Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'disgraceful'

English Word: disgraceful

Key Russian Translations:

• позорный /pɐˈzornɨj/ - [Formal; used in contexts involving public shame or moral condemnation]
• постыдный /pɐˈstɨdnɨj/ - [Informal; often implies personal embarrassment or private disgrace]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are encountered in everyday Russian, especially in literature, media, and discussions about ethics, but not as common as basic adjectives.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; learners at this level should grasp the concept with practice, as it involves understanding adjective inflections and nuanced emotional vocabulary.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

позорный: /pɐˈzornɨj/ (The stress is on the second syllable; note the soft 'р' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers.)

Note on позорный: Be mindful of the rolled 'р' and the vowel shift in fast speech, which might sound like /pɐzɐrnɨj/ in casual contexts.

постыдный: /pɐˈstɨdnɨj/ (Stress on the second syllable; the 'ы' sound is a distinct high-central vowel not found in English.)

Note on постыдный: This word may vary slightly in regional dialects, with a softer 'т' in southern Russian accents.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Causing a loss of respect or honor, often due to immoral or shameful behavior.

Translation(s) & Context:

• позорный - Used in formal or public settings, such as criticizing unethical actions in society or politics.
• постыдный - Applied in informal, personal contexts, like family discussions about embarrassing mistakes.

Usage Examples:

• Его позорное поведение на собрании шокировало всех присутствующих.

  His disgraceful behavior at the meeting shocked everyone present.

• Постыдный поступок друга заставил меня пересмотреть нашу дружбу.

  My friend's disgraceful action made me rethink our friendship.

• В истории есть множество позорных эпизодов, которые мы не должны забывать.

  History has many disgraceful episodes that we should not forget.

• Её постыдное признание в обмане разрушило доверие в семье.

  Her disgraceful confession of lying destroyed trust in the family.

• Позорное обращение с животными в цирке вызвало протесты защитников прав животных.

  The disgraceful treatment of animals in the circus sparked protests from animal rights activists.

Meaning 2: Morally reprehensible or degrading in nature.

Translation(s) & Context:

• позорный - Often in legal or ethical discussions, emphasizing societal disgrace.
• постыдный - In everyday conversations, highlighting personal regret or introspection.

Usage Examples:

• Позорное решение правительства привело к массовым протестам.

  The government's disgraceful decision led to mass protests.

• Постыдный отказ помочь соседу в беде стал для него уроком.

  The disgraceful refusal to help a neighbor in need became a lesson for him.

• В её глазах это было позорным актом предательства.

  In her eyes, it was an act of disgraceful betrayal.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "позорный" and "постыдный" are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect for gender, number, and case to agree with the nouns they modify. Russian adjectives follow a regular pattern for most cases, but they can be irregular in certain forms. Below is a table outlining the inflections for these adjectives in the nominative case (as an example; full paradigms would include all cases).

Note: These adjectives do not have irregular inflections in most cases, but they must agree with the noun's gender, number, and case. For example, in the genitive case, "позорного" (of the disgraceful one) changes accordingly.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • стыдный (stydnyy) - Similar to постыдный, but with a stronger emphasis on personal shame.
  • бесчестный (beschestnyy) - Implies dishonor, often in more formal or legal contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • почётный (pochetnyy) - Honorable or respected.
  • славный (slavnyy) - Glorious or praiseworthy, with a positive connotation.

Related Phrases:

• Позорное поведение - (Disgraceful behavior; used to describe actions that bring shame in social settings.)
• Постыдный секрет - (Disgraceful secret; refers to something embarrassing kept hidden.)
• Позор нации - (Disgrace of the nation; often in historical or political contexts to denote national shame.)

Usage Notes:

"Позорный" is the more precise match for "disgraceful" in formal English contexts, such as legal or public discourse, while "постыдный" aligns better with informal, emotional situations. Always ensure the adjective agrees with the noun it modifies in gender, number, and case—e.g., use "позорная" for feminine nouns. In Russian, these words carry a strong moral weight, so they are best used in contexts where shame is explicitly intended, rather than mild criticism. When choosing between translations, opt for "позорный" in written or official language and "постыдный" in spoken, everyday conversations.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "позорный" interchangeably with "стыдный" without considering nuance. Incorrect: "Его стыдное поведение на работе" (if implying public disgrace). Correct: "Его позорное поведение на работе" (for public shame). Explanation: "Стыдный" focuses on internal embarrassment, while "позорный" emphasizes external judgment.
• Mistake: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "позорный дом" for a feminine noun like "дома" (house, feminine). Incorrect: "Позорный дом" (if "дом" is feminine in context). Correct: "Позорная дом" is wrong; it should be "Позорный дом" as "дом" is masculine. Explanation: Always check the noun's gender to avoid grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "позорный" and "постыдный" are deeply tied to concepts of honor (честь) and collective shame, influenced by historical events such as the Soviet era's emphasis on public morality. They often appear in literature (e.g., Dostoevsky's works) to explore personal and societal disgrace, reflecting a cultural value where individual actions can bring shame to family or community.

Related Concepts:

• честь (chest) - Honor
• стыд (styd) - Shame
• бесчестие (beschestie) - Dishonor