Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'malign'

English Word: malign

Key Russian Translations:

• злобный /ˈzlobnɨj/ - [Formal, often used in literary or descriptive contexts]
• клеветнический /klʲɪvʲɪtʲˈnʲitɕɪskʲɪj/ - [Formal, used in legal or accusatory contexts, such as defamation]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature, news, and formal discussions, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate level; requires understanding of Russian adjectives and their inflections, suitable for learners with a solid grasp of basic grammar)

Pronunciation (Russian):

злобный: /ˈzlobnɨj/ (The stress is on the first syllable; note the soft 'л' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers due to the palatalization.)

Note on злобный: This word features a voiced 'з' at the beginning, which may soften in fast speech; practice with native audio for accurate intonation.

клеветнический: /klʲɪvʲɪtʲˈnʲitɕɪskʲɪj/ (Stress on the third syllable; the word is long and involves multiple palatalized consonants, common in Russian adjectives.)

Note on клеветнический: Pronounce the 'тʲ' as a soft 't' followed by a 'y' glide; this is a more complex word due to its length and formal usage.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Malicious or evil-intentioned (as an adjective describing harmful intent)

Translation(s) & Context:

• злобный - Used in contexts involving personal animosity or deliberate harm, such as in character descriptions or psychological analyses.
• клеветнический - Applied in situations involving slander or false accusations, often in formal or legal settings.

Usage Examples:

• Его злобный взгляд заставил всех замолчать. (His malign glance made everyone fall silent.)

  Translation: His malign glance made everyone fall silent. (This example shows the word in a descriptive, interpersonal context.)

• Злобный план был раскрыт полицией до его реализации. (The malign plan was uncovered by the police before it could be executed.)

  Translation: The malign plan was uncovered by the police before it could be executed. (Illustrates use in narrative or plot descriptions.)

• Клеветнический тон статьи вызвал судебный иск. (The malign tone of the article led to a lawsuit.)

  Translation: The malign tone of the article led to a lawsuit. (Demonstrates formal, legal usage with implications of defamation.)

• В её злобном поведении проявлялась глубокая обида. (Her malign behavior revealed a deep grudge.)

  Translation: Her malign behavior revealed a deep grudge. (Shows emotional or psychological context.)

Meaning 2: Defamatory or slanderous (as in speaking ill of someone, often implying a verb form in English)

Translation(s) & Context:

• клеветнический - Used when referring to actions or statements that maliciously damage someone's reputation, in media or interpersonal conflicts.
• злобный - Less common here, but can describe the nature of the defamation if it's driven by malice.

Usage Examples:

• Клеветнический комментарий в интернете привёл к скандалу. (The malign comment online sparked a scandal.)

  Translation: The malign comment online sparked a scandal. (Example in modern digital contexts.)

• Его клеветнические заявления были опровергнуты в суде. (His malign statements were refuted in court.)

  Translation: His malign statements were refuted in court. (Legal context with formal language.)

• Злобный сплетник распространял ложные слухи. (The malign gossipmonger spread false rumors.)

  Translation: The malign gossipmonger spread false rumors. (Informal social context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are adjectives, which in Russian undergo declension based on gender, number, and case. They follow standard adjective patterns, with "злобный" being more regular and "клеветнический" also regular but longer.

For "клеветнический," the inflections are similar but may vary slightly in longer forms. These adjectives do not have irregular changes.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • злой (zloi) - Similar but more general, often implying anger rather than calculated malice.
  • вредный (vrednyj) - Focuses on harmfulness, with less emphasis on intent.
  • озлобленный (ozloblennыj) - Conveys bitterness or resentment, a nuanced variant.
• Antonyms:
  • добрый (dobryj)
  • мирный (mirnyj)
  • благожелательный (blagozhelatelьnyj)

Related Phrases:

• злобный умысел - (A malign intent; used in legal or psychological discussions to describe deliberate harm.)
• клеветническая кампания - (A malign campaign; refers to organized defamation, common in media contexts.)
• злобные интриги - (Malign intrigues; describes scheming or plotting with malicious motives.)

Usage Notes:

"Злобный" directly corresponds to the adjective form of "malign" in English, emphasizing inherent malice, and is best used in descriptive narratives. "Клеветнический" aligns more with defamatory aspects, so choose it for contexts involving speech or writing that harms reputation. Be mindful of Russian adjective agreement with nouns in gender, number, and case. In formal writing, these words carry a strong negative connotation, so they are less common in casual conversation. When translating, consider the context: if "malign" implies action, lean towards verb-related forms like "очернять" for verbs.

Common Errors:

• Confusing gender agreement: English learners often forget to change "злобный" to "злобная" for feminine nouns, e.g., incorrect: "злобный женщина" (should be "злобная женщина"). Correct usage: Ensure the adjective matches the noun's gender.
• Overusing in casual speech: Beginners might use "клеветнический" in everyday talk, but it's formal; instead, opt for simpler synonyms like "злой" in informal settings. Example of error: Saying "Это клеветнический шутка" (This is a malign joke) when "злая шутка" is more natural.
• Mispronouncing palatalized sounds: Forgetting the soft 'л' in "злобный," which can make it sound like "zlohbnyy" instead of /ˈzlobnɨj/.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "злобный" often appear in literature (e.g., in Dostoevsky's works) to depict deep-seated resentment or moral corruption, reflecting historical themes of suffering and introspection. "Клеветнический" ties into Russia's legal history, where defamation has been a sensitive issue under various regimes, emphasizing the importance of truth in public discourse.

Related Concepts:

• озлобленность (ozloblennost')
• клевета (kleveta)
• вредоносность (vredonosnost')