Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'miscreant'

English Word: miscreant

Key Russian Translations:

• Преступник [prʲɪˈstupnʲɪk] - [Formal, often used in legal or official contexts]
• Злодей [zlɐˈdʲej] - [Informal, literary or narrative contexts, implying a villainous character]
• Негодяй [nʲɪɡɐˈdaj] - [Informal, colloquial, emphasizing moral wrongdoing]

Frequency: Medium (These words appear regularly in Russian literature, news, and everyday discussions, but not as commonly as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires familiarity with Russian noun declensions and contextual usage. For 'Злодей', it may lean towards B2 due to its literary connotations.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Преступник: [prʲɪˈstupnʲɪk]

Note on Преступник: The stress is on the second syllable; be cautious with the palatalized 'п' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers. Variations in regional accents may soften the 'р'.

Злодей: [zlɐˈdʲej]

Note on Злодей: Pronounce the 'з' as a voiced 's' sound; the 'й' at the end is a soft palatal approximant, often tricky for beginners.

Негодяй: [nʲɪɡɐˈdaj]

Note on Негодяй: The initial 'н' is palatalized; stress on the third syllable. This word has a more emphatic, emotional delivery in spoken Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A wrongdoer or villain, often implying criminal or immoral behavior.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Преступник - Used in formal or legal settings, such as court discussions or news reports about crimes.
• Злодей - Applied in storytelling, movies, or literature to describe an antagonist or evil character.
• Негодяй - Common in everyday conversations to express disdain for someone's unethical actions.

Usage Examples:

• В городе появился опасный преступник, который грабит банки по ночам.

  In the city, a dangerous miscreant appeared who robs banks at night.

• В сказках злодей всегда пытается помешать героям, но в конце проигрывает.

  In fairy tales, the miscreant always tries to hinder the heroes but loses in the end.

• Этот негодяй обманул своих друзей и украл их деньги, поэтому никто ему не доверяет.

  This miscreant deceived his friends and stole their money, so no one trusts him.

• Полиция арестовала преступника, который был ответствен за серию краж в районе.

  The police arrested the miscreant who was responsible for a series of thefts in the area.

• В исторических романах злодей часто изображён как хитрый и коварный персонаж.

  In historical novels, the miscreant is often depicted as a cunning and treacherous character.

A person who behaves badly or disrupts order, with a more general negative connotation.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Негодяй - In casual or emotional contexts, to describe someone unreliable or troublesome.
• Преступник - If the behavior borders on illegality, in semi-formal discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Этот негодяй постоянно лжёт и создаёт проблемы для всех вокруг.

  This miscreant constantly lies and creates problems for everyone around.

• В школе был ученик, которого все считали преступником из-за его хулиганских поступков.

  In school, there was a student whom everyone considered a miscreant due to his mischievous acts.

• Злодей в этой пьесе представляет типичного нарушителя общественного порядка.

  The miscreant in this play represents a typical disruptor of public order.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily masculine nouns, which undergo declension based on case, number, and gender in Russian. 'Преступник' and 'Злодей' follow standard first-declension patterns for masculine nouns, while 'Негодяй' is similar but can vary slightly in informal use.

Plural forms exist but are less common for these words, e.g., 'Преступники' (miscreants). They do not change irregularly.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Вор (vor) - Specifically for a thief, with a more targeted criminal implication.
  • Хулиган (khuligan) - Emphasizes rowdy or disruptive behavior, often in public.
  • Злоумышленник (zloomyshlennik) - Formal, meaning someone with malicious intent.
• Antonyms:
  • Герой (geroy) - Hero, directly opposite in moral standing.
  • Добряк (dobryak) - Kind person, contrasting with negative behavior.

Related Phrases:

• Опасный преступник - Dangerous miscreant; used in crime reports to indicate a threat.
• Коварный злодей - Cunning miscreant; common in literary or dramatic contexts.
• Обычный негодяй - Ordinary miscreant; implies someone who is predictably untrustworthy in daily life.

Usage Notes:

'Miscreant' translates variably in Russian based on context: use 'Преступник' for legal or formal scenarios, 'Злодей' for narrative or fictional ones, and 'Негодяй' for informal, emotional expressions. English speakers should note that Russian nouns like these must agree in case and gender, which can affect sentence structure. For example, choose 'Злодей' in stories but avoid it in official documents to prevent sounding overly dramatic.

• In spoken Russian, 'Негодяй' carries a strong emotional tone, similar to English slang like 'scoundrel'.
• When multiple translations fit, opt for the one matching the register: formal for 'miscreant' in news, informal for casual talk.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'Преступник' interchangeably with 'Злодей' in all contexts. Correct: 'Злодей' is for fictional villains, while 'Преступник' is for real criminals. Example: Incorrect - "Он злодей в повседневной жизни" (He is a miscreant in everyday life); Correct - "Он негодяй в повседневной жизни".
• Error: Forgetting declensions, e.g., saying "О злодей" instead of "О злодее". Correct: Always adjust for case; this is a common pitfall for English learners due to English's lack of cases.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'Злодей' are prevalent in folklore and literature (e.g., in fairy tales by Pushkin), often symbolizing the eternal struggle between good and evil. This reflects a historical emphasis on moral binaries in Russian storytelling, influenced by Orthodox traditions and Soviet-era narratives.

Related Concepts:

• Вор
• Хулиган
• Злоумышленник