Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'jerk'

English Word: jerk

Key Russian Translations:

• урод [ˈurəd] - [Informal, Pejorative]
• толчок [ˈtolʲtɕək] - [Neutral]
• дергать [ˈdʲerɡətʲ] - [Verb, Informal]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday conversations, especially in informal contexts, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian pejoratives and verb conjugations, with some cultural nuance for accurate usage).

Pronunciation (Russian):

урод: [ˈurəd]

толчок: [ˈtolʲtɕək]

дергать: [ˈdʲerɡətʲ]

Note on урод: The stress is on the first syllable; be careful with the rolled 'r' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Note on толчок: The 'ч' is a soft palatal fricative; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Note on дергать: This is a verb with a soft 'г' sound; infinitive form is straightforward, but conjugated forms alter pronunciation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A foolish or obnoxious person (pejorative noun)

Translation(s) & Context:

• урод - Used in informal settings to describe someone annoying or rude, similar to "jerk" in English casual speech; avoid in formal contexts as it's highly offensive.

Usage Examples:

• Он настоящий урод, всегда портит настроение всем вокруг.

  He is a real jerk, always ruining everyone's mood.

• Не слушай этого урода, он ничего не понимает в жизни.

  Don't listen to that jerk; he doesn't understand anything about life.

• В офисе есть один урод, который вечно опаздывает.

  In the office, there's one jerk who is always late.

• Она назвала его уродом после того, как он её обидел.

  She called him a jerk after he offended her.

Meaning 2: A sudden, abrupt movement or push (noun)

Translation(s) & Context:

• толчок - Used in neutral or physical contexts, like mechanics or everyday descriptions, equivalent to "jerk" as in a quick motion.

Usage Examples:

• Из-за толчка машины я пролил кофе.

  Because of the jerk of the car, I spilled my coffee.

• Толчок по рычагу активировал механизм.

  The jerk on the lever activated the mechanism.

• В поезде был сильный толчок, и все пассажиры покачнулись.

  There was a strong jerk on the train, and all passengers swayed.

Meaning 3: To pull or move suddenly (verb)

Translation(s) & Context:

• дергать - Informal verb for pulling or jerking something abruptly; often used in commands or descriptions of quick actions.

Usage Examples:

• Не дергай дверь так сильно, она сломается!

  Don't jerk the door so hard; it will break!

• Он дёрнул за верёвку, и лампа зажглась.

  He jerked the rope, and the lamp turned on.

• Дети любят дергать хвосты у собак.

  Kids love to jerk the tails of dogs.

• В панике она дёрнула руль влево.

  In a panic, she jerked the wheel to the left.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For урод (noun, masculine): This is a common noun that follows standard first-declension patterns. It is invariable in the nominative singular but changes in other cases and numbers.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	урод	уроды
Genitive	урода	уродов
Dative	уроду	уродам
Accusative	урода	уродов
Instrumental	уродом	уродами
Prepositional	уроде	уродах

For толчок (noun, masculine): Similar to урод, it follows first-declension patterns with regular inflections.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	толчок	толчки
Genitive	толчка	толчков

For дергать (verb, imperfective): This is a first-conjugation verb with regular patterns. It conjugates based on tense, person, and number.

Tense	Person	Form
Present	1st sg.	дергаю
Present	2nd sg.	дергаешь
Present	3rd sg.	дергает

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • дурак (fool; less harsh than урод)
  • подлец (scoundrel; for урод in pejorative sense)
  • рывок (jerk, as in sudden movement; for толчок)
• Antonyms:
  • джентльмен (gentleman; opposite of урод in personality)
  • гладкий (smooth; opposite of толчок in motion)

Related Phrases:

• уродский тип - A jerk-like person; refers to someone with unpleasant traits.
• сильный толчок - A strong jerk; used in physical or mechanical contexts.
• дергать за ниточки - To pull the strings (metaphorically, like jerking puppet strings); implies manipulation.

Usage Notes:

"Jerk" in English often carries a casual, mildly offensive tone, and its Russian equivalents like "урод" are even more pejorative—use with caution in social settings to avoid escalation. For the verb form "дергать," it's imperfective, so it describes ongoing actions; pair it with perfective counterparts like "дернуть" for completed actions. When choosing translations, opt for "толчок" in neutral scenarios and "урод" only informally. Grammar note: Russian nouns require case agreement, so inflect based on sentence structure.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "урод" in formal writing or professional contexts. Correct: Stick to milder synonyms like "дурак" or avoid entirely. Explanation: "Урод" is highly informal and can lead to misunderstandings or offense.
• Error: Confusing "дергать" with "тянуть" (to pull steadily). Correct: Use "дергать" for abrupt jerks, e.g., "дергать дверь" vs. incorrect "тянуть дверь" for a sudden pull. Explanation: This mix-up stems from similar English meanings, but Russian verbs are more precise in action types.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "урод" reflect a direct, blunt style of expression, often rooted in historical influences from Soviet-era candidness. It may carry stronger emotional weight than "jerk" in English, potentially implying deeper moral judgment, so non-native speakers should be sensitive to regional variations in acceptability.

Related Concepts:

• идиот
• хам
• рывок