Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'devilish'

English Word: devilish

Key Russian Translations:

• дьявольский [ˈdʲjavəlʲskʲɪj] - [Formal, Adjective]
• чертовский [ˈtɕertəfskʲɪj] - [Informal, Adjective]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

дьявольский: [ˈdʲjavəlʲskʲɪj]

Note on дьявольский: Pay attention to the soft 'дь' sound, which is a palatalized consonant unique to Russian.

чертовский: [ˈtɕertəfskʲɪj]

Note on чертовский: The stress falls on the first syllable, and 'ч' is pronounced as a soft 'ch'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Relating to the devil or evil (Literal or Figurative)

Translation(s) & Context:

• дьявольский - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe something evil, sinister, or devil-like.

Usage Examples:

• Его дьявольский план был раскрыт.

  His devilish plan was uncovered.

• У неё был дьявольский взгляд.

  She had a devilish look in her eyes.

2. Mischievous or playfully wicked (Informal)

Translation(s) & Context:

• чертовский - Used in informal settings to describe mischievous or cheeky behavior, often with a positive or playful tone.

Usage Examples:

• У него чертовски хитрая улыбка.

  He has a devilishly cunning smile.

• Это чертовски сложная задача!

  This is a devilishly difficult task!

• Она чертовски умна для своего возраста.

  She is devilishly clever for her age.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

дьявольский (Adjective): Follows standard Russian adjective declension rules based on gender, number, and case.

чертовский (Adjective): Follows similar adjective declension patterns as above.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for дьявольский:

• сатанинский (satanic, often used in religious contexts)
• адский (hellish, emphasizing torment or intensity)

Synonyms for чертовский:

• проказливый (mischievous, playful)
• хитрый (cunning, sly)

Antonyms:

• ангельский (angelic, for дьявольский)
• невинный (innocent, for чертовский)

Related Phrases:

• дьявольский замысел - A devilish scheme (a sinister or evil plan)
• чертовски здорово - Devilishly good (extremely good or impressive, informal)

Usage Notes:

• "дьявольский" is more formal and often carries a negative or sinister connotation, suitable for literary or serious contexts.
• "чертовский" is informal and can be used positively or playfully to describe cleverness, difficulty, or mischief. It is more versatile in everyday speech.
• Be cautious not to overuse "чертовский" in formal writing as it may sound colloquial or inappropriate.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "дьявольский" in a playful context. For example, saying "У тебя дьявольская улыбка" might sound overly dramatic or negative when a playful tone is intended.

  Correct Usage: Use "чертовски хитрая улыбка" for a playful or mischievous tone.

• Error: Misplacing stress in "чертовский" by stressing the second syllable.

  Correct Usage: Stress the first syllable: "чёртовский".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, references to the devil (дьявол) or hell (ад) are often tied to folklore and religious contexts. Using "дьявольский" may evoke stronger imagery of evil or supernatural forces compared to English "devilish". Meanwhile, "чертовский" is often used as an intensifier in colloquial speech, similar to "damn" in English, and does not always carry a negative connotation.

Related Concepts:

• чёрт (devil, informal term for a devil or demon)
• ад (hell)
• зло (evil)