Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'decent'

English Word: decent

Key Russian Translations:

• приличный [prʲɪˈlʲitɕnɨj] - [Formal, Informal]
• достойный [dɐˈstojnɨj] - [Formal, Used for moral or qualitative judgment]
• неплохой [nʲɪplɐˈxoj] - [Informal, Often used for moderate praise]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in various contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for all translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

приличный: [prʲɪˈlʲitɕnɨj]

Note on приличный: Stress on the second syllable. The soft 'л' sound (lʲ) might be tricky for non-native speakers.

достойный: [dɐˈstojnɨj]

Note on достойный: Stress on the second syllable. Pay attention to the reduced 'о' sound before the stress.

неплохой: [nʲɪplɐˈxoj]

Note on неплохой: Stress on the last syllable. The 'х' sound is a guttural fricative, distinct from English 'h'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Respectable or Appropriate (Moral/Behavioral Sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• приличный - Used to describe behavior, appearance, or social norms that are considered proper or respectable.
• достойный - Focuses on worthiness or dignity, often in a moral or ethical context.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда ведет себя прилично на публике.

  He always behaves decently in public.

• Это приличное место для семейного ужина.

  This is a decent place for a family dinner.

• Она достойна уважения за свои поступки.

  She is decent (worthy) of respect for her actions.

2. Fairly Good (Quality or Standard)

Translation(s) & Context:

• неплохой - Used to describe something of acceptable or reasonably good quality, often with a casual tone.
• приличный - Can also imply a satisfactory level of quality in certain contexts.

Usage Examples:

• У него неплохая работа, но он хочет большего.

  He has a decent job, but he wants more.

• Мы нашли приличный отель по разумной цене.

  We found a decent hotel at a reasonable price.

• Это неплохой результат для первого раза.

  This is a decent result for the first time.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

приличный (Adjective): Declines according to gender, number, and case like most Russian adjectives.

достойный (Adjective): Follows similar declension patterns as приличный.

неплохой (Adjective): Also declines like other adjectives, with the prefix "не-" (negation) remaining constant.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for приличный:

• подобающий (appropriate)
• порядочный (respectable)

Note: "порядочный" often carries a stronger moral connotation than "приличный".

Antonyms for приличный:

• неприличный (indecent)
• неподобающий (inappropriate)

Related Phrases:

• приличное поведение - decent behavior (used in formal or social contexts).
• достойный ответ - decent (worthy) response (used for something commendable).
• неплохая идея - decent (not bad) idea (informal, moderate approval).

Usage Notes:

• "приличный" is the most versatile translation for "decent," covering both moral appropriateness and acceptable quality. Use it in most general contexts.
• "достойный" emphasizes worthiness or dignity and is often used in formal or serious contexts, especially when praising someone's character or actions.
• "неплохой" is more colloquial and implies something is "not bad" or "fairly good." It’s less formal and often used for moderate or understated praise.

Common Errors:

Error 1: Using "достойный" when describing something of average quality, e.g., saying "достойный отель" for a merely acceptable hotel. This sounds overly formal or exaggerated.

Correct Usage: Use "приличный отель" or "неплохой отель" instead.

Error 2: Misusing "неплохой" in formal contexts where stronger praise is expected, e.g., "неплохой поступок" for a truly noble act.

Correct Usage: Use "достойный поступок" to convey proper respect or admiration.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of "приличный" often ties to social norms and expectations of propriety, especially in public behavior or dress. Using this word reflects an awareness of societal standards, which are highly valued in formal or traditional settings.

Related Concepts:

• порядочность (respectability)
• достоинство (dignity)
• пристойность (decency)