Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'evil'

English Word: evil

Key Russian Translations:

• зло [zɫo] - [Formal, Abstract noun, Often used in philosophical or moral contexts]
• злой [zɫoj] - [Informal, Adjective, Used to describe wicked or malicious behavior]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literature, discussions of morality, and everyday language, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary like "good").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR standards; requires understanding of noun declensions for "зло" and adjective agreements for "злой". The adjective form may vary slightly in difficulty based on context.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

зло: [zɫo] (The 'л' is a dark L sound, similar to the 'l' in English "pull", and the stress is on the first syllable.)

злой: [zɫoj] (The final 'й' is a soft palatal approximant, like the 'y' in English "boy". Stress is on the first syllable.)

Note on зло: Be cautious with the dark L; non-native speakers often pronounce it as a light L, which can alter the word's natural flow in Russian speech.

Note on злой: This word can have slight variations in informal speech, such as softening the ending in rapid conversation.

Audio: []

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Abstract concept of evil (as a noun, referring to moral wrongness or harm)

Translation(s) & Context:

• зло - Used in formal, philosophical, or literary contexts to denote inherent evil or wrongdoing, such as in discussions of ethics or religion.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: В мире всегда существует зло, которое нужно преодолевать.

  English: In the world, there is always evil that needs to be overcome. (This example shows "зло" in a nominative case, discussing a broad concept.)

• Русский: Борьба с злом — это вечная тема в литературе.

  English: The struggle against evil is an eternal theme in literature. (Here, "злом" is in the instrumental case, indicating means or association.)

• Русский: Зло может проявляться в самых неожиданных формах.

  English: Evil can manifest in the most unexpected forms. (This demonstrates "зло" in a nominative context with a verb, highlighting variability.)

• Русский: Он видел зло в глазах противника.

  English: He saw evil in the eyes of his opponent. (Example in prepositional case, showing emotional or perceptual use.)

Meaning 2: Wicked or malicious (as an adjective, describing a person or action)

Translation(s) & Context:

• злой - Applied in everyday or informal contexts to describe someone or something as evil, angry, or ill-intentioned, often in interpersonal situations.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: Этот злой человек всегда причиняет вред другим.

  English: This evil person always harms others. (Adjective agreement with masculine noun, in a descriptive sentence.)

• Русский: Злой взгляд матери заставил ребенка замолчать.

  English: The evil glare from the mother made the child go silent. (Shows adjective in genitive context, implying intensity.)

• Русский: Не будь злой, помоги мне!

  English: Don't be evil; help me! (Informal imperative use, where "злой" means spiteful or unkind.)

• Русский: Злой ветер принес разрушения в город.

  English: The evil wind brought destruction to the city. (Metaphorical use with a masculine noun.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "зло" (neuter noun), it follows standard Russian noun declension patterns. It is an indeclinable noun in some contexts but typically varies by case. Below is a table of its basic inflections:

For "злой" (adjective), it agrees with the noun it modifies and changes based on gender, number, and case. It follows the standard first-declension adjective pattern. Example in nominative: злой (masc.), злая (fem.), злое (neut.), злые (plur.).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • вред (harm) - Often used interchangeably in contexts of damage or negativity.
  • дурной (bad or wicked) - More informal, with a connotation of moral corruption.
• Antonyms:
  • добро (good) - Direct opposite, especially in moral or ethical discussions.
  • благой (benevolent) - Used in formal contexts to contrast with inherent evil.

Related Phrases:

• Злое дело - An evil deed; used to describe a harmful action in moral contexts.
• Борьба со злом - Struggle against evil; a common phrase in literature or activism.
• Злой рок - Evil fate; implies a destined misfortune with cultural undertones.

Usage Notes:

"Зло" as a noun corresponds closely to the abstract English "evil," but it's often used in more formal or literary settings, whereas "злой" as an adjective aligns with "evil" in a personal or emotional sense, like describing a person's character. Choose "зло" for philosophical discussions and "злой" for everyday descriptions. Be mindful of gender agreement with "злой" (e.g., it changes to злая for feminine nouns). In informal speech, "злой" can also mean "angry," so context is key to avoid misunderstandings.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "зло" without proper case declension, e.g., saying "борьба злом" instead of "борьба со злом" (correct: with the instrumental case for association).
  Correct: Always check the case based on sentence structure to ensure grammatical accuracy.
• Mistake: Confusing "злой" with "злость" (anger or malice), leading to incorrect adjective usage, e.g., "Он злой" meaning "He is evil" but intending "He has anger."
  Correct: Use "злой" only for describing inherent wickedness, not temporary emotions.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "зло" often carries deep philosophical and literary connotations, as seen in works by authors like Fyodor Dostoevsky, where evil is explored as a fundamental human struggle. It reflects themes from Orthodox Christianity and folklore, symbolizing the eternal battle between good and evil, which can influence modern discussions on morality and society.

Related Concepts:

• грех (sin)
• тьма (darkness)
• порок (vice)