Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'inglorious'

English Word: inglorious

Key Russian Translations:

• бесчестный [bʲɪsˈt͡ɕestnɨj] - [Formal; used in literary or official contexts]
• позорный [pɐˈzornɨj] - [Informal; common in everyday speech]
• постыдный [pɐˈstɨdnɨj] - [Neutral; emphasizes moral shame]

Frequency: Medium (Appears regularly in literature and discussions but not as common as basic adjectives like "good" or "bad")

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective inflections and nuanced vocabulary, suitable for upper-intermediate learners)

Pronunciation (Russian):

бесчестный: [bʲɪsˈt͡ɕestnɨj]

позорный: [pɐˈzornɨj]

постыдный: [pɐˈstɨdnɨj]

Note on бесчестный: The initial "б" is soft and palatalized, which can be tricky for English speakers; it sounds like "byes" followed by "chestnyy". Pronounce with emphasis on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Lacking honor or glory (e.g., describing an action or event that is shameful)

Translation(s) & Context:

• бесчестный - Used in formal contexts, such as historical or ethical discussions, to denote actions without integrity.
• позорный - Informal context, like casual conversations about personal failures or public scandals.

Usage Examples:

• Его бесчестный поступок навсегда запятнал репутацию семьи.

  His inglorious act permanently stained the family's reputation.

• Эта позорная ошибка стоила ему карьеры.

  This inglorious mistake cost him his career.

• В истории полно постыдных моментов, которые мы должны помнить.

  History is full of inglorious moments that we should remember.

• Бесчестный лидер был осужден обществом за свои действия.

  The inglorious leader was condemned by society for his actions.

Meaning 2: Not famous or celebrated (e.g., describing an uneventful or obscure event)

Translation(s) & Context:

• постыдный - Neutral context, often in reflective or narrative writing, to imply something underwhelming.
• позорный - Informal, when expressing disappointment in something unremarkable.

Usage Examples:

• Его постыдная карьера закончилась в безвестности.

  His inglorious career ended in obscurity.

• Это был позорный матч, который никто не захотел вспоминать.

  It was an inglorious match that no one wanted to remember.

• Бесчестный исход войны оставил глубокий след в народе.

  The inglorious outcome of the war left a deep mark on the people.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These adjectives follow standard Russian adjective inflection patterns, which vary by gender, number, and case. They are all first-declension adjectives and inflect regularly based on the noun they modify.

Note: These adjectives do not have irregular forms, making them straightforward for learners once basic declension rules are mastered.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • нечестивый (nechestivyy) - More religious connotation, implying ungodly behavior.
  • порочащий (porochashchiy) - Emphasizes discrediting actions.
• Antonyms:
  • славный (slavnyy) - Glorious or honorable.
  • героический (geroicheskiy) - Heroic, directly opposite in valor.

Related Phrases:

• бесчестный поступок - An inglorious act; refers to shameful behavior in ethical contexts.
• позорный конец - An inglorious end; used for disappointing conclusions, like in stories or sports.
• постыдная история - An inglorious history; implies a past filled with shame, often in historical narratives.

Usage Notes:

• While "inglorious" often carries a sense of moral failure in English, in Russian, бесчестный is preferred for formal or legal contexts, whereas позорный is more casual. Choose based on the audience to avoid sounding overly dramatic.
• These adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, which is a key grammatical feature of Russian not present in English.
• In spoken Russian, постыдный might be used euphemistically to soften criticism, similar to how "inglorious" can be less harsh than "shameful."

Common Errors:

• Error: Using бесчестный in informal settings where it sounds too formal. Correct: Opt for позорный in casual talk. Example of error: "Это бесчестный фильм" (in a light chat); Correct: "Это позорный фильм". Explanation: Бесчестный implies deep moral condemnation, which may escalate the conversation unnecessarily.
• Error: Forgetting to inflect the adjective. Example of error: "бесчестный женщина" (incorrect); Correct: "бесчестная женщина". Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender; this is a common mistake for English speakers used to invariable adjectives.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like бесчестный often evoke themes from literature, such as in Tolstoy's works, where honor and shame play central roles. This reflects Russia's historical emphasis on personal integrity and collective memory, especially in the context of wars and revolutions, making these terms resonate deeply in discussions of national identity.

Related Concepts:

• честь (chest') - Honor
• позор (pozor) - Shame
• героизм (geroizm) - Heroism