Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'mercenary'

English Word: mercenary

Key Russian Translations:

• наёмник [naˈjɵmʲnʲik] - [Formal, Noun, Often used in historical or military contexts]
• корыстный [kɐˈrɨstnɨj] - [Informal, Adjective, Refers to someone motivated purely by self-interest]
• меркантильный [mʲɪrkanˈtʲilʲnɨj] - [Formal, Adjective, Implies a commercial or profit-driven mindset, used in business or economic discussions]

Frequency: Medium - The word and its translations appear in literature, historical texts, and discussions of warfare or ethics, but are not part of everyday casual conversation.

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for 'наёмник'; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for 'корыстный' and 'меркантильный' - Learners at this level should understand basic contexts, but nuances require exposure to Russian media or literature.

Pronunciation (Russian):

наёмник: [naˈjɵmʲnʲik]

корыстный: [kɐˈrɨstnɨj]

меркантильный: [mʲɪrkanˈtʲilʲnɨj]

Note on наёмник: The stress is on the second syllable; be careful with the soft sign (ʲ) which affects the pronunciation of the 'н'. Variations may occur in dialects.

Note on корыстный: The 'ы' sound is a distinct Russian vowel, similar to a tense 'i'; practice with native speakers for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A soldier who fights for money or personal gain (Noun)

Translation(s) & Context:

• наёмник - Used in formal historical, military, or fictional contexts to describe a professional fighter without loyalty to a cause.

Usage Examples:

• В средние века наёмники часто боролись за наивысшую плату.

  In the Middle Ages, mercenaries often fought for the highest pay.

• Правительство наняло наёмников для защиты границ во время конфликта.

  The government hired mercenaries to protect the borders during the conflict.

• Наёмник в этой истории предал своего командира из-за обмана в оплате.

  The mercenary in this story betrayed his commander due to deception in payment.

• Многие наёмники в современном мире работают в частных военных компаниях.

  Many mercenaries in the modern world work for private military companies.

Meaning 2: Motivated solely by personal gain or profit (Adjective)

Translation(s) & Context:

• корыстный - Applied in everyday or informal settings to describe selfish behavior, especially in personal relationships or business.
• меркантильный - Used in more formal or economic contexts, emphasizing a calculating, profit-oriented attitude.

Usage Examples:

• Его корыстный подход к дружбе отпугивал всех вокруг.

  His mercenary approach to friendship alienated everyone around him.

• В бизнесе меркантильный менталитет часто приводит к успеху, но не к лояльности.

  In business, a mercenary mindset often leads to success but not to loyalty.

• Она обвинила его в корыстном поведении, так как он помогал только за вознаграждение.

  She accused him of mercenary behavior because he helped only for a reward.

• Меркантильный интерес в политике может подорвать общественное доверие.

  Mercenary interests in politics can undermine public trust.

• Корыстный мотив его действий был очевиден из его переписки.

  The mercenary motive behind his actions was evident from his correspondence.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'наёмник' (a masculine noun, 2nd declension), it follows standard Russian noun inflections. Below is a table of its declensions:

For 'корыстный' and 'меркантильный' (adjectives), they follow regular adjective inflections, changing based on gender, number, and case. For example, 'корыстный' becomes 'корыстная' (feminine), 'корыстное' (neuter), and 'корыстные' (plural). These are regular and do not have irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • наёмный (naëmnyj) - Similar to 'наёмник', but more general for anything hired.
  • прихвостень (prikhvosten') - Implies a follower for personal gain, with a slightly negative connotation.
  • коммерческий (kommertcheskij) - For the adjective sense, emphasizing business-oriented behavior.
• Antonyms:
  • бескорыстный (beskorystnyj) - Selfless or altruistic.
  • идеалистический (idealisticheskij) - Driven by ideals rather than profit.

Related Phrases:

• Наёмный солдат (Naëmnyj soldat) - Hired soldier; a common phrase in military history discussions.
• Корыстные мотивы (Korystnye motivy) - Selfish motives; used in psychological or ethical contexts.
• Меркантильный интерес (Merkantil'nyj interes) - Mercantile interest; refers to profit-driven pursuits in economics.

Usage Notes:

The English word 'mercenary' often translates to 'наёмник' in noun form for military contexts, but in adjective form, 'корыстный' is more idiomatic for everyday selfishness, while 'меркантильный' suits formal or business settings. Be mindful of context: in Russian, these words carry a negative connotation, emphasizing moral judgment. For learners, choose 'наёмник' for historical topics and 'корыстный' for personal interactions. Grammatically, adjectives like 'корыстный' must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify.

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'наёмник' with 'солдат' (soldat, meaning regular soldier) - Error: Using 'солдат' for a paid fighter. Correct: 'Наёмник всегда работает за деньги, в отличие от обычного солдата.' (A mercenary always works for money, unlike a regular soldier.)
• Overusing 'меркантильный' in casual speech - Error: Saying 'Он меркантильный друг' when 'корыстный' is more natural. Correct: 'Он корыстный друг' to imply everyday selfishness, as 'меркантильный' sounds overly formal.
• Forgetting adjective agreement - Error: Saying 'Она корыстный' (incorrect gender). Correct: 'Она корыстная' to match feminine gender, ensuring proper declension.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of a 'наёмник' is often linked to historical events like the Time of Troubles in the 17th century, where foreign mercenaries played key roles in conflicts. This reflects a broader Russian skepticism toward self-interest in warfare, contrasting with ideals of patriotism in literature like Tolstoy's works, where mercenary behavior is critiqued as un-Russian.

Related Concepts:

• солдат (soldat)
• прихвостень (prikhvosten')
• коммерсант (kommersant)