Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'malevolent'

English Word: malevolent

Key Russian Translations:

• злонамеренный [zlənəˈmʲerʲɪnɨj] - [Formal, used in written or official contexts]
• зловещий [zlɐˈvʲeʂɨj] - [Informal, often in literary or descriptive speech]
• вредный [ˈvrʲednɨj] - [Neutral, when emphasizing harm rather than intent]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations appear in formal texts, literature, and discussions, but not in everyday casual conversation.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate, as it involves understanding nuanced adjectives; 'злонамеренный' may be B2, while 'зловещий' could be A2 for beginners due to its simpler form.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

злонамеренный: [zlənəˈmʲerʲɪnɨj]

зловещий: [zlɐˈvʲeʂɨj]

вредный: [ˈvrʲednɨj]

Note on злонамеренный: The stress falls on the third syllable ('me-'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalized 'r' sound; pronounce it with a soft, rolled 'r' as in Russian phonetics.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Having or showing a wish to do evil to others (primary sense, as an adjective describing intentional malice).

Translation(s) & Context:

• злонамеренный - Used in formal contexts like legal documents or psychological descriptions, emphasizing deliberate intent.
• зловещий - Applied in informal or narrative settings, such as storytelling, to describe something sinister or foreboding.
• вредный - Used when the focus is on the harmful effects rather than pure malice, in everyday or neutral contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Его злонамеренный план был раскрыт полицией.

  His malevolent plan was uncovered by the police.

• Зловещий смех эхом разнёсся по комнате.

  The malevolent laughter echoed through the room.

• Вредный совет от злых людей может разрушить карьеру.

  Malevolent advice from evil people can ruin a career.

• Она бросила на него злонамеренный взгляд, полный ненависти.

  She cast a malevolent glance at him, full of hatred.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily adjectives, which in Russian undergo inflections based on gender, number, and case. 'злонамеренный' and 'зловещий' follow standard adjectival patterns, while 'вредный' is regular and straightforward.

Note: These adjectives are fully inflected and follow the standard pattern for hard-stem adjectives in Russian. There are no irregular forms here.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • злой (zloi) - More general, implying anger or basic evilness, often used in everyday speech.
  • враждебный (vrazhdebnyj) - Emphasizes hostility, suitable for conflict scenarios.
• Antonyms:
  • добрый (dobryi) - Kind or benevolent, contrasting with any form of malice.
  • мирный (mirnyj) - Peaceful, used when opposing aggressive or harmful intent.

Related Phrases:

• злонамеренные действия - Malevolent actions; used in legal or ethical discussions to describe harmful deeds with intent.
• зловещий замысел - Malevolent scheme; common in literature or thrillers to denote a sinister plan.
• вредный умысел - Malevolent intent; refers to harmful motives in interpersonal conflicts.

Usage Notes:

'Malevolent' translates most accurately to 'злонамеренный' in formal contexts, as it captures the deliberate evil intent, while 'зловещий' is better for atmospheric or informal descriptions. Be mindful of Russian's grammatical gender and case agreements; for example, always inflect the adjective to match the noun it describes. In spoken Russian, 'вредный' might be preferred for everyday conversations to avoid sounding overly formal. When choosing among translations, consider the context: legal or psychological for 'злонамеренный', narrative for 'зловещий'.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'злой' interchangeably with 'злонамеренный', assuming they mean the same thing. Incorrect: "Он злой человек" (implying general bad temper). Correct: "Он злонамеренный человек" for deliberate malice. Explanation: 'злой' is broader and lacks the intentional aspect, leading to miscommunication in precise contexts.

• Error: Forgetting to inflect the adjective, e.g., saying "злонамеренный женщина" instead of "злонамеренная женщина". Correct: Always adjust for gender and case. Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree with nouns, unlike in English, so this is a common grammatical slip for learners.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'злонамеренный' often appear in literature and folklore, such as in fairy tales by Pushkin, where malevolent characters embody moral lessons about good versus evil. This reflects a historical emphasis on themes of deception and intent in Russian storytelling, helping users understand the word's deeper connotations in contexts like proverbs or modern media.

Related Concepts:

• зависть (envy)
• ненависть (hatred)
• коварство (deceitfulness)