Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'inhuman'

English Word: inhuman

Key Russian Translations:

• нечеловеческий nʲɪˈt͡ɕɪləvʲɪˈtɕɛskʲɪj - [Adjective, Formal]
• бесчеловечный bʲɪsˈt͡ɕɪləvʲɪˈtɕnɨj - [Adjective, Formal]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in literature, media, and discussions about ethics or cruelty, but not in everyday casual conversation).

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjectives and their declensions, though the root words are straightforward for learners at this level. For "нечеловеческий," difficulty is B2; for "бесчеловечный," it remains B2 due to similar structures.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

нечеловеческий: nʲɪˈt͡ɕɪləvʲɪˈtɕɛskʲɪj

Note on нечеловеческий: The stress falls on the third syllable ("t͡ɕɛ"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalized consonants; practice with native audio for accuracy.

бесчеловечный: bʲɪsˈt͡ɕɪləvʲɪˈtɕnɨj

Note on бесчеловечный: The initial "bʲ" is softly palatalized, similar to a gentle "byuh" sound; common in formal Russian speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Cruel, brutal, or lacking human qualities (e.g., describing actions or behaviors that are inhumane).

Translation(s) & Context:

• нечеловеческий - Used in formal contexts, such as literature or ethical discussions, to emphasize something beyond normal human limits (e.g., in descriptions of extreme cruelty).
• бесчеловечный - Applied in similar formal settings, often in legal or moral contexts, to denote actions devoid of compassion.

Usage Examples:

• Его нечеловеческий поступок шокировал всех. (Yego nĕchyelovyechyeskiy postupok shokiroval vsekh.)

  His inhuman act shocked everyone. (This example shows the adjective in a narrative context, describing a cruel action.)

• Бесчеловечные условия в тюрьме вызвали международный протест. (Besschyelovyechnyye usloviya v tyur'me vyzvali mezhdunarodnyy protest.)

  The inhuman conditions in the prison sparked international outrage. (Here, it illustrates use in a social or political discussion, with plural agreement.)

• Война раскрывает нечеловеческий аспект человеческой природы. (Voyna raskryvayet nĕchyelovyechyeskiy aspekt chelovyechyeskoy prirody.)

  War reveals the inhuman aspect of human nature. (This demonstrates the word in a philosophical context, paired with abstract nouns.)

• Её бесчеловечная жестокость не знала границ. (Yeyo besschyelovyechnaya zhestokost' ne znala granits.)

  Her inhuman cruelty knew no bounds. (Example in a literary or dramatic setting, showing adjectival modification.)

• Нечеловеческий холод зимы в Сибири испытывает выносливость. (Nĕchyelovyechyeskiy kholod zimy v Sibiri ispytyvayet vynoslivost'.)

  The inhuman cold of winter in Siberia tests endurance. (This varies the usage to describe environmental extremes, expanding contextual application.)

Meaning 2: Not human-like or supernatural (e.g., describing something alien or superhuman).

Translation(s) & Context:

• нечеловеческий - Informal or literary use, often in science fiction or fantasy to describe non-human entities.

Usage Examples:

• Нечеловеческая сила инопланетянина поразила учёных. (Nĕchyelovyechyeskaya sila inoplanetyanina porazila uchyonykh.)

  The inhuman strength of the alien amazed the scientists. (This example highlights the word in a speculative context.)

• Его нечеловеческий рост делал его похожим на гиганта. (Yego nĕchyelovyechyeskiy rost delayal yego pokhozhim na giganta.)

  His inhuman height made him look like a giant. (Demonstrates use in descriptive, everyday fantastical scenarios.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "нечеловеческий" and "бесчеловечный" are adjectives, which inflect according to Russian grammatical cases, gender, number, and animacy. Russian adjectives follow a regular pattern for most cases, but these words are derived from nouns and maintain standard adjectival endings.

For "нечеловеческий," the forms are regular and follow standard adjective patterns. It does not have irregular inflections.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • жестокий (zhestokiy) - More general for cruel, often used interchangeably but with a focus on severity.
  • варварский (varvarskiy) - Implies barbaric or uncivilized, with a historical connotation.
• Antonyms:
  • человечный (chelovyechnyy) - Human-like or compassionate.
  • гуманный (gumannyy) - Humane, emphasizing kindness and fairness.

Related Phrases:

• Нечеловеческая жестокость (Nĕchyelovyechyeskaya zhestokost') - Inhuman cruelty; used in discussions of war or abuse.
• Бесчеловечные методы (Besschyelovyechnyye metody) - Inhuman methods; common in contexts like torture or unethical experiments, with a connotation of moral outrage.
• Нечеловеческий подвиг (Nĕchyelovyechyeskiy podvig) - Inhuman feat; refers to extraordinary, superhuman achievements, often positively in heroic narratives.

Usage Notes:

"Нечеловеческий" and "бесчеловечный" both translate to "inhuman" but differ subtly: "нечеловеческий" often emphasizes something beyond human capability (e.g., strength), while "бесчеловечный" focuses on a lack of humanity (e.g., cruelty). Use "нечеловеческий" in formal or literary contexts and "бесчеловечный" in ethical discussions. Always ensure agreement with the noun's gender, number, and case in Russian sentences. For English learners, choose based on context: if the inhumanity is emotional, opt for "бесчеловечный."

Common Errors:

• Confusing "нечеловеческий" with "нечеловечный": Learners might drop the "-ский" ending, saying "нечеловечный" incorrectly for both. Correct: Use "нечеловеческий" for its specific form; error example: "нечеловечный поступок" (wrong inflection), correct: "нечеловеческий поступок". This stems from overgeneralizing adjective patterns.
• Misplacing stress in pronunciation: English speakers often stress the wrong syllable, e.g., pronouncing "nʲɪt͡ɕɪləvʲɪˈtɕɛskʲɪj" as "nʲɪˈt͡ɕɪləvʲɪtɕɛskʲɪj". Explanation: Always stress the antepenultimate syllable; practice with audio to avoid this.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "бесчеловечный" often appear in literature (e.g., Dostoevsky's works) to critique societal injustices, reflecting historical contexts like the Soviet era's emphasis on human rights abuses. This adds a layer of moral introspection, where "inhuman" behaviors are tied to themes of resilience and humanity's darker side.

Related Concepts:

• жестокость (zhestokost') - Cruelty
• гуманность (gumannost') - Humanity or kindness
• варварство (varvarstvo) - Barbarism