Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'fickle'

English Word: fickle

Key Russian Translations:

• непостоянный [nʲɪpɐˈstoɪnɨj] - [Adjective, Formal, Used in general descriptions of instability]
• капризный [kɐˈprʲiznɨj] - [Adjective, Informal, Used for whimsical or capricious behavior]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday conversations and literature, but not as frequent as basic adjectives like "good" or "bad")

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjective declensions and nuances, suitable for learners with basic conversational skills)

Pronunciation (Russian):

непостоянный: [nʲɪpɐˈstoɪnɨj]

Note on непостоянный: The stress falls on the third syllable ("sto"), which is a common point of difficulty for English speakers due to Russian's variable stress patterns. Pronounce the initial "н" softly as a palatalized [nʲ].

Audio: Play audio for непостоянный

капризный: [kɐˈprʲiznɨj]

Note on капризный: The "р" is rolled, and the "з" is voiced; this word often has a softer, more expressive tone in spoken Russian, reflecting its informal nature.

Audio: Play audio for капризный

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Changing frequently in loyalties, affections, or opinions (e.g., unreliable or inconsistent)

Translation(s) & Context:

• непостоянный - Used in formal or neutral contexts, such as describing personality traits in literature or psychology.
• капризный - Used in informal contexts, like everyday conversations about relationships or children's behavior.

Usage Examples:

• Его настроение всегда непостоянное, как погода в апреле.

  His mood is always fickle, like the weather in April.

• Она капризная подруга: сегодня дружит, а завтра обижается без причины.

  She is a fickle friend: friendly today, offended tomorrow without reason.

• В политике непостоянные лидеры часто теряют поддержку избирателей.

  In politics, fickle leaders often lose voter support.

• Капризный ребенок отказывается от игрушки, как только увидит новую.

  The fickle child rejects a toy as soon as they see a new one.

• Непостоянный ветер мешает парусникам в открытом море.

  The fickle wind hinders sailboats in the open sea.

Secondary Meaning: Prone to sudden changes (e.g., in weather, markets, or abstract concepts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• непостоянный - Preferred in scientific or descriptive contexts for its neutral tone.

Usage Examples:

• Рынок акций непостоянный, и цены могут упасть в любой момент.

  The stock market is fickle, and prices can drop at any moment.

• В горах погода непостоянная, поэтому всегда берите дождевик.

  The weather in the mountains is fickle, so always bring a raincoat.

• Капризный характер этой реки делает её опасной для плавания.

  The fickle nature of this river makes it dangerous for swimming.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "непостоянный" and "капризный" are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern of agreement with nouns and can be either short-form (predicative) or long-form (attributive). These adjectives are regular in their inflections.

Note: These adjectives do not have irregular forms, but always ensure agreement with the noun they modify.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • изменчивый (izmenchivyy) - More neutral, often used for natural changes like weather.
  • неустойчивый (neustoychivyy) - Emphasizes instability, common in scientific contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • постоянный (postoyannyy) - Stable or consistent.
  • верный (vernuy) - Faithful or reliable, especially in personal relationships.

Related Phrases:

• Непостоянный в любви (Nepostoyannyy v lyubvi) - Fickle in love; used to describe someone who changes romantic partners frequently.
• Капризный каприз (Kapriznuy kapriz) - A whimsical whim; implies a sudden, unpredictable desire.
• Непостоянная удача (Nepostoyannaya udacha) - Fickle fortune; refers to luck that changes unpredictably.

Usage Notes:

"Fickle" translates best to "непостоянный" in formal or neutral settings, as it captures the core idea of inconsistency without emotional connotation. Use "капризный" for informal contexts involving whimsy or emotional volatility. Be mindful of Russian adjective agreement: always decline based on the noun's gender, number, and case. For example, choose "непостоянный" over "капризный" in professional discussions to avoid sounding casual. English speakers often confuse this with "volatile," which aligns more with "неустойчивый" in Russian.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "непостоянный" without proper declension, e.g., saying "непостоянный женщина" instead of "непостоянная женщина" (for feminine noun).

  Correct: "Она непостоянная" – Explanation: Adjectives must agree in gender; this mistake stems from English's lack of declension, leading to awkward phrasing.

• Error: Confusing "капризный" with "каприз" (a noun meaning whim), e.g., using it as a standalone noun.

  Correct: "Он капризный" not "Он каприз" – Explanation: "Капризный" is an adjective; misuse can alter the sentence's meaning entirely.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "непостоянный" often appear in literature (e.g., in Tolstoy's works) to describe human flaws, reflecting a historical emphasis on moral consistency in Russian philosophy and folklore. "Капризный" might evoke stereotypes of emotional expressiveness, tied to cultural perceptions of Slavic temperament, but it's commonly used humorously in modern media.

Related Concepts:

• устойчивый (ustoychivyy)
• изменчивость (izmenchivost')
• верность (vernoost')