Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'hoggish'

English Word: hoggish

Key Russian Translations:

• свинячий (/svʲɪˈnatɕɪj/) - [Adjective, Informal, Often used in descriptive contexts for greedy or animalistic behavior]
• жадный (/ˈʐadnɨj/) - [Adjective, Formal or Informal, Primarily for greed-related meanings]

Frequency: Low (This word and its translations are not commonly used in everyday Russian conversation, appearing more in literary or descriptive texts.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjective declensions and nuanced vocabulary, though 'жадный' is slightly easier for beginners than 'свинячий'.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

свинячий: /svʲɪˈnatɕɪj/

Note on свинячий: The soft sign (ʲ) indicates a palatalized 's' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers; it sounds like a quick 'sh' blend. Practice with native audio for accuracy.

жадный: /ˈʐadnɨj/

Note on жадный: The 'zh' sound (/ʐ/) is similar to the 's' in 'measure'; it's a voiced fricative. Variations in stress may occur in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Greedy or pig-like in behavior (Referring to excessive selfishness or gluttony)

Translation(s) & Context:

• свинячий - Used in informal or vivid descriptions, often negatively, to depict someone as animalistic or uncivilized in their greed.
• жадный - Applied in both formal and informal contexts for general greed, especially in financial or materialistic scenarios.

Usage Examples:

• Его свинячий аппетит удивлял всех на вечеринке. (His hoggish appetite surprised everyone at the party.)

  English Translation: His hoggish appetite surprised everyone at the party.

• Она жадный человек, всегда старается забрать больше, чем нужно. (She is a hoggish person, always trying to take more than necessary.)

  English Translation: She is a hoggish person, always trying to take more than necessary.

• В этой сказке король показан как свинячий правитель, не думающий о подданных. (In this fairy tale, the king is depicted as a hoggish ruler, not thinking about his subjects.)

  English Translation: In this fairy tale, the king is depicted as a hoggish ruler, not thinking about his subjects.

• Жадный бизнесмен отказался делиться прибылью с командой. (The hoggish businessman refused to share the profits with the team.)

  English Translation: The hoggish businessman refused to share the profits with the team.

• Его свинячий характер проявляется в каждой сделке. (His hoggish nature shows in every deal.)

  English Translation: His hoggish nature shows in every deal. (This example demonstrates adjective use in a nominal context.)

Meaning 2: Crude or uncouth manners (Less common, emphasizing rudeness)

Translation(s) & Context:

• свинячий - Informal, often in spoken language to criticize behavior as uncivilized.

Usage Examples:

• Не будь свинячим – убери за собой! (Don't be hoggish – clean up after yourself!)

  English Translation: Don't be hoggish – clean up after yourself!

• Его свинячие манеры отпугивают друзей. (His hoggish manners scare off friends.)

  English Translation: His hoggish manners scare off friends. (Shows adjective in a possessive context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'свинячий' and 'жадный' are Russian adjectives, which typically follow first-declension patterns. They change based on gender, number, and case. 'Свинячий' is less common and follows standard adjective inflections, while 'жадный' is more regular.

Note: These adjectives do not have irregular forms but must agree with the noun they modify in gender, number, and case. If the word is used predicatively, it may remain in its base form.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • прожорливый (prozhorlivyy) - More focused on gluttony; similar to 'hoggish' in eating contexts.
  • скупой (skupoy) - For 'жадный', emphasizing stinginess with a slight nuance of hoarding.
• Antonyms:
  • щедрый (shchedryy) - Generous, directly opposite to greed.
  • вежливый (vezhlivyy) - Polite, contrasting with crude behavior.

Related Phrases:

• Свинячий упрямство - (Hoggish stubbornness; a phrase used to describe unyielding, selfish persistence.)
• Жадный до денег - (Hoggish for money; common in discussions of avarice, implying excessive desire for wealth.)
• Быть свинячим в еде - (To be hoggish in eating; refers to gluttonous behavior at meals.)

Usage Notes:

'Hoggish' translates most directly to 'свинячий' for animalistic connotations or 'жадный' for greed, but choose based on context: use 'свинячий' for informal, vivid descriptions and 'жадный' in more neutral settings. Be cautious with 'свинячий' as it can be offensive. In Russian, adjectives must agree grammatically with the nouns they modify, which differs from English. For example, in formal writing, opt for 'жадный' to avoid slang.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'свинячий' in formal contexts without adjustment (e.g., forgetting to decline it). Correct: Ensure it agrees in case, like 'свинячьего поведения' instead of 'свинячий поведение'. Explanation: Russian requires adjective-noun agreement; this mistake can make the sentence grammatically incorrect.

• Error: Confusing 'жадный' with 'скупой', thinking they are identical. Correct: 'Жадный' implies greedy desire, while 'скупой' means stingy; use 'жадный' for 'hoggish' greed. Explanation: Learners often mix these due to overlapping meanings, but context clarifies the difference.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'свинячий' carry a strong negative connotation, often drawing from folklore where pigs symbolize gluttony or uncleanliness (e.g., in fairy tales like those by Pushkin). This reflects broader Slavic traditions where animals in idioms highlight human flaws, helping users understand the emotional weight beyond literal translation.

Related Concepts:

• прожорливость (prozhorlivost') - Gluttony
• аварice (as a borrowed concept, but in Russian: скупость)
• вежливость (vezhlivost') - Politeness, as a contrast