Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'fractious'

English Word: fractious

Key Russian Translations:

• Капризный /kəˈprɪznɨj/ - [Informal, often used for whimsical or moody behavior]
• Сварливый /svɐrˈlʲivɨj/ - [Informal, typically for argumentative or quarrelsome traits]

Frequency: Medium (These words appear in everyday conversations and literature but are not among the most common adjectives in Russian.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; learners at this level should grasp basic inflections, though nuances in usage may require more practice.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Капризный: /kəˈprɪznɨj/

Сварливый: /svɐrˈlʲivɨj/

Note on Капризный: The stress falls on the second syllable; be careful with the 'ы' sound, which is a soft, back vowel unique to Russian and may challenge English speakers.

Note on Сварливый: Pronunciation varies slightly in fast speech; the 'лʲ' is palatalized, making it sound softer.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Irritable, unruly, or difficult to control

Translation(s) & Context:

• Капризный - Used in informal contexts to describe someone who is moody or capricious, often in family or child-related scenarios.
• Сварливый - Applied in situations involving arguments, such as describing a contentious person in social or domestic settings.

Usage Examples:

• Дети иногда бывают капризными, особенно когда им скучно.

  Children can sometimes be fractious, especially when they are bored.

• Эта старая собака стала сварливой и не терпит шума.

  This old dog has become fractious and cannot stand noise.

• В переговорах он проявил себя как капризный лидер, отказываясь от компромиссов.

  In negotiations, he showed himself as a fractious leader, refusing compromises.

• Сварливая соседка постоянно спорит с всеми в подъезде.

  The fractious neighbor is always arguing with everyone in the building.

• Капризный ребенок отказывается есть, пока не получит свою любимую игрушку.

  The fractious child refuses to eat until he gets his favorite toy.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "Капризный" and "Сварливый" are adjectives, which inflect for gender, number, and case in Russian. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern for most cases, but they are not irregular. Below is a table outlining the inflections for each:

Note: These adjectives do not change in the short form (e.g., for predicates), but in attributive positions, they must agree with the noun they modify. They are regular and follow standard first-declension adjective patterns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Упрямый (upryamyy) - Stubborn, with a focus on resistance to change.
  • Своевольный (svoevol'nyy) - Willful, implying self-centered behavior.
• Antonyms:
  • Спокойный (spokoynyy)
  • Послушный (poslushnyy)

Related Phrases:

• Капризный характер - A fractious nature; refers to someone with an unpredictable personality.
• Сварливая личность - A fractious personality; used to describe argumentative individuals in social contexts.
• Капризный ребенок - A fractious child; common in parenting discussions.

Usage Notes:

"Fractious" in English often conveys irritability or unruliness, and in Russian, "Капризный" is a closer match for whimsical or moody contexts (e.g., children or animals), while "Сварливый" suits argumentative scenarios. Choose based on the specific nuance: use "Капризный" for emotional unpredictability and "Сварливый" for conflict-prone behavior. Both are informal, so in formal writing, opt for alternatives like "трудный" (difficult). Grammatically, ensure adjectives agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, as Russian requires this for proper sentence structure.

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse "Капризный" with "Сварливый" and use them interchangeably, but this can alter the meaning. For example, saying "Он сварливый ребенок" (He is a fractious child implying quarrelsomeness) instead of "Он капризный ребенок" (He is a fractious child implying moodiness) might exaggerate the sense of conflict. Correct usage: Match the adjective to the context—use "Капризный" for emotional states.
• Another error is forgetting inflections; for instance, saying "Капризный женщина" (incorrect) instead of "Капризная женщина" (fractious woman). Always adjust for gender and case to avoid grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "Капризный" are often associated with childhood or familial dynamics, reflecting a common theme in literature (e.g., in works by Tolstoy) where fractious behavior is portrayed as a natural part of human development. This can help English users understand that such traits are not always negative but part of everyday interpersonal relations.

Related Concepts:

• Взбалмошный (vzbalmoshnyy)
• Нестабильный (nestabil'nyy)
• Конфликтный (konfliktnyy)