Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'disreputable'

English Word: disreputable

Key Russian Translations:

• неблагонадёжный [/nʲɪˈblɐɡənəˈdjɵʐnɨj/] - [Formal, used in official or legal contexts]
• сомнительный [/səmʲɪˈtʲelʲnɨj/] - [Informal, used in everyday conversations or media]

Frequency: Medium - This word and its translations are moderately common in Russian literature, news, and formal discussions, but not as frequent as basic adjectives.

Difficulty: B2 - Intermediate level, as it involves understanding nuanced vocabulary and contexts; for "неблагонадёжный," it may lean towards B2+, due to its formal connotations, while "сомнительный" is more accessible at B2.

Pronunciation (Russian):

неблагонадёжный: /nʲɪˈblɐɡənəˈdjɵʐnɨj/ (Stress on the fourth syllable; note the soft 'н' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers.)

сомнительный: /səmʲɪˈtʲelʲnɨj/ (Stress on the third syllable; the 'тʲ' is a palatalized 't', common in Russian but absent in English.)

Note on неблагонадёжный: Be cautious with the 'ё' sound, which is pronounced as /jo/ and often reduced in fast speech; this can lead to variations in informal settings.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Having a bad reputation or being unworthy of trust

Translation(s) & Context:

• неблагонадёжный - Used in formal contexts like legal documents or official reports to describe individuals or entities with questionable integrity.
• сомнительный - Applied in everyday situations, such as gossip or casual discussions, to indicate suspicion or unreliability.

Usage Examples:

• Этот политик известен как неблагонадёжный человек, из-за его прошлых скандалов.

  This politician is known as a disreputable person due to his past scandals.

• Компания имеет сомнительный рейтинг, поэтому я не рекомендую с ней работать.

  The company has a disreputable rating, so I don't recommend working with them.

• Его поведение на вечеринке было столь неблагонадёжным, что все гости ушли.

  His behavior at the party was so disreputable that all the guests left.

• Сомнительные источники информации часто распространяют фейковые новости.

  Disreputable sources of information often spread fake news.

• В этом районе живут многие неблагонадёжные личности, поэтому лучше избегать его по ночам.

  In this area, many disreputable individuals live, so it's better to avoid it at night.

Secondary Meaning: Morally questionable or shameful

Translation(s) & Context:

• неблагонадёжный - In ethical discussions, emphasizing a lack of moral reliability.
• сомнительный - In social contexts, highlighting behavior that raises ethical doubts.

Usage Examples:

• Её неблагонадёжные действия в бизнесе привели к потере доверия.

  Her disreputable actions in business led to a loss of trust.

• Сомнительный выбор друзей может повредить твоей репутации.

  A disreputable choice of friends can harm your reputation.

• Не связывайся с этим сомнительным делом, оно может быть нелегальным.

  Don't get involved in this disreputable affair; it might be illegal.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "неблагонадёжный" and "сомнительный" are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Adjectives follow standard patterns for agreement with nouns.

Note: These adjectives are regular and follow the standard hard-stem pattern, with no irregular inflections.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • ненадёжный (less formal, emphasizes unreliability)
  • подозрительный (implies suspicion, often used interchangeably with сомнительный)
• Antonyms:
  • надёжный (reliable, trustworthy)
  • благонадёжный (honorable, reputable)

Related Phrases:

• человек с сомнительной репутацией - A person with a disreputable reputation; often used in biographical or news contexts.
• неблагонадёжные связи - Disreputable connections; refers to associations that could harm one's standing.
• сомнительные методы - Disreputable methods; commonly used in discussions about ethics in business or politics.

Usage Notes:

• Use "неблагонадёжный" for more formal or official scenarios, as it directly aligns with the English "disreputable" in legal or governmental contexts, while "сомнительный" is better for informal everyday use.
• Be mindful of grammatical agreement: always inflect the adjective to match the noun's gender, number, and case to avoid sounding unnatural.
• In Russian culture, words like these often carry strong implications about social status, so they may be used more judgmentally than in English equivalents.

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse "неблагонадёжный" with "неблагоприятный" (unfavorable), leading to incorrect usage. Error: "Это неблагоприятный район" (meaning "unfavorable area" instead of "disreputable"). Correct: "Это неблагонадёжный район" for a bad-reputation area. Explanation: The former refers to general disadvantage, not moral judgment.
• Another mistake is using "сомнительный" without proper inflection, e.g., saying "сомнительный люди" instead of "сомнительные люди." Correct: Always agree with the noun. Explanation: Russian requires adjective-noun agreement for grammatical accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts of reputation and trust are deeply tied to historical and social norms, such as those from the Soviet era. Words like "неблагонадёжный" might evoke ideas of state surveillance or personal integrity, reflecting a society where public image can significantly impact one's life or career.

Related Concepts:

• репутация (reputation)
• честь (honor)
• доверие (trust)