Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'moral'

English Word: moral

Key Russian Translations:

• нравственный [ˈnrafstvennɨj] - [Formal, Adjective]
• мораль [maˈralʲ] - [Informal, Noun]
• нравоучение [nraˈvauʧenʲje] - [Formal, Noun, Used in literary or educational contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in discussions of ethics, philosophy, and education, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of basic adjective and noun inflections; for 'нравственный' as an adjective, it's B1, while 'мораль' as a noun is A2)

Pronunciation (Russian):

нравственный: [ˈnrafstvennɨj]

мораль: [maˈralʲ]

нравоучение: [nraˈvauʧenʲje]

Note on нравственный: The stress is on the second syllable; be careful with the 'р' sound, which is a trilled 'r' in Russian, often challenging for English speakers.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Relating to principles of right and wrong behavior (Adjective form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• нравственный - Used in formal contexts like philosophy or ethics discussions, emphasizing ethical standards.

Usage Examples:

• Нравственный выбор в этой ситуации был очевиден. (A moral choice in this situation was obvious.)

  Translation: The moral choice in this situation was obvious.

• Его нравственный долг заставил его помочь. (His moral duty compelled him to help.)

  Translation: His moral duty compelled him to help. (This shows the word in a duty-related context.)

• В книге подчеркивается нравственный аспект человеческой природы. (The book emphasizes the moral aspect of human nature.)

  Translation: The book emphasizes the moral aspect of human nature. (Demonstrates use in literary analysis.)

• Нравственный упадок общества – это серьезная проблема. (The moral decline of society is a serious issue.)

  Translation: The moral decline of society is a serious issue. (Illustrates broader societal application.)

• Она всегда делает нравственные решения, основанные на своих убеждениях. (She always makes moral decisions based on her beliefs.)

  Translation: She always makes moral decisions based on her beliefs. (Shows variation in grammatical structure.)

Meaning 2: A lesson or principle from a story or experience (Noun form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• мораль - Common in everyday storytelling or fables, referring to the takeaway lesson.
• нравоучение - More formal, often in educational or moralistic contexts, implying a didactic lesson.

Usage Examples:

• Мораль этой сказки – что честность всегда вознаграждается. (The moral of this fairy tale is that honesty is always rewarded.)

  Translation: The moral of this fairy tale is that honesty is always rewarded.

• В конце истории автор подчеркивает мораль о дружбе. (At the end of the story, the author emphasizes the moral about friendship.)

  Translation: At the end of the story, the author emphasizes the moral about friendship. (Context: Narrative endings.)

• Нравоучение из этой ошибки – не торопиться с выводами. (The moral lesson from this mistake is not to rush to conclusions.)

  Translation: The moral lesson from this mistake is not to rush to conclusions. (Shows 'нравоучение' in a reflective context.)

• Мораль жизни – ценить то, что у тебя есть. (The moral of life is to value what you have.)

  Translation: The moral of life is to value what you have. (Broader philosophical use.)

• Это нравоучение учит нас ответственности. (This moral teaching teaches us responsibility.)

  Translation: This moral teaching teaches us responsibility. (Educational context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'нравственный' (adjective), it follows standard Russian adjective declension patterns, which are regular but require attention to gender, number, and case.

For 'мораль' (noun, feminine), it is a third-declension noun with regular inflections:

• Nominative: мораль
• Genitive: морали
• Dative: морали
• It does not change in plural forms as it's often used in singular.

For 'нравоучение' (noun, neuter), it follows first-declension patterns and is invariable in some contexts but can inflect: Nominative: нравоучение; Genitive: нравоучения.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • этический (etichnyy) - More neutral, often interchangeable with нравственный in philosophical contexts.
  • добродетельный (dobrodetelnyy) - Emphasizes virtue, with a slight connotation of moral excellence.
• Antonyms:
  • аморальный (amoralnyy) - Lacking morals, directly opposite to нравственный.
  • неморальный (nemoralnyy) - Immoral, used in contexts of ethical violations.

Related Phrases:

• Нравственный кодекс - A moral code; refers to a set of ethical guidelines in society.
• Мораль истории - The moral of the story; common in narratives to highlight lessons.
• Нравоучение для детей - Moral teaching for children; used in educational settings.

Usage Notes:

The English word 'moral' as an adjective often translates to 'нравственный' in formal Russian contexts, but it's not a direct one-to-one match; Russian may emphasize cultural or societal norms more. For the noun form, 'мораль' is straightforward for stories, while 'нравоучение' is preferred in didactic or preaching scenarios. Be mindful of gender agreements in sentences, as Russian adjectives like 'нравственный' must agree with the noun they modify. When choosing between translations, use 'нравственный' for abstract ethics and 'мораль' for concrete lessons.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'нравственный' without proper case agreement, e.g., saying "нравственный женщина" instead of "нравственная женщина".
  Correct: Ensure the adjective matches the noun's gender and case.
  Explanation: Russian requires strict grammatical agreement, unlike English, which can lead to confusion for learners.
• Error: Confusing 'мораль' with 'моральный' (which means 'moral' as in warfare tactics, not ethics).
  Correct: Use 'мораль' for ethical lessons and 'нравственный' for broader morals.
  Explanation: This mix-up stems from false cognates; always check context to avoid miscommunication.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'нравственный' often carry influences from Orthodox Christian traditions and Soviet-era moral education, emphasizing collective ethics over individual rights. For instance, 'мораль' in folktales reflects lessons from Russian literature, such as in Pushkin's works, where moral dilemmas highlight societal values.

Related Concepts:

• этика
• добро
• зло