Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'guilty'

English Word: guilty

Key Russian Translations:

• Виновный [vʲɪˈnovnɨj] - [Formal, Adjective used in legal or descriptive contexts]
• Виноват [vʲɪˈnovət] - [Informal, Commonly used in everyday emotional or moral contexts]

Frequency: Medium (The word is frequently encountered in legal, moral, and conversational Russian, but not as common as basic everyday vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR standards; involves understanding adjective inflections and context-specific usage. For 'Виновный', it may be slightly more challenging due to formal declensions, while 'Виноват' is easier for beginners.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Виновный: [vʲɪˈnovnɨj]

Note on Виновный: The stress falls on the third syllable ('nov'), and the 'ы' sound can be tricky for English speakers, similar to a short 'i' in "bit". Variations may occur in regional dialects.

Виноват: [vʲɪˈnovət]

Note on Виноват: The final 't' is softly pronounced, and the word often softens in casual speech. Pay attention to the palatalized 'v' sound at the beginning.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Feeling or being responsible for a wrongdoing (e.g., moral or emotional guilt)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Виноват - Used in informal settings, such as personal apologies or emotional discussions, to express inner remorse.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда чувствует себя виноватым после ссоры. (He always feels guilty after an argument.)

  He always feels guilty after an argument.

• Дети бывают виноватыми в мелких шалостях. (Children can be guilty of minor mischief.)

  Children can be guilty of minor mischief.

• Она призналась, что виновата в ошибке. (She admitted that she was guilty of the mistake.)

  She admitted that she was guilty of the mistake.

• Виноватый взгляд сказал больше, чем слова. (The guilty look said more than words.)

  The guilty look said more than words.

• Иногда мы все виноваты в заблуждениях. (Sometimes we are all guilty of misconceptions.)

  Sometimes we are all guilty of misconceptions.

2. Legally guilty (e.g., in a court of law)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Виновный - Typically used in formal, legal contexts, such as trials or official documents, to denote criminal responsibility.

Usage Examples:

• Суд признал его виновным в преступлении. (The court found him guilty of the crime.)

  The court found him guilty of the crime.

• Виновный должен понести наказание. (The guilty party must face punishment.)

  The guilty party must face punishment.

• Обвиняемый был признан виновным по всем пунктам. (The defendant was found guilty on all charges.)

  The defendant was found guilty on all charges.

• Виновные лица предстали перед судом. (The guilty individuals appeared before the court.)

  The guilty individuals appeared before the court.

• Доказательства подтвердили, что он виновный. (The evidence confirmed that he is guilty.)

  The evidence confirmed that he is guilty.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'Виновный' and 'Виноват' are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives generally follow a regular pattern, but they must agree with the nouns they modify. 'Виновный' is more formal and follows standard adjective declension, while 'Виноват' is often used predicatively and may not always inflect in casual speech.

Form	Виновный (Masc. Singular)	Виноват (as Predicative Adjective)
Nominative (Именительный)	Виновный	Виноват
Genitive (Родительный)	Виновного	Виноватого (if used attributively)
Dative (Дательный)	Виновному	Виноватому
Accusative (Винительный)	Виновного (animate)	Виноватого
Instrumental (Творительный)	Виновным	Виноватым
Prepositional (Предложный)	Виновном	Виноватом
Feminine Singular	Виновная	Виновата
Neuter Singular	Виновное	N/A (less common)
Plural	Виновные	Виноваты

Note: These are regular inflections. 'Виноват' is often invariant in informal use when not modifying a noun directly.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Преступный (prestupnyy) - More specific to criminal acts, with a connotation of illegality.
  • Ответственный (otvetstvennyy) - Implies accountability, often in a moral sense, but less emotional.
• Antonyms:
  • Невиновный (nevinovnyy) - Directly opposite, meaning innocent or blameless.
  • Невиноватый (nevinovatyi) - Informal version, used for emotional innocence.

Related Phrases:

• Чувствовать себя виноватым - (To feel guilty; used in personal reflection or apologies.)
• Признаться в вине - (To confess guilt; common in legal or moral confessions.)
• Виновный в преступлении - (Guilty of a crime; a standard legal phrase.)
• Быть виноватым перед кем-то - (To be guilty towards someone; implies relational remorse.)

Usage Notes:

Choose 'Виновный' for formal or legal contexts, as it aligns closely with "guilty" in a courtroom setting, while 'Виноват' is better for everyday emotional expressions. Be mindful of gender and case agreement in Russian sentences—e.g., use 'Виновная' for feminine subjects. In informal speech, 'Виноват' can stand alone, but in writing, it should modify nouns appropriately. English speakers often confuse this with English guilt nuances; Russian emphasizes collective or societal implications in moral contexts.

Common Errors:

• Using 'Виновный' in informal conversations: Incorrect example - "Я виновный в этом" (sounds overly formal or stilted). Correct: "Я виноват в этом" for casual speech. Explanation: 'Виноват' is more natural in everyday use, while 'Виновный' is reserved for descriptive or legal contexts.

• Forgetting adjective agreement: Incorrect example - "Она виновный" (wrong gender). Correct: "Она виновная". Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender, number, and case, which is a common pitfall for English learners used to invariant adjectives.

• Misusing in phrases: Incorrect example - "Я чувствую виноват" (missing agreement). Correct: "Я чувствую себя виноватым". Explanation: Always include reflexive particles like 'себя' in emotional expressions for accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts of guilt (e.g., 'вина') often tie into historical and social contexts, such as the emphasis on collective responsibility during Soviet times. Words like 'Виноват' can carry a deeper sense of personal or national remorse, as seen in literature like Dostoevsky's works, where guilt is a profound moral theme.

Related Concepts:

• Суд (sud) - Court
• Преступление (prestuplenie) - Crime
• Ответственность (otvetstvennost') - Responsibility
• Покаяние (pokayanie) - Repentance