Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'disparage'

English Word: disparage

Key Russian Translations:

• унижать [ʊˈnʲiʐətʲ] - [Formal, Verb]
• пренебрегать [prʲɪˈnʲɛbrʲɪɡətʲ] - [Formal, Verb, Used in contexts implying neglect or disdain]
• умалять [ʊˈmalʲɪtʲ] - [Semi-Formal, Verb, Often for belittling achievements]

Frequency: Medium (The verb forms are commonly encountered in literature, formal discussions, and media, but not in everyday casual speech.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; involves understanding verb conjugations and nuanced usage. For 'унижать', it's B2; for 'пренебрегать', it's also B2 due to its irregular aspects.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

унижать: [ʊˈnʲiʐətʲ]

пренебрегать: [prʲɪˈnʲɛbrʲɪɡətʲ]

умалять: [ʊˈmalʲɪtʲ]

Note on унижать: The 'ж' sound is a voiced palatal fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers; it's similar to the 's' in 'measure'. Pronounce with stress on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To speak of someone or something in a way that shows a lack of respect, often belittling or demeaning.

Translation(s) & Context:

• унижать - Used in formal or professional contexts to describe actively demeaning someone, such as in workplace disputes.
• пренебрегать - Applied when implying disregard or contempt, common in philosophical or social discussions.
• умалять - Often used to downplay value or importance, suitable for intellectual or critical analysis.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда унижает чужие идеи, чтобы подчеркнуть свои.

  He always disparages others' ideas to highlight his own.

• В этой статье автор пренебрегает достижениями молодых ученых.

  In this article, the author disparages the achievements of young scientists.

• Не умаляй ее вклада в проект; это несправедливо.

  Don't disparage her contribution to the project; it's unfair.

• Политик унижает оппонентов на дебатах, чтобы выиграть голоса.

  The politician disparages opponents in debates to win votes.

• Иногда родители неосознанно пренебрегают талантами детей.

  Sometimes parents unwittingly disparage their children's talents.

To depreciate or lessen the value of something intangible.

Translation(s) & Context:

• умалять - Particularly in contexts involving abstract concepts like reputation or worth.
• унижать - Less common here, but possible in emotional scenarios.

Usage Examples:

• Эта критика умаляет значимость исторических фактов.

  This criticism disparages the significance of historical facts.

• Не унижай свои усилия; они стоят большего.

  Don't disparage your efforts; they are worth more.

• Он умаляет роль искусства в современном обществе.

  He disparages the role of art in modern society.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations are verbs, which undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number in Russian. 'Унижать' and 'пренебрегать' are imperfective verbs, while 'умалять' can be both imperfective and perfective in certain contexts. Below is a table for 'унижать' as an example; similar patterns apply to others with variations.

For 'пренебрегать', it follows a similar pattern but has irregularities in perfective forms. 'Умалять' is mostly regular but can have perfective counterparts like 'уменьшить'. These verbs do not change in gender or number in the infinitive form.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • порицать (to condemn; more severe, implying moral judgment)
  • осуждать (to criticize; used in everyday contexts with less intensity)
• Antonyms:
  • хвалить (to praise)
  • возвеличивать (to exalt)

Related Phrases:

• унижать достоинство - (To disparage dignity) A phrase used in legal or ethical discussions to mean undermining someone's self-respect.
• пренебрегать правилами - (To disparage rules) Implies ignoring or belittling established guidelines, common in behavioral contexts.
• умалять заслуги - (To disparage merits) Refers to downplaying achievements, often in professional evaluations.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'унижать' directly corresponds to 'disparage' in contexts of emotional or social humiliation, but it's more intense than the English word, often carrying implications of active harm. Use 'пренебрегать' for subtle disregard in formal writing. Be cautious with verb aspect: imperfective forms like these emphasize ongoing actions. In spoken Russian, these words are less common in casual conversations and more prevalent in literature or debates. When choosing among translations, opt for 'умалять' if the focus is on diminishing value rather than personal attack.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Confusing 'унижать' with 'унижаться' (to humiliate oneself). Correct: 'Унижать' is transitive (e.g., "Он унижает других" - He disparages others), while 'унижаться' is reflexive. Example of error: Saying "Я унижаю" to mean self-disparagement, which is incorrect; use "Я унижаюсь".
• Mistake: Overusing in informal settings. Correct: In casual speech, Russians might say "ругать" (to scold) instead of 'унижать' to avoid sounding too formal. Error example: "Я унижаю друга" instead of "Я ругаю друга" in a light-hearted context.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'унижать' often carry a strong connotation of social hierarchy and respect, rooted in historical contexts such as the Soviet era's emphasis on collective criticism. Disparaging someone publicly can lead to significant social repercussions, reflecting values of mutual respect in modern Russian society.

Related Concepts:

• оскорблять (to insult)
• критиковать (to criticize)
• презирать (to despise)