Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'indignant'

English Word: indignant

Key Russian Translations:

• возмущенный /vɐz.muˈʂɛn.nɨj/ - [Formal, Adjective]
• негодующий /nʲɪ.ɡɐˈdu.ju.ʂɨj/ - [Informal, Adjective, Used in everyday emotional contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literature, news, and conversations involving social issues or personal affronts)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of emotional nuances and adjective inflections, but accessible with basic vocabulary knowledge)

Pronunciation (Russian):

возмущенный: /vɐz.muˈʂɛn.nɨj/ (Stress on the third syllable; the 'ʂ' sound is a retroflex fricative, similar to 'sh' in 'shoe' but more emphatic)

Note on возмущенный: This word has a soft 'щ' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers; practice with native audio for accuracy.

негодующий: /nʲɪ.ɡɐˈdu.ju.ʂɨj/ (Stress on the third syllable; the 'г' is a voiced velar fricative, like a soft 'g')

Note on негодующий: Variations in pronunciation may occur based on regional dialects, such as in Moscow vs. St. Petersburg accents.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Feeling or showing anger due to perceived injustice or unfair treatment

Translation(s) & Context:

• возмущенный - Used in formal writing or speech to express moral outrage, e.g., in response to social inequality.
• негодующий - Applied in informal settings, like everyday conversations about personal slights.

Usage Examples:

• Он был возмущен несправедливым решением суда.

  He was indignant about the unfair court decision.

• Девушка негодовала, узнав о предательстве друга.

  The girl was indignant upon learning of her friend's betrayal.

• Возмущенные протестующие вышли на улицы.

  The indignant protesters took to the streets.

• Негодующий тон в его голосе заставил всех замолчать.

  The indignant tone in his voice made everyone fall silent.

• После новости о коррупции, он стал возмущенным и написал письмо в газету.

  After hearing about the corruption, he became indignant and wrote a letter to the newspaper.

Meaning 2: Expressing resentment or displeasure in a self-righteous manner

Translation(s) & Context:

• негодующий - Often used in narrative contexts to describe exaggerated emotional responses.

Usage Examples:

• Негодующий оратор обличал коррупцию на митинге.

  The indignant speaker denounced corruption at the rally.

• Она негодовала в социальных сетях, но ничего не сделала на деле.

  She was indignant on social media but didn't take any real action.

• Возмущенный ребенок отказался есть, протестуя против наказания.

  The indignant child refused to eat, protesting the punishment.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "возмущенный" and "негодующий" are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. They follow the standard pattern for short-form and long-form adjectives, with potential irregularities in certain cases.

Note: These adjectives do not change in short form for some uses, but the above table covers the long form, which is more common.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • раздраженный (razdrazhennyy) - Similar but implies more irritation than moral outrage.
  • обиженный (obidhennyy) - Used when indignation stems from personal hurt, often in informal contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • спокойный (spokoynyy) - Calm, the opposite of emotional agitation.
  • удовлетворенный (udovletvorennyy) - Satisfied, indicating no resentment.

Related Phrases:

• Быть возмущенным - To be indignant; used to describe a state of anger over injustice.
• Негодующий взгляд - An indignant look; a common expression for facial expressions in literature.
• Возмутиться чем-то - To become indignant about something; a verb phrase for reacting strongly.

Usage Notes:

"Возмущенный" is a direct and formal equivalent to "indignant" in English, often used in written contexts like news articles or official complaints. "Негодующий" is more versatile for spoken language and can convey a sense of active protest. Choose based on context: use "возмущенный" for moral or ethical indignation, and "негодующий" for personal emotional responses. Be mindful of gender and case agreements in sentences, as Russian adjectives must match the noun they describe. For example, in formal writing, pair it with abstract nouns like "возмущенный протест" (indignant protest).

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Confusing "возмущенный" with "возбужденный" (excited or aroused), which has a completely different meaning. Correct: Use "возмущенный" for anger; Incorrect Example: "Он был возбужден несправедливостью" (meaning he was sexually excited, not indignant). Explanation: The roots are similar, but contexts differ—always check the prefix and usage.
• Mistake: Forgetting to inflect the adjective, e.g., saying "возмущенный женщина" instead of "возмущенная женщина". Correct Example: "Возмущенная женщина" (The indignant woman). Explanation: Russian requires agreement in gender, number, and case, which English speakers often overlook.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressions of indignation like "возмущенный" are often tied to historical contexts, such as revolutionary movements or Soviet-era dissent. For instance, it echoes the spirit of 19th-century literature by authors like Dostoevsky, where characters frequently display indignant reactions to social injustices, reflecting a deep-seated value for moral integrity and collective outrage.

Related Concepts:

• гневный (gnevnyy) - Angry
• протестующий (protestuyushchiy) - Protesting
• обида (obida) - Offense or resentment