Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Crooked'

English Word: Crooked

Key Russian Translations:

• кривой [krʲɪˈvoj] - [Informal, General Use]
• искривлённый [ɪskrʲɪˈvlʲɵnnɨj] - [Formal, Descriptive]
• нечестный [nʲɪˈtʃʲɛsnɨj] - [Figurative, Used for dishonesty]

Frequency: Medium (varies by context and translation)

Difficulty: кривой - B1 (Intermediate); искривлённый - B2 (Upper-Intermediate); нечестный - B1 (Intermediate)

Pronunciation (Russian):

кривой: [krʲɪˈvoj]

Note on кривой: Stress falls on the second syllable. The 'р' is rolled slightly.

искривлённый: [ɪskrʲɪˈvlʲɵnnɨj]

Note on искривлённый: Stress on the third syllable. The 'ё' sounds like 'yo' and is always stressed.

нечестный: [nʲɪˈtʃʲɛsnɨj]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Physically Bent or Not Straight

Translation(s) & Context:

• кривой - Commonly used for objects or lines that are not straight, often in informal speech.
• искривлённый - More formal, often used in written language or technical contexts to describe something bent or curved.

Usage Examples:

• У меня кривая линия на рисунке.

  I have a crooked line in my drawing.

• Дерево искривлённое из-за сильного ветра.

  The tree is crooked due to strong wind.

• Эта дорога такая кривая, что трудно ехать.

  This road is so crooked that it's hard to drive.

2. Dishonest or Corrupt (Figurative)

Translation(s) & Context:

• нечестный - Used to describe a person or behavior that is dishonest or unethical.

Usage Examples:

• Он нечестный бизнесмен, ему нельзя доверять.

  He is a crooked businessman; you can't trust him.

• Нечестные методы не приведут к успеху.

  Crooked methods won't lead to success.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

кривой (Adjective): Declines according to gender, number, and case. Below is the basic declension for singular forms:

Case	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	кривой	кривая	кривое
Genitive	кривого	кривой	кривого
Dative	кривому	кривой	кривому

искривлённый (Adjective, Past Participle): Similar to кривой, declines by gender, number, and case. Often used in formal or technical contexts.

нечестный (Adjective): Declines similarly to кривой. Used for figurative meanings.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for кривой (physical sense):

• изогнутый
• неровный

Note: изогнутый often implies a deliberate or natural curve, while неровный suggests unevenness.

Synonyms for нечестный (figurative sense):

• непорядочный
• лживый

Antonyms for кривой:

• прямой
• ровный

Antonyms for нечестный:

• честный
• порядочный

Related Phrases:

• кривой как крюк - "crooked as a hook" (used to describe something very bent or twisted)
• кривой глаз - "crooked eye" (used colloquially to describe a squint or poor vision)
• нечестная игра - "crooked game" (used for unfair or dishonest behavior in games or competitions)

Usage Notes:

• While "кривой" is the most common translation for "crooked" in the physical sense, it can sometimes carry a negative connotation in informal speech (e.g., poor quality or clumsiness).
• "искривлённый" is more neutral and formal, suitable for written texts or technical descriptions.
• "нечестный" is exclusively used for the figurative sense of dishonesty or corruption and should not be confused with physical crookedness.
• Context is key in choosing the right translation; for instance, "crooked smile" might still use "кривая улыбка" despite the informal tone of "кривой."

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "нечестный" to describe a physically crooked object. Wrong: "нечестная линия" for "crooked line." Correct: "кривая линия." Explanation: "нечестный" only applies to moral or ethical contexts.
• Error: Overusing "искривлённый" in casual speech. Wrong: "У меня искривлённая ручка." Correct: "У меня кривая ручка." Explanation: "искривлённый" sounds overly formal in everyday conversation.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, the term "кривой" can sometimes extend metaphorically to imply something poorly made or defective, as in "кривая работа" (crooked work, meaning sloppy work). This usage might not directly translate to "crooked" in English, so learners should be aware of these nuances.

Related Concepts:

• неровность (unevenness)
• изгиб (bend, curve)
• обман (deception, related to нечестный)