в грозу.

  He is such a coward that he didn’t even go outside during the thunderstorm.

• Не будь трусом, скажи правду!

  Don’t be a coward, tell the truth!

• Все знали, что он трус, но никто не сказал это вслух.

  Everyone knew he was a coward, but no one said it out loud.

2. Lacking courage (adjective)

Translation(s) & Context:

• трусливый - Used as an adjective to describe cowardly behavior or traits, applicable to both people and actions.

Usage Examples:

• Его трусливый поступок всех разочаровал.

  His cowardly act disappointed everyone.

• Она посмотрела на него с трусливым выражением лица.

  She looked at him with a cowardly expression on her face.

• Трусливый человек редко добивается успеха.

  A cowardly person rarely achieves success.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

трус (noun, masculine):

трусливый (adjective):

Note: The adjective "трусливый" declines according to standard Russian adjective rules for all cases and genders.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for трус/трусливый:

• боязливый (timid, fearful - often less derogatory)
• малодушный (faint-hearted - more formal)

Antonyms for трус/трусливый:

• храбрый (brave)
• смелый (bold, courageous)

Related Phrases:

• трус на трусе сидит и трусом погоняет - Literally "a coward sits on a coward and drives another coward"; a humorous way to describe a situation full of cowardly people (similar to "the blind leading the blind").
• трусливый, как заяц - "cowardly as a hare"; a common simile for extreme cowardice.

Usage Notes:

• "трус" is primarily a noun and is often used in direct insults or casual speech to label someone as a coward. It carries a stronger emotional charge than "трусливый".
• "трусливый" is an adjective and can describe both people and actions, making it more versatile for formal and descriptive contexts.
• When choosing between the two, consider whether you’re naming a person (use "трус") or describing a behavior/trait (use "трусливый").

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "трус" as an adjective, e.g., *Он очень трус человек (incorrect).
  Correction: Use "трусливый" for adjective usage: Он очень трусливый человек (He is a very cowardly person).
• Error: Mispronouncing "трусливый" by stressing the wrong syllable, e.g., *[trusˈlʲɪvɨj].
  Correction: Stress the first syllable: [ˈtruslʲɪvɨj].

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, calling someone a "трус" can be particularly insulting, as courage and bravery are highly valued traits, especially in historical and military contexts. The term may evoke strong negative reactions, so it should be used with caution in direct address.

Related Concepts:

• храбрость (bravery)
• смелость (boldness)
• страх (fear)