Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Devious'

English Word: Devious

Key Russian Translations:

• хитрый [ˈxitrɨj] - [Informal, Used for cunning or sly behavior]
• коварный [kɐˈvarnɨj] - [Formal, Often used for deceitful or treacherous intent]
• изворотливый [ˌizvɐrˈtlʲivɨj] - [Neutral, Refers to being resourceful or evasive]

Frequency: Medium (used in specific contexts rather than everyday speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for "хитрый"; C1 (Advanced) for "коварный" and "изворотливый" due to nuanced usage

Pronunciation (Russian):

хитрый: [ˈxitrɨj]

Note on хитрый: Stress falls on the first syllable; the "ы" sound is a unique Russian vowel, similar to a short "i" but more central.

коварный: [kɐˈvarnɨj]

Note on коварный: Stress on the second syllable; the "р" is rolled slightly.

изворотливый: [ˌizvɐrˈtlʲivɨj]

Note on изворотливый: Stress on the third syllable; the "лʲ" is a soft consonant, pronounced with the tongue raised toward the palate.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Sly or cunning (often in behavior or thought)

Translation(s) & Context:

• хитрый - Used for someone who is clever in a deceptive or tricky way, often in informal contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Он такой хитрый, что всегда находит способ избежать работы.

  He is so devious that he always finds a way to avoid work.

• Хитрый лис обманул всех в деревне.

  The devious fox tricked everyone in the village.

• Она посмотрела на меня с хитрой улыбкой.

  She looked at me with a devious smile.

2. Deceitful or treacherous (with malicious intent)

Translation(s) & Context:

• коварный - Implies a deeper, often harmful deceit, used in formal or literary contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Его коварный план разрушил жизнь многих людей.

  His devious plan ruined the lives of many people.

• Коварный враг поджидал нас в засаде.

  A devious enemy was waiting for us in ambush.

3. Evasive or indirect (in actions or speech)

Translation(s) & Context:

• изворотливый - Refers to someone who avoids direct answers or situations through clever means, often neutral in tone.

Usage Examples:

• Он изворотливый политик, никогда не отвечает прямо.

  He is a devious politician, never answering directly.

• Её изворотливые объяснения только запутали всех.

  Her devious explanations only confused everyone.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

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

Case	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Plural
Nominative	хитрый	хитрая	хитрое	хитрые
Genitive	хитрого	хитрой	хитрого	хитрых

Note: Other cases follow similar patterns. "коварный" and "изворотливый" follow analogous declension rules.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for хитрый:

• лукавый (more playful or subtle cunning)
• пронырливый (resourceful, often in a negative sense)

Antonyms for хитрый:

• прямолинейный (straightforward)
• честный (honest)

Related Phrases:

• хитрый как лис - "devious as a fox," a common simile for cunning behavior.
• коварный замысел - "devious intent," used for malicious planning.
• изворотливый ум - "devious mind," referring to someone quick to find loopholes or evasions.

Usage Notes:

• "хитрый" is the most common translation for "devious" in casual contexts, often carrying a lighter, less malicious tone.
• "коварный" should be reserved for situations implying betrayal or harmful deceit, often in formal or literary speech.
• "изворотливый" is best used for describing evasive or indirect behavior, often without a strong negative connotation.
• Be mindful of the context, as the tone of "devious" in English can range from playful to sinister, and the Russian translation must match this nuance.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "хитрый" in formal contexts where "коварный" is more appropriate. For example, saying "хитрый враг" (devious enemy) might sound too informal or playful when describing a treacherous foe. Correct: Use "коварный враг."
• Error: Overusing "изворотливый" for malicious intent. It often implies clever evasion rather than harmful deceit. Correct: Reserve it for contexts of resourcefulness or indirectness, e.g., "изворотливый ответ" (devious answer).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, cunning or devious behavior, as reflected by "хитрый," is sometimes admired in folklore (e.g., the cunning fox in fables) as a sign of intelligence, though it can also carry negative connotations in personal interactions. "коварный," however, is almost always negative, often tied to betrayal or deep deceit in historical or literary contexts.

Related Concepts:

• обман (deception)
• хитрость (cunning)
• предательство (betrayal)