Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'indignity'

English Word: indignity

Key Russian Translations:

• оскорбление (/ɐˈskɐr.blʲe.nʲe/) - [Formal, often used in legal or serious contexts]
• унижение (/ʊ.nʲɪˈʐe.nʲe/) - [Informal, emotional or everyday contexts]

Frequency: Medium (These words appear regularly in literature, media, and conversations but are not as common as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B2 Intermediate (Requires understanding of noun declensions and nuanced emotional vocabulary; varies slightly by translation.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

оскорбление: /ɐˈskɐr.blʲe.nʲe/

Note on оскорбление: The stress is on the third syllable; be careful with the soft 'л' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. Pronounce it with a clear 'r' roll.

унижение: /ʊ.nʲɪˈʐe.nʲe/

Note on унижение: The 'ж' is a voiced fricative, similar to 'zh' in 'measure'; stress falls on the third syllable, and the word may vary slightly in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: An action or situation that causes humiliation or loss of dignity.

Translation(s) & Context:

• оскорбление - Used in formal contexts, such as legal disputes or public offenses, emphasizing intentional insult.
• унижение - Applied in everyday or emotional situations, focusing on personal feelings of shame.

Usage Examples:

• Он терпел оскорбление от начальника, но решил не реагировать. (He endured the indignity from his boss but chose not to react.)

  Translation: He endured the indignity from his boss but chose not to react. (This example shows 'оскорбление' in a professional context, highlighting endurance of insult.)

• Её унижение на публике было невыносимым. (Her public indignity was unbearable.)

  Translation: Her public indignity was unbearable. (Here, 'унижение' illustrates emotional humiliation in social settings.)

• Война принесла много оскорблений гражданскому населению. (The war brought many indignities to the civilian population.)

  Translation: The war brought many indignities to the civilian population. (This demonstrates 'оскорбление' in a historical or broad context.)

• Это унижение заставило его изменить свою жизнь. (This indignity forced him to change his life.)

  Translation: This indignity forced him to change his life. (Shows 'унижение' in a personal growth narrative.)

• Правительственные чиновники не должны терпеть такие оскорбления. (Government officials should not tolerate such indignities.)

  Translation: Government officials should not tolerate such indignities. (Emphasizes 'оскорбление' in a formal, institutional context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'оскорбление' and 'унижение' are neuter nouns in Russian, following the standard declension patterns for second-declension nouns. They change based on case, number, and gender agreements. Below is a table for 'оскорбление' as an example; 'унижение' follows similar rules.

For 'унижение', the inflections are identical in structure: e.g., Nominative Singular: унижение; Genitive Plural: унижений. These nouns do not have irregular forms but require attention to vowel changes in certain cases.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Обида (offense; more emotional, less formal than оскорбление)
  • Гуманизация (humiliation; similar to унижение but with a connotation of degradation)
• Antonyms:
  • Уважение (respect)
  • Честь (honor)

Related Phrases:

• Нанести оскорбление (to inflict an indignity) - Used to describe causing intentional harm or insult in formal settings.
• Переживать унижение (to experience indignity) - Refers to enduring personal shame, often in emotional contexts.
• Оскорбление достоинства (indignity to dignity) - A phrase emphasizing violation of personal rights.

Usage Notes:

'Оскорбление' is the more precise translation for 'indignity' in formal or legal English contexts, as it implies a direct affront, while 'унижение' better captures emotional or subjective experiences. Choose based on the situation: use 'оскорбление' for public or institutional scenarios and 'унижение' for personal narratives. Note that Russian nouns like these must agree in case with other elements in the sentence, which can differ from English's fixed word order. For example, in questions or exclamations, the word might shift cases for emphasis.

Common Errors:

• Confusing case endings: English learners often use the nominative form everywhere, e.g., saying "о б оскорбление" instead of the correct genitive "об оскорблении" in phrases like "about the indignity." Correct usage: Use the appropriate case, such as genitive for possession.

• Mixing synonyms: Learners might overuse 'обида' (offense) when 'оскорбление' is needed for a more severe context. Error example: "Это обида" for a formal insult; Correct: "Это оскорбление" to convey the gravity of 'indignity'.

• Neglecting gender agreement: Although these are neuter nouns, errors occur in adjective agreements, e.g., saying "большой оскорбление" instead of "большое оскорбление." Explanation: Always ensure adjectives match the noun's gender, number, and case.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'оскорбление' and 'унижение' often carry deep historical connotations, especially in the context of Soviet-era suppressions or modern social injustices. For instance, 'унижение' might evoke themes from Russian literature, such as in Dostoevsky's works, where personal indignities reflect broader societal critiques, helping users understand the emotional weight these words hold beyond their literal meanings.

Related Concepts:

• Достоинство (dignity)
• Преступление (crime, if related to offenses)
• Эмоциональное насилие (emotional violence)