Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'disloyal'

English Word: disloyal

Key Russian Translations:

• Неверный [nʲɪˈvʲɛrnɨj] - [Informal/Formal, Adjective, Used in general contexts]
• Вероломный [vʲɪrɐˈlomnɨj] - [Formal, Adjective, Used in literary or historical contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in discussions of relationships, politics, and ethics, but not as everyday as basic adjectives like "good" or "bad").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, as it involves understanding adjective inflections; for "неверный," it's straightforward, but "вероломный" may require more advanced vocabulary knowledge).

Pronunciation (Russian):

Неверный: [nʲɪˈvʲɛrnɨj]

Note on Неверный: The stress is on the third syllable; the initial "н" is palatalized, which is a common feature in Russian adjectives. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Вероломный: [vʲɪrɐˈlomnɨj]

Note on Вероломный: Stress on the third syllable; the "л" is soft, which can be tricky for learners. Avoid over-emphasizing the "о" sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Lacking loyalty or faithfulness, often in personal, professional, or political contexts.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Неверный - Used in everyday situations to describe someone who betrays trust, such as in friendships or relationships.
• Вероломный - Applied in more formal or historical contexts, implying treacherous or deceitful behavior with severe consequences.

Usage Examples:

• Его неверный поступок разочаровал всю команду. (His disloyal action disappointed the entire team.)

  English Translation: His disloyal action disappointed the entire team. (This example shows the adjective in a nominative case, describing an action in a team context.)

• Она считала его неверным другом, потому что он раскрыл её тайну. (She considered him a disloyal friend because he revealed her secret.)

  English Translation: She considered him a disloyal friend because he revealed her secret. (Illustrates use in interpersonal relationships, with the adjective modifying a noun.)

• Вероломный политик предал своих союзников ради власти. (The disloyal politician betrayed his allies for power.)

  English Translation: The disloyal politician betrayed his allies for power. (Demonstrates a more formal tone, often in political or historical narratives.)

• В истории часто упоминаются неверные вассалы, которые изменяли своим лордам. (History often mentions disloyal vassals who betrayed their lords.)

  English Translation: History often mentions disloyal vassals who betrayed their lords. (Shows the adjective in plural form within a historical context.)

• Его вероломное поведение в переговорах стоило компании миллионы. (His disloyal behavior in negotiations cost the company millions.)

  English Translation: His disloyal behavior in negotiations cost the company millions. (Highlights use in business settings, emphasizing consequences.)

Secondary Meaning: Unfaithful in a romantic sense, though less common.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Неверный - Informal contexts, like infidelity in relationships.

Usage Examples:

• Он был неверным мужем и часто обманывал свою жену. (He was a disloyal husband and often deceived his wife.)

  English Translation: He was a disloyal husband and often deceived his wife. (Focuses on personal relationships, with the adjective in a possessive context.)

• Неверная подруга разрушила их дружбу лживыми обещаниями. (The disloyal friend destroyed their friendship with false promises.)

  English Translation: The disloyal friend destroyed their friendship with false promises. (Shows feminine form inflection.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "Неверный" and "Вероломный" are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Russian adjectives follow standard patterns, but "Неверный" is a regular adjective, while "Вероломный" is also regular but less common.

Note: These adjectives do not have irregular inflections; they follow the standard first-declension pattern for hard-stem adjectives.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Предательский (more intense, implying active betrayal)
  • Изменнический (used in contexts of treason or infidelity, with a historical connotation)
• Antonyms:
  • Верный (loyal, faithful)
  • Преданный (devoted, reliable)

Related Phrases:

• Неверный друг - A disloyal friend; used to describe someone who cannot be trusted in friendships.
• Вероломный акт - A treacherous act; common in political or military contexts to denote betrayal.
• Быть неверным - To be disloyal; a phrase for expressing unfaithfulness in relationships.

Usage Notes:

"Disloyal" translates most directly to "неверный" in everyday English-Russian contexts, but "вероломный" is preferred for formal or literary uses where treachery is implied. Be mindful of gender and case agreements in sentences; for example, use "неверная" for feminine nouns. In Russian culture, accusations of disloyalty can carry strong emotional weight, so these words are often used in heated discussions. When choosing between translations, opt for "неверный" in casual speech and "вероломный" in written or historical narratives.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "неверный" interchangeably with "предательский" without considering context. Incorrect: Он предательский друг (This implies more active treason). Correct: Он неверный друг (This fits general disloyalty). Explanation: "Предательский" suggests outright betrayal, while "неверный" is broader; learners should match the intensity to avoid exaggeration.
• Error: Forgetting adjective inflections, e.g., saying "неверный женщина" instead of "неверная женщина." Incorrect: Неверный женщина. Correct: Неверная женщина. Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts of loyalty are deeply tied to historical events like the betrayals during World War II or in literature (e.g., in works by Tolstoy). Words like "вероломный" often evoke themes of national betrayal, reflecting Russia's emphasis on collective fidelity and the severe social stigma attached to disloyalty.

Related Concepts:

• Предательство (betrayal)
• Верность (loyalty)
• Изменник (traitor)