Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'lascivious'

English Word: lascivious

Key Russian Translations:

• распутный /rɐˈsputnɨj/ - [Formal]
• похотливый /pɐˈxotlʲivɨj/ - [Informal]

Frequency: Medium (These words are encountered in literature, media, and everyday discussions about morality, but not as common as everyday vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires familiarity with Russian adjectives and nuanced emotional vocabulary. For 'распутный', it may be slightly easier due to its literary usage; 'похотливый' might lean towards B2+ for its colloquial connotations.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

распутный: /rɐˈsputnɨj/

Note on распутный: The stress is on the second syllable; be careful with the 'у' sound, which is a short 'u' like in "put". Variations in fast speech may soften the 'т' to a 'd' sound in some dialects.

похотливый: /pɐˈxotlʲivɨj/

Note on похотливый: The 'х' is a guttural sound like in Scottish "loch"; the 'й' at the end is a soft 'y'. This word often has a more emphatic pronunciation in informal contexts.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Describing someone or something that is lewd, lustful, or sexually provocative.

Translation(s) & Context:

• распутный - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe a person's behavior or character, implying moral looseness or promiscuity.
• похотливый - Applied in informal settings to denote immediate sexual desire or flirtatiousness, often with a negative connotation.

Usage Examples:

• Он вёл распутный образ жизни, что шокировало его семью. (He led a lascivious lifestyle, which shocked his family.)

  English Translation: He led a lascivious lifestyle, which shocked his family.

• Её похотливые взгляды не ускользнули от внимания гостей на вечеринке. (Her lascivious glances did not escape the attention of the guests at the party.)

  English Translation: Her lascivious glances did not escape the attention of the guests at the party.

• В романе описывается распутный герой, который предаётся своим желаниям без стыда. (The novel describes a lascivious hero who indulges in his desires without shame.)

  English Translation: The novel describes a lascivious hero who indulges in his desires without shame.

• Похотливый юмор в фильме был слишком вульгарным для семейной аудитории. (The lascivious humor in the film was too vulgar for a family audience.)

  English Translation: The lascivious humor in the film was too vulgar for a family audience.

• Распутный танец на сцене вызвал бурные аплодисменты, но и критику консерваторов. (The lascivious dance on stage elicited thunderous applause but also criticism from conservatives.)

  English Translation: The lascivious dance on stage elicited thunderous applause but also criticism from conservatives.

Secondary Meaning: Referring to something that incites or suggests sexual desire, such as art or media.

Translation(s) & Context:

• распутный - In artistic or descriptive contexts, emphasizing a seductive or immoral quality.
• похотливый - More casual, for everyday items like advertisements or jokes.

Usage Examples:

• Картина изображала распутную сцену из древнегреческой мифологии. (The painting depicted a lascivious scene from ancient Greek mythology.)

  English Translation: The painting depicted a lascivious scene from ancient Greek mythology.

• Похотливые сцены в рекламе были предназначены для привлечения молодой аудитории. (The lascivious scenes in the advertisement were intended to attract a young audience.)

  English Translation: The lascivious scenes in the advertisement were intended to attract a young audience.

• Распутный подтекст в песне сделал её хитом среди подростков. (The lascivious undertone in the song made it a hit among teenagers.)

  English Translation: The lascivious undertone in the song made it a hit among teenagers.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'распутный' and 'похотливый' are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern for first-declension adjectives. They do not have irregular forms but must agree with the nouns they modify.

Note: These adjectives are invariable in terms of stress patterns but must always match the noun's case, number, and gender.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • развратный (razvratnyy) - Similar to 'распутный', but often implies more moral corruption; used in formal contexts.
  • вожделенный (vozhdelennyy) - Conveys strong desire, slightly less negative than 'похотливый'.
• Antonyms:
  • целомудренный (tselomudrennyy)
  • невинный (nevinnyy)

Related Phrases:

• распутный образ жизни - A lascivious lifestyle; refers to a life of indulgence and moral laxity.
• похотливый взгляд - A lascivious glance; describes a look that conveys sexual interest.
• распутная женщина - A lascivious woman; often used in literature to depict a seductive character.

Usage Notes:

'Lascivious' translates most accurately to 'распутный' in formal or literary English-Russian contexts, as it captures the sense of moral looseness. 'Похотливый' is better for informal, everyday situations involving immediate sexual desire. Be cautious with these words in Russian, as they carry strong negative connotations and are rarely used in polite conversation. When choosing between translations, consider the audience: 'распутный' suits written or professional discussions, while 'похотливый' fits casual speech. Grammatically, always ensure the adjective agrees with the noun it modifies in gender, number, and case.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'распутный' interchangeably with 'похотливый' without considering context. For example, an English speaker might say "похотливый человек" when describing a historical figure, but it sounds too casual; correct: "распутный человек".
• Error Example: Incorrect inflection, e.g., saying "распутный женщина" instead of "распутная женщина". Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree in gender; this error stems from English's lack of gender agreement.
• Common Fix: Practice adjective declension tables to avoid mismatches; for instance, use "похотливые сцены" for plural nouns.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'распутный' often evoke themes from literature, such as in Dostoevsky's works, where they highlight moral dilemmas and societal critiques. Historically, these terms have been used in Orthodox Christian contexts to discuss sin and virtue, reflecting Russia's conservative attitudes toward sexuality.

Related Concepts:

• разврат
• вожделение
• сладострастие