Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Culprit'

English Word: Culprit

Key Russian Translations:

• виновник [vʲɪˈnovnʲɪk] - [Masculine, Formal/Neutral]
• виновный [vʲɪˈnovnɨj] - [Masculine, Formal, Often used as adjective]
• преступник [prʲɪˈstupnʲɪk] - [Masculine, Strong connotation of criminality]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in legal or formal contexts)

Difficulty: B1-B2 (Intermediate; varies by context and translation)

Pronunciation (Russian):

виновник: [vʲɪˈnovnʲɪk]

Note on виновник: Stress falls on the second syllable. The 'в' is pronounced softly.

виновный: [vʲɪˈnovnɨj]

Note on виновный: Stress on the second syllable. Often used as an adjective, requiring agreement with noun gender/number.

преступник: [prʲɪˈstupnʲɪk]

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

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Person responsible for a wrongdoing or problem

Translation(s) & Context:

• виновник - Often used for someone responsible for an issue or accident, not necessarily a crime (e.g., "the culprit of the delay").

Usage Examples:

• Он оказался виновником аварии.

  He turned out to be the culprit of the accident.

• Виновник задержки не пришел на собрание.

  The culprit behind the delay did not show up to the meeting.

• Кто виновник этого беспорядка?

  Who is the culprit of this mess?

2. Person guilty of a crime or offense

Translation(s) & Context:

• виновный - Used in legal or formal contexts to describe someone found guilty.
• преступник - Refers specifically to a criminal or offender, often with a stronger negative connotation.

Usage Examples:

• Суд признал его виновным в краже.

  The court found him guilty of theft.

• Преступник был пойман на месте преступления.

  The culprit was caught at the scene of the crime.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

виновник (Masculine Noun):

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	виновник	виновники
Genitive	виновника	виновников
Dative	виновнику	виновникам
Accusative	виновника	виновников
Instrumental	виновником	виновниками
Prepositional	о виновнике	о виновниках

виновный (Adjective): Agrees in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies (e.g., виновный человек, виновная женщина).

преступник (Masculine Noun): Follows similar declension patterns to "виновник".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for виновник:

• причина
• инициатор

Note: "причина" often implies a cause rather than a person, while "инициатор" may have a neutral or positive connotation.

Antonyms for виновник:

• жертва
• невиновный

Related Phrases:

• виновник торжества - "The guest of honor" (literally "the culprit of the celebration", often used ironically or humorously).
• признать виновным - "To find guilty" (legal context).
• ловить преступника - "To catch a criminal" (used in crime contexts).

Usage Notes:

• "виновник" is the most neutral and versatile translation for "culprit", suitable for both formal and informal contexts where someone is responsible for a problem or event.
• "виновный" often functions as an adjective and is more common in legal or formal discussions of guilt.
• "преступник" should be reserved for contexts involving actual crimes, as it directly implies criminal behavior and carries a heavier negative tone.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "преступник" for non-criminal contexts (e.g., saying "преступник задержки" for "culprit of the delay").
  Correct Usage: Use "виновник" instead (e.g., "виновник задержки").
  Explanation: "преступник" specifically refers to a criminal, and using it outside this context sounds unnatural or overly dramatic.
• Error: Forgetting gender/number agreement with "виновный" when used as an adjective.
  Correct Usage: "виновная женщина" (guilty woman) instead of "виновный женщина".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, the term "виновник торжества" (culprit of the celebration) is a common humorous or ironic expression used to refer to the person being celebrated, such as at a birthday or wedding. This reflects a cultural tendency to use irony in formal or festive contexts.

Related Concepts:

• вина (guilt)
• наказание (punishment)
• преступление (crime)