Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'debauchery'

English Word: debauchery

Key Russian Translations:

• распутство (/rɐˈsputstvə/) - [Formal, Literary]
• разврат (/rɐzˈvrɑt/) - [Formal, Often in Legal or Moral Contexts]

Frequency: Low (This word and its translations are not commonly used in everyday conversation but appear in literature, formal discussions, or media discussing ethics and morality.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of abstract concepts and Russian noun declensions. For 'распутство', it's straightforward for intermediates, but 'разврат' may vary slightly in nuance.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

распутство: /rɐˈsputstvə/

Note on распутство: The stress is on the third syllable; be careful with the 'у' sound, which is a short 'u' like in "put". Variations may occur in dialects.

разврат: /rɐzˈvrɑt/

Note on разврат: Stress on the second syllable; the 'а' in the first syllable is reduced in fast speech. Pronounce the 'р' as a rolled 'r' for authenticity.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Immoral or excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures.

Translation(s) & Context:

• распутство - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe a lifestyle of moral corruption, often implying long-term behavior.
• разврат - Applied in contexts involving legal or societal judgment, such as in discussions of vice or ethical decline.

Usage Examples:

• Его жизнь была полна распутства и безнравственных поступков.

  His life was full of debauchery and immoral acts. (This example shows the word in a biographical context, highlighting habitual behavior.)

• Разврат в обществе часто приводит к социальным проблемам.

  Debauchery in society often leads to social problems. (Here, it's used in a broader societal discussion, emphasizing consequences.)

• Она осуждала распутство, видя в нём угрозу семейным ценностям.

  She condemned debauchery, seeing it as a threat to family values. (This illustrates the word in a moral or ethical debate.)

• В романе описывается разврат высшего общества в XIX веке.

  The novel describes the debauchery of high society in the 19th century. (This example places the word in a historical or literary setting.)

• Распутство героя стало причиной его падения.

  The hero's debauchery became the cause of his downfall. (Demonstrates use in narrative storytelling, focusing on personal consequences.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'распутство' and 'разврат' are neuter nouns in Russian, belonging to the second declension. They follow standard patterns for neuter nouns but have no irregularities. 'распутство' is an abstract noun and does not change in most contexts, while 'разврат' can inflect based on case and number.

Note: These nouns do not have gender-specific forms and remain unchanged in plural for most uses, making them relatively simple for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • порок (porok) - More general, implying any vice; often used interchangeably but less intense.
  • грех (grekh) - Carries a religious connotation, suitable for moral or spiritual contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • благочестие (blagochestie) - Refers to piety or moral uprightness.
  • нравственность (nravstvennost') - Means morality or ethical behavior.

Related Phrases:

• жизнь в распутстве - Life of debauchery (Refers to a lifestyle characterized by moral excess.)
• разврат нравов - Corruption of morals (Used to describe societal decay.)
• погрязть в разврате - To sink into debauchery (Implies gradual moral decline.)

Usage Notes:

'Распутство' and 'разврат' both translate to 'debauchery' but differ subtly: 'распутство' is more about personal indulgence, while 'разврат' often involves broader societal implications. Use 'распутство' in literary or everyday formal speech, and 'разврат' in legal or critical contexts. Be mindful of the formal register; these words are rarely used in casual conversation. Grammatically, they require correct case agreement, e.g., in genitive constructions like "в состоянии распутства" (in a state of debauchery).

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'распутство' with 'разврат': Learners might use them interchangeably, but 'разврат' implies more active corruption. Incorrect: "Он живет в разврате" when meaning personal lifestyle (better: "распутстве"). Correct: "Разврат общества" for societal issues. Explanation: This error stems from overlapping meanings; always consider context to choose the right word.
• Improper declension: For example, saying "в распутство" instead of "в распутстве" (prepositional case). Incorrect: "Я думаю о разврат" (should be "о разврате"). Explanation: Russian nouns must agree in case, so practice declensions to avoid this.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'распутство' and 'разврат' often appear in literature, such as in the works of Fyodor Dostoevsky or Leo Tolstoy, where they critique societal excesses and moral decay. They carry a strong connotation of 19th-century Russian intellectual discourse on ethics, influenced by Orthodox Christianity, making them tied to themes of sin and redemption.

Related Concepts:

• мораль (moral')
• грех (sin)
• порок (vice)