Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'disgrace'

English Word: disgrace

Key Russian Translations:

• позор [pɐˈzor] - [Formal; used for general concepts of shame or dishonor]
• бесчестие [bʲɪsˈt͡ɕesʲtʲɪje] - [Formal; emphasizes loss of honor or integrity]
• опозорить [ɐpɐˈzorʲɪtʲ] - [Formal; as a verb, meaning to disgrace someone]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature, media, and everyday discussions about ethics or social issues in Russian-speaking contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun and verb inflections, but basic forms are straightforward for learners at this level)

Pronunciation (Russian):

позор: [pɐˈzor]

бесчестие: [bʲɪsˈt͡ɕesʲtʲɪje] (Note on бесчестие: The stress falls on the third syllable; be mindful of the soft sign 'ь' which affects the preceding consonant's pronunciation.)

опозорить: [ɐpɐˈzorʲɪtʲ] (Note on опозорить: This is a verb with a prefix; the 'o' in 'opo' is unstressed and can sound reduced in fast speech.)

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: As a noun, referring to a state of shame or loss of respect

Translation(s) & Context:

• позор - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe public embarrassment or disgraceful events.
• бесчестие - Applied in more serious, ethical discussions, such as in legal or historical contexts involving dishonor.

Usage Examples:

• Это был позор для всей семьи. (This was a disgrace for the entire family.)

  Translation: This was a disgrace for the entire family. (Context: Demonstrates use in familial or social settings.)

• Его бесчестие стало известным по всей стране. (His disgrace became known throughout the country.)

  Translation: His disgrace became known throughout the country. (Context: Shows application in broader societal or national scenarios.)

• Позор такого поступка невозможно скрыть. (The disgrace of such an action cannot be hidden.)

  Translation: The disgrace of such an action cannot be hidden. (Context: Highlights moral judgment in everyday language.)

• Бесчестие политика шокировало общественность. (The disgrace of the politician shocked the public.)

  Translation: The disgrace of the politician shocked the public. (Context: Illustrates use in news or political discourse.)

• Позор войны оставил неизгладимый след. (The disgrace of war left an indelible mark.)

  Translation: The disgrace of war left an indelible mark. (Context: Demonstrates poetic or reflective usage.)

Meaning 2: As a verb, meaning to bring shame or dishonor to someone

Translation(s) & Context:

• опозорить - Used in contexts involving actions that tarnish reputation, often in formal or narrative settings.

Usage Examples:

• Он опозорил свою семью своим поведением. (He disgraced his family with his behavior.)

  Translation: He disgraced his family with his behavior. (Context: Shows verbal action in personal relationships.)

• Эта новость опозорит компанию. (This news will disgrace the company.)

  Translation: This news will disgrace the company. (Context: Applied in professional or business scenarios.)

• Не опозорь себя перед друзьями. (Don't disgrace yourself in front of your friends.)

  Translation: Don't disgrace yourself in front of your friends. (Context: Informal warning, though still formal in tone.)

• Его действия опозорили нацию. (His actions disgraced the nation.)

  Translation: His actions disgraced the nation. (Context: National or historical context.)

• Опозорить противника — это тактика в дебатах. (To disgrace the opponent is a tactic in debates.)

  Translation: To disgrace the opponent is a tactic in debates. (Context: Strategic or rhetorical use.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For позор (a masculine noun), it follows standard second-declension patterns with regular inflections across cases and numbers.

For бесчестие (a neuter noun), it is mostly regular but can vary slightly in plural forms:

For опозорить (a verb, first conjugation), it has regular conjugations across tenses and persons. Example in present tense:

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: стыд (styd - more personal shame), унижение (unizhenie - humiliation, with a connotation of degradation)
• Antonyms: честь (chest' - honor, often used in contrast in ethical discussions), слава (slava - glory, implying positive reputation)

Related Phrases:

• Принести позор (to bring disgrace) - Meaning: To cause shame through one's actions, often in family or social contexts.
• Опозорить имя (to disgrace a name) - Meaning: To tarnish a family's or person's reputation, commonly in legal or historical narratives.
• Бесчестие чести (dishonor of honor) - Meaning: A paradoxical phrase highlighting conflicts in moral integrity.

Usage Notes:

• While "disgrace" as a noun aligns closely with позор or бесчестие, choose based on context: use позор for public or emotional shame, and бесчестие for formal, ethical loss. As a verb, опозорить is the direct equivalent but is more intense in Russian culture.
• These words are typically formal; in informal speech, Russians might use euphemisms or avoid them altogether due to cultural sensitivity around honor.
• Grammatically, nouns like позор require case agreement, so pay attention to sentence structure when translating.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing позор with стыд (shame), thinking they are identical. Correct: Позор implies public disgrace, while стыд is more internal. Example: Incorrect: "Я чувствую позор" (for personal shame); Correct: "Я чувствую стыд".
• Error: Misconjugating опозорить in past tense. Correct: The past tense is опозорил for masculine subjects; learners often forget gender agreement.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts like позор are deeply tied to ideas of collective honor and community reputation, stemming from historical influences like Orthodox Christianity and Soviet-era values. Disgrace is not just personal but can affect family or national pride, making these words emotionally charged in discussions of morality or history.

Related Concepts:

• честь (chest' - honor)
• унижение (unizhenie - humiliation)
• стыд (styd - shame)